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Active, not recruitingNCT034057922-THE-TOPUpdated Feb 6, 2026Results posted

Study Testing The Safety and Efficacy of Adjuvant Temozolomide Plus TTFields (Optune®) Plus Pembrolizumab in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (2-THE-TOP)

A Phase 2 interventional study of Temozolomide (TMZ) and Optune System in Glioblastoma and Glioblastoma, WHO Grade IV, sponsored by University of Florida. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-06.

Sponsored by University of Florida · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadliest primary malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system in adults. Despite an aggressive multimodality treatment approach including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, overall survival remains poor. Pembrolizumab has recently been approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, locally advanced urothelial carcinoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, unresectable or metastatic melanoma

This study is being performed to determine whether the triple combination of pembrolizumab when added to TTFields (Optune®) and adjuvant temozolomide increases progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM as compared to historical control data.

Read the detailed description

Patients with newly-diagnosed GBM who undergo maximal safe resection (biopsy alone is eligible) followed by standard chemoradiation will be eligible for this trial.

Four weeks after completing chemoradiation, patients will undergo baseline standard of care MRI. Four to six weeks after finishing chemoradiation, patients will start monthly cycles of adjuvant TMZ. A minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ will be given. Treatment with Optune will start at approximately the same time as the first cycle of adjuvant TMZ and continue until second disease progression or a maximum of 2 years. Within one week after starting Cycle 2 of adjuvant TMZ and Optune therapy, patients will begin open-label treatment with pembrolizumab every 3 weeks until first disease progression or unacceptable toxicities or 2 years, whichever comes first.

At first progression, patients will be allowed to continue with Optune therapy combined with any other therapy, which may include pembrolizumab, per standard of care at the discretion of the treating physician. Surgical resection or biopsy of first recurrent tumor for confirmation of recurrence is allowed within the protocol.

All patients will be seen before Cycle 1 of TMZ, before cycle 2 of TMZ, before starting the second dose of pembrolizumab, and every 3 weeks before each subsequent pembrolizumab dose at an outpatient clinic until they complete all 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ or discontinue TMZ due to toxicity or first progression.

Medical follow-up will continue for 30 days after treatment termination. After this visit, mortality will be assessed based on telephone interviews with the patients or the patients' caregivers every 3 months.

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Conditions studied

  • Glioblastoma
  • Glioblastoma, WHO Grade IV

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Keywords

  • Tumor Treating Electric Fields (TTFields)
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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologic confirmation of glioblastoma, WHO Grade IV (GBM variants are allowed; Lower grade gliomas that have been transformed to GBM will be considered newly diagnosed GBM if the lower-grade tumor was not previously treated, and the standard treatment for GBM including radiation and temozolomide is now planned).
  • MGMT methylation status if available (indeterminate methylation status will be considered unmethylated).
  • Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥70%.
  • Patients must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Received maximal safe resection (biopsy only allowed) and radiotherapy concomitant with temozolomide:

    1. Gliadel wafers placement at the time of surgical resection is allowed.
    2. Any additional treatment directed at GBM will be considered exclusionary.
    3. Minimum dose for concomitant radiotherapy is 40 Gy.
  • Candidate for adjuvant high dose temozolomide and Optune therapy.
  • Life expectancy of at least 3 months.
  • Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined below:

    1. ANC ≥ 1,500/mcL
    2. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
    3. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL or ≥ 5.6 mmol/L (transfusion is allowed)
    4. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x IULN OR creatinine clearance by Cockcroft-Gault ≥ 60 mL/min for patients with serum creatinine > 1.5 x IULN
    5. Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ IULN for patients with total bilirubin > 1.5 x IULN
    6. AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 3 x IULN
  • Participants of childbearing age must use effective contraception:

    • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be using a highly effective method of contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study and for at least 24 weeks after the last dose of study drug to minimize the risk of pregnancy. Prior to study enrollment, women of childbearing potential must be advised of the importance of avoiding pregnancy during trial participation and the potential risk factors for an unintentional pregnancy. Refer to Appendix D for guidance on highly effective contraceptive methods.
    • WOCBP include any woman who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone successful surgical sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation or oophorectomy) or who is not post-menopausal. Post-menopause is defined as:
    • Amenorrhea that has lasted for ≥ 12 consecutive months without another cause, or
    • For women with irregular menstrual periods who are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a documented serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level of greater than 35 mIU/mL.
    • Males with female partners of childbearing potential must agree to use physician-approved contraceptive methods (e.g., abstinence, condoms, vasectomy) throughout the study and should avoid conceiving children for 24 weeks following the last dose of study drug.
  • Ability of the patient or their legally authorized representative (LAR) to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document
  • Steroid dose equivalent to dexamethasone dose of ≤ 4mg daily at the time of starting adjuvant treatment
  • Optune and temozolomide treatment start date will be at least 4 weeks but not more than 6 weeks from the later of last dose of concomitant temozolomide or radiotherapy. Although Optune and temozolomide should be started simultaneously, it is not required as long as both are started within this time frame

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior treatment with anti-angiogenic agents including bevacizumab.
  • History of other malignancy that, in the primary oncologist's estimation, has a higher risk of recurrence or death than the study-related cancer at the time of study participation.
  • Prior treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways).
  • Progressive disease (according to RANO criteria). Advanced imaging is allowed to further investigate suspected pseudoprogression if deemed necessary.
  • Actively participating in another clinical treatment trial intended to treat GBM.
  • Multifocal gliomas defined as distinct tumors that do not have overlapping T2/FLAIR signal.
  • Presence of leptomeningeal metastases.
  • Implanted pacemaker, programmable shunts, defibrillator, deep brain stimulator, other implanted electronic devices in the brain, or documented clinically significant arrhythmias.
  • Tumor is entirely located in the infra-tentorial region.
  • History of hypersensitivity reactions or allergies to hydrogels and/or compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Temozolomide and Pembrolizumab.
  • Steroid dose equivalent to > 4 mg dexamethasone at the time of starting adjuvant therapy.
  • History of immunodeficiency or is receiving any form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment (with the exception of daily dexamethasone ≤ 4 mg).
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
  • History of active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Patient must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 72 hours of study entry.
  • Females or males of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method to avoid pregnancy for the entire study period and for at least 24 weeks after the last dose of study drug.
  • Known active hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection.
  • Known history of active TB (bacillus tuberculosis).
  • Known history of HIV (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
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Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Optune System combined with Temozolomide (TMZ) + Pembrolizumab

    Patients with newly-diagnosed GBM who undergo maximal safe resection (biopsy alone is eligible) followed by chemoradiation consisting of concomitant TMZ daily and radiation therapy (RT) with minimal RT will be eligible for this trial. Four to six weeks after finishing chemoradiation, patients will start monthly cycles of adjuvant TMZ. Treatment with Optune will start at approximately the same time as the first cycle of adjuvant TMZ and continue until second disease progression or a maximum of 2 years. Within one week after starting Cycle 2 of adjuvant TMZ and Optune therapy, patients will begin open-label treatment with pembrolizumab every 3 weeks until first disease progression or unacceptable toxicities or 2 years, whichever comes first.

    Drug: Temozolomide (TMZ) · Device: Optune System · Drug: Pembrolizumab

  • Other
    Historical Control

    Historical control of patients treated with Optune System combined with Temozolomide alone from the EF-14 study will be compared with the Optune System combined with Temozolomide (TMZ) + pembrolizumab

    Drug: Temozolomide (TMZ) · Device: Optune System

Interventions

  • DrugTemozolomide (TMZ)

    Patients will begin treatment with adjuvant TMZ at least 4 weeks but no more than 6 weeks from last dose of concomitant temozolomide or radiation therapy (the latter of the two). A minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ will be given depending on tolerability and toxicity.

  • DeviceOptune System

    Patients will undergo 24-months of planned treatment with Optune therapy.

    Also known as: NovoTTF Therapy

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    Pembrolizumab will be given intravenously every 3 weeks beginning on Day 1 of Cycle 2 of adjuvant TMZ. Treatment with pembrolizumab every 3 weeks until first disease progression or unacceptable toxicities or 2 years, whichever comes first.

    Also known as: Keytruda

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Progression-free Survival Between the Groups From Time of Enrollment

    Time from enrollment to progression or death or censoring, whichever occurs first. The study team will use the one-sample log-rank test to compare PFS in the triple combination arm relative to the historical control arm to determine whether the triple combination treatment increases PFS in newly diagnosed GBM patients when compared to TTFields+TMZ historical control patients from the EF-14 study. Evaluability for progression free survival required participants to receive adjuvant TMZ, Optune and at least 1 dose of pembrolizumab.

    Time frame: Assessed up to 24 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Toxicities, Serious Adverse Events and/or Other Adverse Events Treated With Triple Combination Treatment

    The descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 will be utilized for all toxicity reporting for grade 3 or higher. We will estimate proportions and 95% confidence intervals for patients in the triple combination arm who experience toxicities and other types of AEs and serious AEs.

    Time frame: Assessed up to 24 months

  2. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time from enrollment to death or censoring, whichever occurs first. We will use the log-rank test to compare OS between the triple combination arm relative to the historical control arm.

    Time frame: Assessed up to 5 years

  3. Augmentation of TTFields-initiated Glioma-specific Immune Reaction by Pembrolizumab

    We will use mixed effect regression to assess changes in response variables related to glioma-specific immune reaction before, during, and after treatment with pembrolizumab.

    Time frame: Assessed up to 24 months

06

Results

Posted Apr 15, 2024
Limitations and caveats
Limitation 1: We do not have the distribution of ages for the historical control arm to determine the median for the total population. Limitation 2: Adverse Events for historical controls were monitored/assessed/reported without regard to the specific Adverse Event Term therefore we are not reporting for the historical control arm.

Participant flow

Recruitment began in 2018 and lasted until July 2021. Patients with newly diagnosed GBM who completed standard of care radiation therapy together with concomitant TMZ were recruited. Neuro-oncologists identified subjects as part of routine clinical care. Patients with newly-diagnosed GBM who underwent maximal safe resection followed by chemoradiation consisting of concomitant TMZ 75mg/m2 daily and RT with minimal RT dose of 40gy were eligible for this trial.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneOptune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical Control
Started31466
Completed26466
Not completed50
Withdrew: O did not start or discontinued ttf during cycle 1 of tmz for personal reasons40
Withdrew: O did not receive pembrolizumab10

Outcome measures

PrimaryProgression-free Survival Between the Groups From Time of Enrollment

Time from enrollment to progression or death or censoring, whichever occurs first. The study team will use the one-sample log-rank test to compare PFS in the triple combination arm relative to the historical control arm to determine whether the triple combination treatment increases PFS in newly diagnosed GBM patients when compared to TTFields+TMZ historical control patients from the EF-14 study. Evaluability for progression free survival required participants to receive adjuvant TMZ, Optune and at least 1 dose of pembrolizumab.

Time frame:
Assessed up to 24 months
Reported as:
Median · months
Progression-free Survival Between the Groups From Time of Enrollment
monthsOptune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical Control
Progression-free Survival Between the Groups From Time of Enrollment11.79 (8.71 to 22.72)6.7 (6.1 to 8.1)
Statistical analysis
  • Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + Pembrolizumab ·
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Toxicities, Serious Adverse Events and/or Other Adverse Events Treated With Triple Combination Treatment

The descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 will be utilized for all toxicity reporting for grade 3 or higher. We will estimate proportions and 95% confidence intervals for patients in the triple combination arm who experience toxicities and other types of AEs and serious AEs.

Time frame:
Assessed up to 24 months
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Toxicities, Serious Adverse Events and/or Other Adverse Events Treated With Triple Combination Treatment
ParticipantsOptune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + Pembrolizumab
Number of Participants With Toxicities, Serious Adverse Events and/or Other Adverse Events Treated With Triple Combination Treatment26
Statistical analysis
  • Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + Pembrolizumab ·
SecondaryOverall Survival (OS)

Time from enrollment to death or censoring, whichever occurs first. We will use the log-rank test to compare OS between the triple combination arm relative to the historical control arm.

Time frame:
Assessed up to 5 years

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

SecondaryAugmentation of TTFields-initiated Glioma-specific Immune Reaction by Pembrolizumab

We will use mixed effect regression to assess changes in response variables related to glioma-specific immune reaction before, during, and after treatment with pembrolizumab.

Time frame:
Assessed up to 24 months

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were collected from the initiation of treatment with the adjuvant treatment with TMZ and the Optune device, and ended at least 30-days following last study treatment for up to 24 months. Twenty-eight participants met criteria for AE collection; two of those did not receive pembrolizumab.. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + Pembrolizumab25/28 (89.3%)18/28 (64.3%)28/28 (100%)
Historical Control Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ)265/466 (56.9%)0/456 (0%)218/456 (47.8%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 22
Most frequent serious events
EventOptune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical Control Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ)
Intra-operative injury - BrainSurgical and medical procedures8/280/456
InfectionInfections and infestations6/280/456
SeizureNervous system disorders3/280/456
HydrocephalusNervous system disorders2/280/456
Neurology, otherNervous system disorders2/280/456
Edema, head and neckBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/280/456
Platelets, thrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/280/456
HypotensionCardiac disorders1/280/456
Supraventricular and nodal arrhythmia - Atrial fibrillationCardiac disorders1/280/456
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders1/280/456
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventOptune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical Control Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ)
Gastrointestinal DisordersGastrointestinal disorders22/2823/456
Nervous System DisordersNervous system disorders21/28109/456
MusculoskeletalMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders19/2821/456
InfectionsInfections and infestations11/2832/456
Injury, poisoning and procedural complicationsInjury, poisoning and procedural complications10/2824/456
Blood and Bone MarrowBlood and lymphatic system disorders9/2859/456
RespiratoryRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders8/2824/456
MetabolismMetabolism and nutrition disorders3/2816/456

Baseline characteristics

Thirty-one participants were eligible. Twenty-six participants were treated with the combination of optune, adjuvant temozolomide and pembrolizumab and counted toward the primary outcome measure.

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years22377399
>=65 years98998
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
Median60.5 (49.1 to 67)56 (19 to 83)NA (NA to NA)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
Female9150159
Male22316338
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
Hispanic or Latino11819
Not Hispanic or Latino30447477
Unknown or Not Reported011
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native011
Asian12728
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American235
White28416444
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported01919
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Optune System Combined With Temozolomide (TMZ) + PembrolizumabHistorical ControlTotal
United States31221252
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Study locations

1 site
  • University of Florida Health
    Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Chen D, Le SB, Ghiaseddin AP, Manektalia H, Li M, O'Dell A, Rahman M, Tran DD. Efficacy and safety of adjuvant TTFields plus pembrolizumab and temozolomide in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: A phase 2 study. Med. 2025 Sep 12;6(9):100708. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100708. Epub 2025 Jun 4. PubMed 40466642 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jun 9, 2023

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03405792
Lead sponsor
University of Florida
Collaborators
NovoCure Ltd.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 23, 2018
Start date
Feb 23, 2018
Primary completion
Nov 26, 2022
Completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Results posted
Apr 15, 2024
Last update
Feb 6, 2026

Study contacts

Ashley Ghiaseddin, MD
principal investigator · University of Florida

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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