ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT03911388Updated Sep 4, 2026

HSV G207 in Children With Recurrent or Refractory Cerebellar Brain Tumors

A Phase 1 interventional study of G207 in Neoplasms, Brain, Glioblastoma Multiforme and Glioblastoma of Cerebellum, sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Recruiting at 3 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 36 Months to 22 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.

Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Sep 2019; still recruiting 7 years 1 month later.
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
24
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
36 Months to 22 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study is a clinical trial to determine the safety of inoculating G207 (an experimental virus therapy) into a recurrent or refractory cerebellar brain tumor. The safety of combining G207 with a single low dose of radiation, designed to enhance virus replication, tumor cell killing, and an anti-tumor immune response, will also be tested.

Funding Source- FDA OOPD

Read the detailed description

Outcomes for children with recurrent or progressive cerebellar malignant brain tumors are very poor, and there are a lack of effective salvage therapies once a patient fails standard treatments. G207 is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV) that has been successfully engineered to introduce mutations in the virus that enable it to selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells, but not normal cells. Replication of G207 in the tumor not only kills the infected tumor cells, but causes the tumor cell to act as a factory to produce new virus. These virus particles are released as the tumor cell dies, and can then proceed to infect other tumor cells in the vicinity, and continue the process of tumor kill. In addition to this direct oncolytic activity, the virus engenders an anti-tumor immune response; the virus is immunogenic and produces a debris field which exposes cancer cell antigens to immune cells which can target other cancer cells. Thus, the oncolytic effect of the virus and the immune response that the virus stimulates provide a "one-two punch" at attacking cancer cells. In preclinical studies, a single 5 Gy dose of radiation within 24 hours of virus inoculation to the tumor increased virus replication and tumor cell killing.

The safety of G207 has been demonstrated in 3 phase I clinical trials involving adults with supratentorial high-grade gliomas adults at the University of Alabama (UAB) and in an ongoing (closed to accrual) phase I clinical trial involving children with recurrent supratentorial brain tumors at Children's of Alabama. In the adult trials, high doses (up to 3 x 10\^9 plaque-forming units) of virus were safely injected directly into the tumor or surrounding brain tissue without serious toxicities. Radiographic and neuropathologic evidence of anti-tumor responses have been seen. Preclinical laboratory studies have demonstrated that a variety of aggressive pediatric brain tumor types are sensitive to G207.

This study is a phase I, open-label, single institution clinical trial of G207 alone or combined with a single low dose of radiation in children and young adults, ages 3 to 21 years, with recurrent or progressive cerebellar brain tumors. The primary goal is to determine safety. The secondary aims are to obtain preliminary information on the effectiveness of and immune response to G207. A traditional 3 + 3 design will be used with four patient cohorts. The first cohort will receive G207 alone, and the next cohorts will receive G207 at one of three doses followed by a 5 Gy dose of radiation to active areas of tumor.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neoplasms, Brain
  • Glioblastoma Multiforme
  • Glioblastoma of Cerebellum
  • Neoplasms
  • Astrocytoma
  • Astrocytoma, Cerebellar
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive
  • Cerebellar PNET, Childhood
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms, Primary
  • Cerebellar Neoplasm, Malignant
  • Cerebellar Neoplasm Malignant Primary
  • Neoplasm Metastases
  • Neoplasm Malignant
  • Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
  • Neoplasms by Histologic Type
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
  • Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms, Primary
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms, Malignant
  • Nervous System Neoplasms
  • Neoplasms by Site
  • Brain Diseases
  • Central Nervous System Diseases
  • Nervous System Diseases
  • Medulloblastoma Recurrent
  • HSV
  • Virus
  • Pediatric Brain Tumor
  • Nervous System Cancer
  • Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of Cerebellum

Keywords

  • Brain Tumor, Recurrent
  • Glioma
  • Glioblastoma Multiforme
  • Gliosarcoma
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Anaplastic Astrocytoma
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Rhabdoid Tumor
  • Ependymoma
  • Germ Cell Tumor
  • Choroid Plexus Carcinoma
  • Cerebral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor
  • Giant Cell Glioblastoma
  • Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
  • Secondary Malignant Cerebellar Tumor
  • Embryonal Tumor
  • Neoplasms
  • Oncolytic Virus Therapy
  • Virotherapy, Oncolytic
  • Immunotherapy
  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Pediatric
  • Pediatrics
  • Oncolytic
  • Virus
  • HSV
  • Herpes Virus
  • G207
  • Oncolytic Herpes Virus
03

In context

Brain Neoplasms

2,440 studies on the registry are indexed under Brain Neoplasms; 540 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 24 is below the median of 40 across 1,831 interventional studies indexed under Brain Neoplasms.

Browse Brain Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 3,047 studies on the registry; 578 are open to participants now.

Of its 612 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 409 (67%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
36 Months to 22 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 36 months and \< 22 years
  • proven malignant cerebellar brain tumor (including medulloblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, giant cell glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, ependymoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, germ cell tumor, or other high-grade malignant tumor) which is progressive or recurrent despite standard care including surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. A pathologically proven secondary malignant cerebellar tumor without curative treatment options is eligible.
  • A review of the MRI scan will be necessary to determine if the tumor location and size are such that the patient may be included in the study. The MRI scan must be reviewed and approved by the site neurosurgeon and/or study radiologist for enrollment. The following guidelines must be met: Lesion must be ≤ 3.0 cm in diameter and surgically accessible as determined by MRI. Larger tumors may be surgically debulked and treated if ≤ 3.0 cm after debulking. Tumor measurements should be confirmed on the Immunotherapy Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (iRANO) form or the institutional MRI report
  • Patients must have fully recovered from acute treatment-related toxicities of all prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy prior to the date of G207 administration. All washout intervals below are measured relative to the date of G207 administration.
  • Myelosuppressive chemotherapy: patients must have received their last dose at least 3 weeks prior (or at least 6 weeks if nitrosurea) to G207 administration.
  • Monoclonal antibodies: patient must have received the last dose ≥ 21 days prior to G207 administration
  • /Biologic agents: patients must have recovered from any acute toxicities potentially related to the agent and received last dose ≥ 7 days prior to G207 administration (this period must be extended beyond the time during which adverse events are known to occur for agents with known adverse events ≥>= 7 days).
  • Viral therapy: Patients must have received viral therapy ≥ 3 months prior to G207 administration and must have recovered from all acute toxicities potentially related to the agent
  • Radiation: Patients must have received their last fraction of craniospinal radiation (>24 Gy) or total body irradiation ≥ 3 months prior to G207 administration. Patients must have received focal radiation to symptomatic sites or local palliative radiation ≥ 28 days prior to G207 administration.
  • bone marrow transplant: Patients must be ≥ 3 months since transplant prior to G207 administration.
  • > 1000/mm3
  • ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
  • (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.3 x control
  • Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR >60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
  • Total ≤ 1.5 mg/dl
  • Transaminases ≤ 3 times above the upper limits of the institutional norm
  • Patients \< 16 years, Modified Lansky performance score ≥ 60; patients ≥ 16 years, performance score ≥ 60
  • Written in accordance with institutional and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines must be obtained from patient or legal guardian

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute infection, granulocytopenia or medical condition precluding surgery
  • Pregnant or lactating females
  • Diagnosis of encephalitis or central nervous system (CNS) infection ≤ 3 months prior
  • Receiving ongoing treatment for encephalitis, CNS infection or multiple sclerosis
  • Tumor involvement which would require ventricular or brainstem inoculation or would require access through a ventricle in order to deliver treatment
  • Patient requires an escalation in ongoing systemic therapy within 7 days prior to G207 inoculation or requires ongoing systemic corticosteroid therapy at a dose > 2 mg/day of dexamethasone (or equivalent) at the time of inoculation. For this study, 'systemic corticosteroids' include oral, intravenous, or intramuscular formulations. A single, non-consecutive dose does not constitute exclusion. Physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy (e.g., hydrocortisone for adrenal insufficiency) is not considered and does not constitute exclusion
  • Known (HIV) seropositivity
  • Concurrent therapy with any drug active against herpes simplex virus (HSV) (acyclovir, valacyclovir, penciclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir) or any immunosuppressive drug therapy (except dexamethasone or prednisone)
  • Patients with a prior or concurrent whose natural history or treatment has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the regimen for this trial
  • Concurrent anticancer or investigational drug
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(15)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

Allogeneic and autologous transplant

Stem cell (bone marrow) transplants. Allogeneic uses cells from a donor; autologous uses your own cells, collected earlier and given back.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Karnofsky performance status (KPS)

A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.

Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
24 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    HSV G207

    Single dose of HSV-1 (G207) infused through catheters into region(s) of tumor. If G207 is safe in the first cohort of patients, subsequent patients will receive a single dose of G207 infused through catheters into region(s) of tumor followed by a 5 Gy dose of radiation to the tumor given with 24 hours of virus inoculation.

    Biological: G207

Interventions

  • BiologicalG207

    Drug pages: G 207 · Oncolytic HSV-1 G207

    Single dose of G207 infused through catheters into region(s) of tumor. If G207 is safe in the first cohort of patients, subsequent patients will receive a single dose of G207 infused through catheters into region(s) of tumor followed by a 5 Gy dose of radiation to the tumor (which includes progressive leptomeningeal disease or any site of gross tumor progressing in the brain parenchyma) within 24 hours of virus inoculation.

    Also known as: HSV G207

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Safety and Tolerability as Measured by Frequency of Grade 3 or Above Adverse Events

    All events with a Grade 3 or above toxicity (defined by the CTCAE v5.0) will be tabulated by event and by relationship to G207.

    Time frame: Baseline to 15 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Immunologic Response

    HSV-1 antibody titers will be checked by ELISA prior to the administration of G207 and at regular intervals after treatment.

    Time frame: 24 months

  2. Virologic Shedding

    HSV-1 antibody titers will be checked by ELISA prior to the administration of G207 and at regular intervals after treatment.

    Time frame: Up to 15 years

  3. Progression Free Survival

    Time after G207 administration to clinical and radiographic disease progression will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Up to 15 years

  4. Overall Survival

    The overall survival for each patient receiving G207 will be calculated

    Time frame: Up to 15 years

  5. Change in Performance Score (Ability to Perform Normal Activities)

    A modified Lansky score (for children under 16 years of age) or Karnofsky score (for children 16 and older) will be recorded pre-treatment and measured serially at regular intervals after treatment. The score is a standard performance score that measures overall function of the child with a scale range from 0 (lowest, poorest performance score) to 100 (highest, best performance).

    Time frame: Baseline to 15 years

  6. Quality of Life (optional)

    Quality of life will be measured with questionnaires taken at baseline (before administration of G207) and at specified times thereafter.

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

07

Study locations

3 of 3 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 4, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03911388
Collaborators
Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation, Treovir, Inc
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 11, 2019
Start date
Sep 12, 2019
Primary completion
Sep 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 4, 2026

Study contacts

Kara Kachurak, CRNP
Contact
kgkachurak@mdanderson.org
832-750-5661l
Gregory K Friedman, MD
Contact
gkfriedman@mdanderson.org
Gregory Friedman, MD
principal investigator · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Oversight

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

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Studies of the drugs tested here: G 207 · Oncolytic HSV-1 G207

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