July 2025

NEUROSCIENCES

HIGHLIGHTS IN NEURO-ONCOLOGY FROM ASCO 2025

Rimas V. Lukas, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, highlights the latest advances in neuro-oncology presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
 
Focused Ultrasound to Enhance Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability in High Grade
Gliomas
 
Graeme Woodworth, MD, of University of Maryland, presented findings from clinical trial BT008, which combined external transcranial focused ultrasound with standard-of-care temozolomide. The findings indicated that this approach is feasible and relatively safe while enhancing drug delivery.
 
Adam Sonabend, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, outlined the evidence that in the human brain, ultrasound-based blood-brain barrier opening enhances the penetration of chemotherapy and antibody-based immunotherapies in brain tumor patients. Other interesting aspects of the results he presented include the remarkable rapid restoration of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier after sonication with microbubbles, which mostly occurs within one hour after this procedure. Dr. Sonabend also presented results indicating the activation of microglia and the brain microenvironment with sonication, which can be leveraged to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for brain tumors. These results are the basis for several ongoing clinical trials being performed by Dr. Sonabend and Roger Stupp, MD, at Northwestern Medicine.
 
These studies collectively demonstrate the safety and practicality of ultrasound-based methods. Differences between the approaches — including treatment duration, mobility and drug compatibility — will shape their future utility. An international randomized phase 3 trial is currently underway to further investigate the role of focused ultrasound in glioma treatment (NCT05902169).
 
Results From Phase 3 PANOVA-3 Trial 
 
Vincent Picozzi, MD, of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, presented the results of the Phase 3 PANOVA-3 trial, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer when Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy was added to the standard chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. This trial also showed a significant extension in pain-free survival. 
 
This innovative therapeutic approach was pioneered by Dr. Stupp of Northwestern Medicine, who developed TTFields for glioblastoma treatment through two pivotal trials, EF11 and EF14, over a decade ago.
 
Radiation Strategies in Brain Metastases
 
Ayal Aizer, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, presented results from a multicenter phase 3 trial that compared hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) vs. stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with multiple (five to 20) brain metastases. The findings suggest SRS may provide better cognitive outcomes compared to HA-WBRT, potentially impacting future clinical guidelines for these patients.
 
Therapeutics Options in Leptomeningeal Disease
 
Priya U. Kumthekar, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, chaired a panel of four distinguished physicians from various specialties discussing emerging treatment and diagnostic modalities for leptomeningeal disease. The panel emphasized a multidisciplinary approach, exploring treatment options such as radiation therapies and systemic therapies, supported by real case studies.
 
They reviewed treatment outcomes, potential toxicities and the promising use of liquid biopsy. Additionally, participants discussed challenges related to accessing advanced therapeutics and testing. Notably, Northwestern Medicine is the only center in the country offering a clinical trial specifically for patients with leptomeningeal disease.
 
Extent of Resection in IDH-Mutant Grade 2 Gliomas
 
Philipp Karschnia, MD, of University of Erlangen in Germany, provided new insights into the extent of surgical resection in IDH-mutant grade 2 gliomas from the RANO-RANOresect group. His study confirmed that a greater extent of resection correlates with improved overall survival, reinforcing the need for aggressive surgical approaches in this patient population.
 
Final Results of the CATNON trial
 
Martin van den Bent, MD, of Erasmus Cancer Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, presented the final results of the international CATNON trial, which evaluated treatment strategies for grade 3 astrocytomas. The updated analysis supports the use of adjuvant temozolomide, confirming its association with longer survival rates and establishing it as a standard of care for this patient group.
 
INB-200: Gamma-Delta T Cell Therapy in Glioblastoma
 
Louis B. Nabors, MD, of University of Alabama at Birmingham, shared phase 1 results from the INB-200 trial, focusing on engineered gamma-delta (γδ) T cells for glioblastoma therapy. This innovative immunotherapy approach aims to leverage the unique attributes of γδ T cells to enhance tumor control while remaining resilient during concurrent chemotherapy.
 
 
Disclosures: Rimas Lukas, MD, serves as a consultant for GT Technologies, Merck, Novocure and Servier, and he has received research support from BMS. He is a member of advisory boards for Merck and Novocure and has received honoraria from EBSCO, Elsevier and Medlink Neurology. Dr. Lukas is also a participant in the Speaker’s Bureau for Merck, Novocure and Servier.
Rimas V. Lukas, MD, Vice Chair of Outpatient Neurology and Associate Professor of Neuro-oncology and Hospital Neurology at Northwestern Medicine 

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