Clinical trials play an important role in improving our understanding of brain tumours and developing new approaches to treatment.
There are many different trials taking place in the UK and internationally, and whether a particular study is suitable will depend on factors such as your diagnosis, previous treatment, tumour characteristics and general health.
We have highlighted a small number of clinical trials that may be of interest to patients and families exploring their options. This is not intended to be a comprehensive database of currently available trials. Each listing provides a brief overview and links to further information, where you can find the latest details about the study and who may be eligible to take part.
If you are interested in a clinical trial, discuss it with your treating team. They can help you understand whether it may be relevant to you and what taking part could involve.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Why this matters
A clinical trial for people with breast cancer that has spread to the brain
BEAT-Breast is a UK clinical trial exploring a new approach to radiotherapy for people with brain metastases from breast cancer who are not suitable for stereotactic radiotherapy.
The trial is investigating a technique called Dose Escalated internal PTV (DE-iPTV), which aims to deliver a higher dose of radiotherapy to the tumours while reducing the dose received by healthy brain tissue. Researchers are looking at whether this approach can be delivered effectively, as well as its impact on quality of life, tumour control and steroid use.
Who isn't the trial suitable for?
The trial has specific eligibility criteria. It is not suitable for people with leptomeningeal disease, more than 15 brain metastases, cystic metastases or those who have previously received whole or partial brain radiotherapy. Other exclusion criteria also apply, so eligibility will need to be discussed with the trial team.
BEAT-Breast
Patients family
Access to a website like this would have been a breath of fresh air during the chaos and confusion that followed my husband’s diagnosis. Having clear, specialist-led information in one place would have helped us better understand what was happening, what options existed and how to navigate decisions with more confidence. At a time when everything felt overwhelming, clarity and compassion in how information was presented would have made a real difference. I’m really glad that this website now exists for others facing a similar situation.
Patients family
Tackling a GBM diagnosis is extraordinarily overwhelming, the stats bulldoze you & researching treatment options online is sole destroying. Having one consolidated place to connect with other patients, understand additional treatment options & potential trials & follow others journeys is incredibly comforting and very much needed. Thank you. It’s a tough journey and we only get through it by all sharing our discoveries to make each others experiences that little bit easier.
Thank you for putting the time aside for this website. Being a caregiver to a 10months in GBM patient I can honestly say that this website will benefit future patients enormously.
Patient
When everything changed, I didn’t want medical jargon or endless links. I just wanted clear, honest information I could actually understand.
Having it all in one place helped. Finding the information together was a huge relief. We could stop Googling and start getting a clearer picture of what was going on.
I could come back when I was ready. Some days I read a lot. Some days I couldn’t read anything at all. Knowing I could come back without pressure really helped.
Knowing more made things feel less chaotic. Understanding my options didn’t fix everything, but it helped things feel a little less out of control.
This was about more than treatment. This affected my whole life - not just my health. Seeing emotional and practical support included made me feel like that was understood. I didn’t feel like I was doing this alone. It felt like someone had already done the hard work of pulling this all together for me - and that meant a lot!
This website is an independent resource, developed by the Horizons in Neuro-Oncology (HINO) team in the UK. Initial development was supported by Dr Matt Williams and Lillie Pakzad-Shahabi, with grant funding from Novocure to support ongoing work.
HINO maintains editorial independence. While the team collaborates with a range of healthcare organisations and receives grant support from Novocure, all content is created and reviewed by the HINO team and reflects their combined clinical expertise, professional experience, and lived experience as patients and caregivers. HINO retains full editorial control over the content of the website and that Novocure’s financial support does not imply any involvement in, or approval of, its editorial content.
While content is based on UK clinical practice, much of the information may be relevant to international readers. It is provided for general guidance and should not replace medical advice from your own healthcare team.
Please use this information to support discussions with your local oncology team, or see our advice on obtaining a second opinion.
