Tests surgery to remove returning glioblastoma brain tumors
Compares surgery plus second-line therapy with second-line therapy alone in adults with recurrent glioblastoma.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Surgery for Recurrent Glioblastoma
Key facts
- Where
- Erfurt and Münster, GermanySee the 2 sites
- Phase
- Phase 2
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- How old are you?
- Have you had radiotherapy to your head or brain?
Source: NCT02394626, who can take part
Where in Germany
- Helios Klinikum ErfurtErfurt, GermanyTaking people
- Universitätsklinikum MünsterMünster, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
- Trial code
- NCT02394626
- Record updated
- 2 February 2026
- Original description
Patients with glioblastoma face a grim prognosis. Despite recent advancement in neurosurgical technology and neuro-oncology glioblastomas almost invariably progress or recur after a median of 4-8 months. The strategy to repeat tumor resection at recurrence in order to minimize tumor load and thus to facilitate subsequent second-line therapy has been shown to be feasible and safe.Read full original descriptionShow less
RESURGE - Randomized Controlled Comparative Phase II Trial on Surgery for Glioblastoma Recurrence
Patients with glioblastoma face a grim prognosis. Despite recent advancement in neurosurgical technology and neuro-oncology glioblastomas almost invariably progress or recur after a median of 4-8 months. The strategy to repeat tumor resection at recurrence in order to minimize tumor load and thus to facilitate subsequent second-line therapy has been shown to be feasible and safe.
However, evidence for a survival benefit of surgery for recurrent glioblastoma is scarce and relies entirely on retrospective analyses. While most retrospective analyses report an apparent survival benefit, an EORTC meta-analysis on second-line therapies found no survival difference in patients with or without surgery at recurrence. With regard to the risks and costs inherent to surgery for glioblastoma, a randomized controlled trial is required.
The purpose of the study is to compare the effect of craniotomy and tumor resection followed by adjuvant second-line therapy to no surgery followed by second-line therapy on overall survival, neurological status, and quality of life. Analysis of overall survival will be used to improve sample size estimation of a subsequent phase III trial for craniotomy and tumor resection of glioblastoma recurrence in cooperation with the EORTC.
Inclusion: Written informed consent; ≥18 years of age; Prior resection of glioblastoma confirmed by histology; Glioblastoma pretreated with standard radiotherapy without or with temozolomide; First progression according to RANO criteria; First progression not within 3 months after completion of radiation therapy; Complete removal of contrast-enhancing lesion considered feasible without significant risk of permanent speech or motor function according to MRI as confirmed by study eligibility committee after screening and prior to recruitment; No encroachment of the M1 or A1 segments of the medial and anterior cerebral artery on MRI; No contrast enhancement in presumed speech and primary motor areas on MRI; No midline shift on MRI; No contrast enhancing ventricular spread, multifocal recurrence, meningeosis carcinomatosa or infiltration of the contra-lateral hemisphere on MRI; No contra-indication for surgery; Good functional status (KPS ≥ 70).