Led by Celina Crisman, MD, MPH, Adilia Hormigo, MD, PhD, and Vijay Agarwal, MD, as principal investigators, Montefiore Einstein is one of only 22 sites participating in a multicenter, randomized control, Phase 2b clinical trial to assess progression-free and overall survival, using a combination immunotherapy with autologous cell immunotherapy and antisense oligonucleotide (IMV-001) targeting IGF-1R in patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma. 

The trial combines maximal safe tumor resection with temporary abdominal implantation of small bio-diffusion chambers containing either the study drug (IMV-001), which may prime the immune system against the tumor, or a placebo. All patients also receive standard of care treatment for glioblastoma consisting of radiation and chemotherapy.

Despite being the most prevalent and aggressive primary malignant brain cancer with intrinsic resistance to scarce treatments and a 5-year survival rate of less than seven percent, the standard of care for glioblastoma has remained relatively unchanged for almost two decades. 

Montefiore Einstein has a robust translational research program for brain tumors and is actively involved in numerous clinical trials for glioblastoma, providing patients with access to emerging treatment that is otherwise unavailable. We’re ranked in the top one percent of all U.S. hospitals for cancer care and among the highest performing centers in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S. News & World Report, and are among the elite one percent NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the U.S.

For more information on clinical studies at Montefiore Einstein please visit https://research.montefioreeinstein.org/