A drug changed how returning glioblastoma tumors use fuel, but did not slow them
Original title: A novel approach to reverse Warburg metabolism in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: A phase II pharmacodynamic study of dichloroacetate.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
It was tested in a small trial in people, and it did not slow the tumor.
The short version
A drug taken by mouth changed how brain tumors burn fuel, but it did not keep the tumor from coming back.
What was studied. Doctors tested a drug called DCA in 37 people whose glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4, the highest grade. It grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary had come back. Some took it for 1 week before surgery to remove the tumor, and some did not. After surgery, everyone took it.
What they found. In people who took DCA, tumor samples showed the drug was changing how the tumor used fuel. Signs of tumor cell growth went down, and a substance in the blood called lactate dropped. The drug was safe and easy to take, but it did not delay the tumor coming back.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: DCA can reach the brain tumor and change how it gets energy, and it seemed safe. The researchers think it may be worth testing together with other treatments.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean DCA helps people live longer or keeps the tumor away. In this study, it did not slow the tumor at all. This was a small study in people, and more research is needed. It is far from everyday care and it is not a cure. Talk with your care team before trying any new drug.
Source: PubMed, August 25, 2026 · Read the original
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