Sitagliptin, a diabetes drug, tested in people with growing grade 4 glioma
Original title: A Phase 2 and Pharmacodynamic Study of Sitagliptin in Patients With Progressive Grade 4 Gliomas
How far along is this research?
This is a trial that is enrolling or has been updated. It is not a finding yet.
This is a middle stage study in people, so we do not know yet if the drug helps.
Status: Recruiting. It is looking for patients now. Talk to your care team about whether it fits you.
The trial team last updated this record on . Always check the trial page for the latest.
The short version
This study tests whether a drug used for diabetes can help the immune system fight a grade 4 brain tumor.
Who this trial is for. This trial is for people with grade 4 glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary, also called glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary, that is getting worse. It tests a drug called sitagliptin to see if it can improve the body's immune response against the tumor.
Where it stands. The trial has not reported results. It is looking at whether sitagliptin blocks certain immune cells, called MDSCs, that hold back the body's own defenses against cancer. Those cells need an enzyme called DPP-4 to get into the brain and work, and sitagliptin blocks that enzyme. Whether this helps people with glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary is not known yet.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Sitagliptin is approved for diabetes, but its use for glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary is experimental. If your tumor is a grade 4 glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary that is growing, you could ask your care team whether a study like this one is worth looking into.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean sitagliptin treats brain tumors. A trial is a test, not a proven treatment. Joining a study is not a guarantee that you will be helped, and it is not a promise of a cure. The trial team decides who can take part.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, August 6, 2026 · Read the original
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