Testing riluzole for thinking and memory problems after cancer treatment
Original title: Repurposing Riluzole for Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Trial
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 trial, so the drug is still being tested and is not proven care.
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 trial is testing whether a drug called riluzole can help people whose thinking has changed after cancer treatment.
Who this trial is for. This trial is for cancer survivors who recently finished treatment, or for people who have had whole brain radiation for a benign or malignant tumor, and who have cancer related cognitive impairment. It tests riluzole against a placebo, which is a dummy pill with no medicine in it, and neither the patient nor the doctor knows which one a person gets.
Where it stands. There are no results yet. The trial is measuring levels of a substance in the blood called brain derived neuropathic factor, or BDNF. The answer is not in yet. The source does not report any findings.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Riluzole is already a known drug, and this trial asks whether it might help with thinking problems after cancer treatment. If you fit the description above, you could ask your care team whether this trial is worth looking into. They can help you weigh it.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean riluzole helps with thinking problems. A trial is a test, not a proven treatment. Joining a trial is not a guarantee that you will feel better, and it is not a promise of a cure. The drug may turn out to make no difference.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, July 14, 2026 · Read the original
This plain-language summary was written by AI and published automatically after passing our automatic safety checks. How we write.