Study of autologous mature dendritic cell vaccine plus atezolizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

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What is this study about?

Recurrent Glioblastoma is a type of brain tumor that has returned after previous treatment. The study uses a personalized vaccine made from the patient’s own immune cells called dendritic cells, which are grown in the lab and then “loaded” with a preparation of the patient’s own tumor material (tumor lysate). This means the vaccine is created from the patient’s own tissue, and the dendritic cells act like teachers that show the immune system what the cancer looks like so it can learn to attack it. In addition, the trial includes an intravenous medication called atezolizumab, which blocks a protein known as PD‑L1 that tumors use to hide from the immune system, thereby helping immune cells stay active against the cancer.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the vaccine alone or together with atezolizumab can trigger a tumor‑fighting immune response. Participants receive a series of small injections of the vaccine under the skin over several weeks, along with occasional IV infusions of atezolizumab. Blood samples are taken at various times to check for signs that the immune system is responding, and doctors monitor for any side effects. Follow‑up visits continue for several months to assess overall health and disease status.

1 initial treatment with autologous dendritic cell vaccine

you will receive an autologous mature dendritic cell vaccine that contains your own immune cells loaded with material from your tumor. the vaccine is given as a 2.5 ml intradermal injection (injected just under the skin). this injection is performed by a health‑care professional in the clinic.

2 initial treatment with atezolizumab

you will also receive atezolizumab, a medication that blocks the protein called programmed death‑ligand 1 (PD‑L1). blocking PD‑L1 helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. the drug is given as a 1200 mg intravenous infusion (delivered slowly into a vein) in the clinic.

3 blood tests to evaluate immune response

periodic blood samples will be taken to measure how your T‑cells (a type of white blood cell) respond to the vaccine. the laboratory will look for substances such as interferon‑gamma and other cytokines that indicate an immune reaction against the tumor.

4 safety monitoring and side‑effect assessment

you will have regular check‑ups to report any side effects you experience. each side effect will be recorded and graded using a standard system that describes its severity. this information helps the study team ensure the treatments are safe for you.

5 follow‑up visits to assess tumor status

follow‑up appointments will include imaging studies and clinical examinations to determine whether the tumor is stable, shrinking, or growing. these assessments are performed for up to six months after your surgery to evaluate overall and progression‑free survival.

Who Can Join the Study?

Be between 18 and 75 years old at the time of the second surgery.
Have healthy enough liver as shown by blood tests: liver enzymes (ALT/SGPT, AST/SGOT, alkaline phosphatase) no more than three times the normal limit and bilirubin no more than 1.5 times normal.
Have healthy enough kidneys as shown by a creatinine level no more than 1.5 times the normal limit.
Have adequate bone marrow function (the part of the body that makes blood cells) with hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL, platelets at least 100,000 per microliter, white blood cells at least 3,000 per microliter, and neutrophils at least 1,500 per microliter.
Have a normal blood clotting test called INR (International Normalized Ratio) of 1.5 or less, if not taking blood‑thinning medication.
Have a diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM) that is IDH‑wildtype, WHO grade 4 at the first recurrence, confirmed by pathology after surgery.
Have completed the usual treatment of radiation plus chemotherapy and at least three cycles of additional temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy.
Have the original tumor tissue and the first MRI scans available for the study’s laboratory analysis.
Have a vein that can be used for leukapheresis (a procedure that collects white blood cells) in both study groups.
Have had a near‑complete removal of the tumor (leaving 5 ml or less of contrast‑enhancing tumor) as seen on an MRI done within 72 hours after fluorescence‑guided surgery; a second surgery may be done later if needed for medical reasons.
Have a Karnofsky performance status score of 70% or higher, meaning you can care for yourself and carry out most daily activities.
Be able to provide a sterile, dead tumor mixture (tumor lysate) that contains at least 60% tumor cells and 3.5 mg of protein.
Be taking no more than 2 mg of dexamethasone (or an equivalent steroid) each day at the start of the study; steroids should be avoided during treatment unless medically necessary.

Who Cannot Join the Study?

Severe acute or chronic medical conditions that could raise risk or affect results, such as immune system disease (immunosuppressive disease or immunodeficiency), kidney failure (chronic renal disease), uncontrolled high blood pressure (uncontrolled hypertension), serious heart problems like unstable chest pain (unstable angina), a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction), or heart failure (symptomatic congestive heart failure), badly controlled diabetes, or planned major surgery.
History of lung inflammation called pneumonitis.
Received a live, weakened (attenuated) vaccine within the past four weeks.
Received certain immune‑boosting medicines within the last six weeks or for five half‑lives of the drug (whichever is longer). (Half‑life is the time it takes for half of a drug to leave the body.)
Any current infection that needed a hospital stay or IV antibiotics/antiviral medicines within two weeks before joining the study.
History of a serious autoimmune disorder (where the body attacks itself) or having an organ transplant (organ allograft).
History of bleeding problems (bleeding diathesis) or clotting disorders (coagulopathy).
Had another cancer in the past three years, except for certain skin cancers, early cervical cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or early‑stage prostate cancer with a low PSA level.
Known allergy or intolerance to any part of the study vaccine (GlioVax DC vaccine) or the drug Atezolizumab.
Existing severe reduction in bone‑marrow blood cell production (myelosuppression).
Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
Infected with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, Parvo B19 virus, syphilis (Treponema pallidum), or other infections required by law.

Where you can join this trial?

Verified and Recommended Sites

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Verified Sites

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Other Sites

Site Name	City	Country	Status
Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf	Duesseldorf	Germany
Sirw Kyqpmlwg Dnbyrwms Gblw	Duisburg	Germany

Trial status

Country	Status	Recruitment Start
Germany	Not yet recruiting	03.08.2026

Trial locations

Investigated Drugs:

Autologous, tumor lysate-loaded, mature dendritic cells vaccine is a personalized cancer vaccine made from the patient’s own immune cells. Doctors collect dendritic cells, which help the immune system recognize threats, and then load them with tiny pieces of the patient’s tumor. After the cells are prepared, they are injected into the skin. This vaccine is meant to teach the immune system to spot and attack the glioblastoma cells when they appear again.

Atezolizumab is a medication that blocks a protein called PD‑L1, which some cancers use to hide from the immune system. By blocking this protein, atezolizumab helps the body’s T‑cells stay active and better able to fight the tumor. It is given through an IV infusion and is used in the study together with the dendritic cell vaccine to see if the combination improves the anti‑tumor response.

Investigated Diseases:

Glioblastoma multiforme

Recurrent glioblastoma – A malignant brain tumor that has returned after initial therapy, composed of rapidly dividing glial cells. It grows quickly and invades nearby brain tissue, often causing new or worsening neurological symptoms. The tumor can form additional lesions within the same region of the brain. Its cells continue to proliferate despite prior treatment, leading to further enlargement of the tumor mass. This progression can impair normal brain function as the abnormal tissue expands.

Trial ID:

2026-525397-19-00

Protocol code:

Gliomatch-DC-PDL1

Trial Phase:

Human Pharmacology (Phase I) – Other

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Study of autologous mature dendritic cell vaccine plus atezolizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

What is this study about?

Who Can Join the Study?

Who Cannot Join the Study?