# NIH Reporter #1UG3NS140118-01A1

Augmenting immunotherapy pharmacodynamics in glioma

**Recipient:** Mayo Clinic Rochester

**Award Amount:** $712,838.00
**Ceiling:** $712,838.00

**Awarded:** September 11, 2026

**Identifier:** 1UG3NS140118-01A1

A clinical trial investigating the combination of DFMO and pembrolizumab to improve immunotherapy outcomes in glioma patients by enhancing immune response and assessing safety and biomarkers.

### Description

This Phase I/IIa trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of combining difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) with pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma or grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytomas. The study aims to assess intratumoral drug concentrations, immune profile changes, T cell infiltration, and myeloid cell abundance, as well as safety, optimal dosing, and potential biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The trial includes surgical window-of-opportunity components and long-term safety and efficacy assessments.

[View original record](https://reporter.nih.gov/search/0C83gI3MXki4-tEhFD4UKQ/project-details/11299707)