Novel treatments and trials for glioblastoma (GBM)

What it is: A fully personalised peptide vaccine developed by CeGaT GmbH (Tübingen, Germany), manufactured individually for each patient based on genomic sequencing of their tumour. Tumour tissue is sequenced to identify unique mutations (neoantigens), the patient’s HLA type is determined, and a bespoke set of peptides is synthesised and administered as a vaccine series to train the immune system to recognise and attack tumour cells. This is distinct from CeGaT’s diagnostic profiling service (see Section 5), which provides the sequencing data that underpins vaccine design but can also be used independently to guide treatment decisions.

Current evidence: The most substantial published evidence for this approach in GBM comes from a 2024 real-world study (Latzer et al., Nature Communications) involving 173 GBM patients who received a personalised neoantigen peptide vaccine as an individual healing attempt alongside or after standard care. Median overall survival from diagnosis across all patients was 31.9 months — roughly double the historical standard-of-care figure of 14–16 months. A vaccine-induced immune response was detected in 90% of monitored patients, and those who mounted strong responses fared substantially better (median OS 53 months) than those who did not (27 months; p=0.03). Adverse events were predominantly mild (grade 1 or 2). A separate 2025 publication reported findings in 52 patients with IDH1-mutant glioma (grades 2–4) who received a neoantigen vaccine alongside standard care; immunogenicity against the IDH1 mutation was 89%, with robust and durable T-cell responses observed.

Important caveats: The 2024 study is a real-world observational cohort, not a randomised controlled trial. Patients were not randomly assigned to treatment or control, and those who pursued the vaccine may differ from the broader GBM population in ways that affect survival. Randomised trials are planned and will be needed to establish the size of any benefit. The survival figures, while striking, should be interpreted with care.

Availability: A private treatment. Patients travel to Tübingen, Germany for an initial series of four vaccines (the training phase), with subsequent vaccines given every 3–6 weeks. UK oncologists vary in their familiarity with and openness to this approach; some are experienced in working alongside CeGaT.

Timing: Starting the diagnostic and vaccine manufacturing process as early as possible is important. Genomic profiling takes approximately 4–6 weeks; vaccine manufacture takes a further 12 weeks from that point.

Cost: Tumour neoantigen diagnostics cost approximately €10,000. Total vaccine costs vary per patient depending on the number of peptides; one patient’s published account reports a total of approximately €42,000 for the full vaccine course. This does not include travel, accommodation, or immune monitoring costs.

Note: A private treatment with significant cost and logistical demands. Patients should seek independent clinical opinion, discuss timing with their oncologist, and review the published evidence carefully before proceeding.

Published evidence: Latzer P et al. A real-world observation of patients with glioblastoma treated with a personalized peptide vaccine. Nature Communications 15, 6870 (2024).