Brain and central nervous system cancer

• 1953Methotrexate approved (FDA)
• 1955Prednisone approved (FDA)
• 1959Methylprednisolone acetate approved (FDA)
• 1969Cytarabine approved (FDA)
• 1976Lomustine approved (FDA)
• 1985Iopamidol approved (FDA)
• 1996Cabergoline approved (FDA)

Trials started per year, stacked by phase (darker = later phase). Source: ClinicalTrials.gov via Clin2, which tracks studies recruiting in recent years — early years undercount.

Some brain and central nervous system cancers, particularly certain childhood tumors, can be cured with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Most adult glioblastomas, however, remain incurable, and current drugs offer only temporary control. Overall survival gains have been slow for decades. The approval of lomustine in 1976 gave doctors a chemotherapy that crosses the blood-brain barrier, and it remains part of standard care for some tumors. More than 760 trials are currently active, including 27 late-stage studies, offering cautious hope that new options may emerge. But the reality is that being curable in some describes a defined subset, not the common adult experience.

Are any brain tumors curable?

Yes. Certain pediatric tumors like medulloblastoma and germinoma can be cured with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Cure is much less common in adults, where glioblastoma is usually not curable.

Has treatment improved over the years?

Slowly. Chemotherapy drugs such as methotrexate and lomustine were introduced decades ago but have only modestly extended survival for certain tumor types. For the most common adult brain cancer, survival gains have been limited.

Why are brain cancers hard to treat?

The blood-brain barrier keeps many drugs out, and tumors are highly diverse. Surgery is risky in sensitive brain regions, and cancer cells often invade nearby tissue, making complete removal difficult.

What research is currently underway?

More than 760 clinical trials are active, including 27 phase-3 studies comparing new therapies to standard care. Research focuses on targeted drugs, immunotherapies, and better ways to cross the blood-brain barrier.

How common are brain cancer clinical trials?

In the last five years, 635 trials have started. That reflects strong research interest, though late-stage failures remain common and progress has historically been measured in small steps rather than dramatic breakthroughs.