Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Clinical Trials

DIPG grows in the pons, the segment of the brainstem that runs breathing, heart rate, swallowing, and the nerves of the face. Unlike many brain tumors, it does not form a solid mass that surgeons can cut out; it threads diffusely through healthy tissue in a region where no tissue can be spared. That single fact has shaped everything about the disease: diagnosis is made by MRI and, increasingly, a small biopsy, and treatment has historically been limited to radiation, which shrinks the tumor and improves symptoms for a time in most children but does not stop it from returning.

The most common symptoms of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma include Double vision or eyes that do not move together, Facial weakness or drooping, often on one side, Trouble swallowing or slurred speech, Weakness in an arm or leg, or loss of balance, Morning headaches or headaches with nausea, among others. About 300 children diagnosed in the U.S. each year, most often between ages 5 and 10. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.

Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. In August 2025, the FDA granted accelerated approval to dordaviprone (Modeyso), the first drug ever approved for H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma. It is a once-weekly oral therapy for patients whose tumor has progressed after prior treatment, approved based on tumor responses in 50 patients across 5 studies, none of whom had DIPG.

Yes. As of October 21, 2026, 1 FDA-approved medicine has a current label that names Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma: Modeyso (dordaviprone), first approved in 2025. Corticosteroids and immune globulins count once each.

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma arises from acquired (somatic) genetic changes in the affected cells, commonly involving H3-3A, rather than from an inherited variant. Defined by the histone H3 K27M mutation in the tumor (most often H3-3A, encoding H3.3); molecular testing of biopsy tissue is required for the diffuse midline glioma diagnosis and the tumor is not inherited. About 300 children diagnosed in the U.S. each year, most often between ages 5 and 10.

For Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma the genetic testing that matters is usually of the tumor or affected blood cells rather than inherited DNA, looking for H3-3A. Defined by the histone H3 K27M mutation in the tumor (most often H3-3A, encoding H3.3); molecular testing of biopsy tissue is required for the diffuse midline glioma diagnosis and the tumor is not inherited.

Those results guide treatment choice and are often the entry requirement for targeted-therapy trials, so ask whether the biopsy was sent for molecular testing and request the report. The Genetic Testing section of this page lists laboratories in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry.

Eligibility for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma clinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.

Participating in a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma clinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.