Researchers at the University of Calgary are studying whether high doses of vitamin B3 (niacin) can improve outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma when added to standard treatment. An interim analysis of 24 patients found a higher-than-expected six‑month progression‑free survival rate, though investigators stress the results are preliminary and require ongoing safety monitoring.
Researchers at the University of Calgary, led by Dr. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti and Dr. V. Wee Yong, are running a Phase I–II clinical trial evaluating controlled-release niacin alongside standard-of-care treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
The researchers’ hypothesis is that glioblastoma can suppress immune activity and that niacin may help restore the function of weakened immune cells, potentially improving the immune system’s ability to attack tumor cells. In the ScienceDaily release, Yong described niacin as “rejuvenat[ing] immune cells” so they can “attack and kill the cancer cells.”
The trial is designed to identify the highest safe dose and assess potential benefit when niacin is combined with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The researchers set a pretrial benchmark: if six‑month progression‑free survival did not improve by at least 20 percentage points versus prior studies, the trial would stop.
In early findings from 24 patients, 82% had no signs of disease progression at six months—reported as a 28‑percentage‑point improvement compared with earlier studies. The team said the findings are encouraging but emphasized that high doses of vitamins, including niacin, can be toxic and should only be used under strict medical supervision.
One participant, Edward (Ed) Waldner, said he joined the study after surgery and that taking part helped him mentally “because we’re trying.” He also said he has been feeling well and that follow-up scans have shown his condition remains “stable.”
The interim results were published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology in 2025. The study is continuing, with the team aiming to complete its final analysis after enrolling 48 participants by the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
