High-dose vitamin B3 shows early promise in glioblastoma treatment trial

A Phase I/II clinical trial at the University of Calgary examined whether high-dose vitamin B3 (niacin) can improve outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis. The study combined a controlled-release niacin formulation with the usual regimen of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, aiming to restore immune cells that the tumor typically suppresses. Led by oncologist Gloria Roldan Urgoiti and neuroscientist Wee Yong, the trial enrolled 24 participants and found that 82% remained progression-free at six months, a 28% improvement over historical controls and meeting the trial’s continuation criteria.

Researchers stress that while niacin is a common vitamin, the doses used are pharmacologic and require careful medical oversight due to potential toxicity. The investigators intend to recruit up to 48 patients and expect a final analysis by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Funding comes from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and results were published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.