BAAR, Switzerland | June 18, 2026
Novocure has announced topline results from its Phase 3 TRIDENT trial, which evaluated whether initiating Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy at the start of chemoradiation could improve outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) compared with starting TTFields during the maintenance phase of treatment. The global, randomized study did not meet its primary endpoint, as early initiation of TTFields therapy failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Despite this outcome, the trial demonstrated durable survival benefits in both treatment groups, confirmed the feasibility of earlier TTFields initiation, and identified no new safety signals, reinforcing the established safety profile of the therapy. The complete findings have been accepted for presentation at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2026 Annual Meeting.
KOAR Registry Links AlloSure Elevations to Poorer Outcomes
The TRIDENT trial enrolled 981 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who were randomized shortly after surgery to receive TTFields therapy either at the beginning of chemoradiation or during the subsequent maintenance phase. In the intent-to-treat population, patients receiving early TTFields therapy achieved a median overall survival of 17.7 months, compared with 17.5 months for patients who initiated therapy during maintenance, resulting in a hazard ratio of 0.953 that did not reach statistical significance (p=0.519). Although the primary endpoint was not met, long-term survival remained encouraging in both groups. The one-, two-, and three-year survival rates reached 70.9%, 33.9%, and 22.5%, respectively, in the early-start group, compared with 72.0%, 31.6%, and 18.4% in the maintenance-start group, suggesting sustained clinical benefit from TTFields therapy regardless of treatment initiation timing.
Safety Profile Remains Consistent with Previous Studies
The study confirmed that Tumor Treating Fields therapy remained well tolerated when administered alongside chemoradiation, with no new device-related or treatment-related safety concerns observed. Safety findings were consistent with previous clinical studies evaluating TTFields in glioblastoma, supporting the continued integration of the technology into standard treatment protocols. Baseline patient characteristics were balanced across both treatment groups, including median age of 60 years, performance status, MGMT promoter methylation, IDH mutation status, and extent of surgical resection. Approximately 25% of enrolled patients did not proceed to the maintenance phase following chemoradiation, reflecting the aggressive nature of glioblastoma and the challenges associated with long-term treatment in this patient population.
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Further Analyses May Identify Patients Who Benefit Most
Although the trial did not achieve its primary objective, Novocure believes the results provide valuable clinical insights into optimizing the use of TTFields therapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Investigators noted that the study demonstrated the practicality of initiating treatment during chemoradiation and suggested that selected patient subgroups may derive greater benefit from earlier intervention. The company plans to conduct additional analyses to better understand which clinical or molecular characteristics may predict improved outcomes and help refine future treatment strategies. As one of the largest clinical studies focused on integrating TTFields therapy into standard glioblastoma management, TRIDENT contributes important evidence supporting ongoing research aimed at extending survival for patients diagnosed with one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Source: Novocure press release
