Immunotherapy drug avelumab takes on rare penile cancer

NCT ID NCT03391479

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether avelumab, an immunotherapy drug, can shrink tumors in 25 people with advanced penile cancer who cannot take platinum chemotherapy or whose cancer worsened after it. Avelumab works by blocking a protein that helps tumors hide from the immune system. The main goal is to see how many patients respond to treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: avelumab (an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced penile cancer who have few alternatives.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 25 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not shrink tumors or could cause side effects like immune-related inflammation.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer metastatic malignant neoplasm Neoplasm Metastasis penile cancer penile neoplasm squamous cell carcinoma of penis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ADVANCED CANCER METASTATIC CANCER PENILE CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada

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