Cancer-Fighting virus injected directly into tumors shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT04725331

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Transgene Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-phase trial tested a new treatment called BT-001, a virus designed to infect and kill cancer cells, given alone or with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. The study involved 31 people with advanced solid tumors like melanoma, lung cancer, or sarcoma that had spread. The goal was to see if the combination was safe and could shrink tumors, but the trial was stopped early, so we have limited information on how well it works.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: BT-001 (a modified virus that targets tumors) and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could offer a new way to shrink tumors by combining a virus that attacks cancer cells with an immunotherapy that boosts the immune system.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. The approach is still experimental, and side effects from the virus or immune reactions could be serious.

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.

cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma melanoma metastatic malignant neoplasm Neoplasm Metastasis non-small cell lung carcinoma sarcoma soft tissue sarcoma triple-negative breast carcinoma vaccinia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

MELANOMA MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA METASTATIC CANCER NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Centre Léon Bérard

Lyon, 69008, France
Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc

Brussels, 1200, Belgium
Hôpital Saint-Louis AP-HP

Paris, 75010, France
Institut Bergonié

Bordeaux, 33000, France
Institut Gustave Roussy

Villejuif, 94800, France

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