New cocktail of drugs shows promise for Tough-to-Treat colon cancer
NCT ID NCT03290937
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tested a combination of three drugs—utomilumab, cetuximab, and irinotecan—in 34 patients with advanced colorectal cancer that had spread and stopped responding to standard treatment. The goal was to find the safest dose and check for side effects. While the approach aims to boost the immune system and attack cancer cells directly, it is still very early research and not yet proven to work.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- utomilumab, cetuximab, and irinotecan hydrochloride
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new combination treatment option for advanced colorectal cancer that has stopped responding to standard chemotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase I trial with only 34 participants, focused on finding the right dose and checking safety. It is too small to prove whether the combination actually works, and side effects may be significant.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for METASTATIC COLORECTAL CARCINOMA are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a new blood test spot colorectal cancer return earlier?
- Can a pill boost the immune system to fight Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- Experimental drug combo targets Hard-to-Treat GI cancers
- Wheat germ supplement studied for immune boost in advanced cancer
- Could a pill help the liver regrow and make more cancer surgeries possible?
- Can a smaller dose of this cancer drug still work? new trial aims to find out