New drug DS-8201a shows promise in targeting Hard-to-Treat cancers
NCT ID NCT04294628
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing a drug called DS-8201a in 62 adults with advanced HER2-positive solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments. The drug works by attaching to the HER2 protein on cancer cells and damaging their DNA, which may kill the cells. Researchers will take tumor samples before and after treatment to see how the drug affects proteins and immune cells in the tumor.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- DS-8201a (a drug that targets HER2 protein on cancer cells and damages their DNA)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help develop better treatments for advanced HER2-positive cancers that have stopped responding to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early (Phase 1) pilot study with only 62 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The drug may not work as hoped or could cause side effects.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, New York, 10065, United States
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National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Clinic
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New drug combo aims to shrink Hard-to-Treat pancreatic and ovarian tumors
- Engineered immune cells take aim at Hard-to-Treat cancers
- Vaccine trains immune system to hunt down cancer cells
- Gut radiation may revive immunotherapy in resistant cancers