Can an immunotherapy drug boost the power of chemoradiation against anal cancer?
NCT ID NCT04230759
First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding the immunotherapy drug durvalumab to the usual chemotherapy and radiation treatment can help people with locally advanced anal cancer stay cancer-free longer. The study includes about 180 adults with stage IIB–IIIC anal cancer. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either standard chemoradiation alone or chemoradiation plus durvalumab, and researchers will compare how long it takes for the cancer to come back or worsen.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- durvalumab (an immunotherapy drug) added to standard chemotherapy and radiation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could establish a new standard of care that improves the chance of keeping anal cancer from returning after initial treatment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial, so results are preliminary. Adding immunotherapy may increase side effects, and the benefit over standard treatment is not yet proven.
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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Asklepios Klinik Altona
Hamburg, 22763, Germany
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Hospital Barmherzige Brüder
Regensburg, 93049, Germany
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Institut für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 64283, Germany
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Klinik für Strahlenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie
Essen, Hesse, 45122, Germany
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany
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Kliniken Maria Hilf GmbH Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach, Mönchengladbach, 41063, Germany
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Klinikum Stuttgart
Stuttgart, 70174, Germany
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LMU Klinikum der Universität München
München, München, 81377, Germany
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OnkoLibri GbR
Berlin, 14195, Germany
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Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Berlin, State of Berlin, 12203, Germany
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Technische Universität München
München, München, 81675, Germany
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UKSH Campus Kiel
Kiel, Kiel, 24105, Germany
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Uniklinikum Marburg
Marburg, Marburg, 35043, Germany
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Univeritätsklinik für Strahlentherapie-Radioonkologie
Graz, 8036, Austria
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University Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt
Frankfurt, 60590, Germany
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UniversitätsSpital Zürich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, CH-8091, Switzerland
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Universitätsklinik Tübingen
Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg
Magdeburg, Magdeburg, 39120, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Regensburg
Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Rostock
Rostock, Rostock, 18059, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
Goettigen, 37075, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Mainz
Mainz, Mainz, 55131, Germany
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can anal cancer treatment spare sexual well-being? a study tracks the toll over two years.
- HIV and cancer: study seeks to uncover hidden risk factors
- What do gay men know about anal cancer screening? a new survey aims to find out
- Better swab, better catch: study aims to sharpen anal cancer screening
- New drug combo targets HPV-Driven cancers in phase II trial
- Drug combo aims to shrink Hard-to-Treat anal cancer