Can a malaria drug help lung cancer patients stay ahead of resistance?

NCT ID NCT00977470

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests whether adding hydroxychloroquine (a malaria drug) to the targeted cancer pill erlotinib can delay drug resistance in people with advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. About 76 participants will receive either erlotinib alone or erlotinib plus hydroxychloroquine. The goal is to see if the combination keeps the cancer from growing longer than erlotinib alone.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: erlotinib and hydroxychloroquine
What this could lead to: If it works, this could help people with EGFR-mutant lung cancer stay on effective treatment longer before their cancer becomes resistant.
What could go wrong: This is a small Phase 2 study, so results may not be definitive. Adding hydroxychloroquine could also increase side effects without improving outcomes.

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.

non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Stanford Cancer Institute

Stanford, California, 94305, United States
University of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
Yale Cancer Center

New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, United States

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