New pill tested against Hard-to-Treat cancers
NCT ID NCT05944237
First seen Oct 01, 2026 · Last updated Oct 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing a new oral drug called HTL0039732 in people with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments. The trial gives the drug alone and in combination with atezolizumab or other approved cancer therapies. The main goals are to find a safe dose and to see how the body processes the drug. About 150 participants will take part across multiple cancer types, including prostate, stomach, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- HTL0039732, an experimental oral cancer drug, given alone or with atezolizumab or other approved cancer therapies
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new oral treatment option for several advanced solid tumors, either alone or combined with existing immunotherapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with about 150 participants, so it mainly checks safety and dosing. Many experimental cancer drugs fail to show benefit, and combining treatments can add side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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About 150 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2023
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written (signed and dated) informed consent and capable of co-operating with investigational medicinal product administration and follow-up. 2. Phase 1, dose escalation phase Part A (HTL0039732 monotherapy): * Histologically or cytologically proven advanced solid tumour, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no further conventional therapy is considered appropriate by the Investigator or is declined by the potential participant. * At least 1 measurable lesion according to RECIST v1.1, which (in the Investigator's opinion) has had objective radiological progression on or after the last therapy, or at least one assessable lesion e.g. pleural or peritoneal thickening that does not fulfil RECIST v1.1 criteria for measurable disease. * Consent to access and analysis of any available archival tissue or a fresh tumour sample at baseline, if archival tissue is unavailable. * Consent for fresh tumour biopsy sample(s) at time of PD, if the participant has accessible disease and is eligible to receive atezolizumab. Optional at time of disease progression. Phase 1 Part B: \- Histologically proven advanced solid tumour where PGE2/EP4 signalling is believed to be more prevalent or significant (such as microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC), gastro-esophageal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), mCRPC, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, mesothelioma, cervical cancer, renal cancer, sarcoma, pheochromocytoma and cancers with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activating mutations using a clinically-validated assay). Phase 2a: \- Histologically proven advanced solid tumour, in line with indications listed below, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy is considered appropriate by the Investigator or is declined by the potential participant: 1. MSS CRC with PIK3CA or HER2 mutation/genetic aberration, and/or other driver mutation/genetic aberration as agreed with the Sponsor (genomic alteration to have been previously identified using a validated next-generation sequencing method performed on either tumour tissue or circulating tumour DNA \[ctDNA\]); where applicable, results from validated immunohistochemistry are also acceptable. 2. Gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) adenocarcinoma; 3. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; 4. mCRPC Phase 1 Part B and Phase 2a: * Consent to access and analysis of any available archival tissue. * Consent for fresh tumour biopsy samples at baseline and on treatment. However, the following exceptions will be permitted if archival tissue is available at the recruiting site: 1. Patients with mCRPC: biopsies are not required for those whose only safely accessible lesions are bone metastases that lack an accessible soft tissue component. 2. For the first 12 participants in each indication: the on-trial biopsy is optional; and the baseline biopsy is mandatory if there is a safely accessible lesion but may be omitted for patients who have no safely accessible lesion, to permit their inclusion in the study. This will continually be assessed through the study. * Disease refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no further conventional therapy is considered appropriate by the Investigator or is declined by the participant. * Except for mCRPC, at least 1 measurable lesion according to RECIST v1.1, which (in the Investigator's opinion) has had objective radiological progression on or after the last therapy. Potential participants with mCRPC may instead have had PD according to PCWG3 criteria. 1. Previously irradiated lesions cannot be counted as target lesions unless clearly progressed after the radiotherapy. 2. Lesions that are intended to be biopsied should not be counted as target lesions (those undergoing biopsy must have at least one target lesion that is not intended to be biopsied). * For indications where anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is standard of care (such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma, or gastric or GOJ adenocarcinoma with elevated PD-L1 expression), patients must have received that therapy and must be considered to have had progressive disease by the Investigator either on, or within 6 months after, that treatment. 3. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. 4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. 5. Haematological and biochemical indices within the protocol specified ranges. 6. Stable thyroid function tests. Stable doses of thyroxine replacement are permitted. 7. Aged 18 years or over at the time consent is given. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Radiotherapy (except for palliative reasons), chemotherapy, non chemotherapy systemic anti-cancer therapy (apart from life-long hormone suppression such as luteinising hormone-releasing agents in participants with mCRPC) or investigational medicinal products during the 4 weeks prior to enrolment; or first dose of an immunotherapy during the previous 12 weeks before first dose of HTL0039732. 2. Ongoing toxic manifestations of previous treatments that are Grade \>1 per CTCAE v5.0. 3. Any central nervous system metastases (unless potential participants have had local therapy and are asymptomatic, radiologically stable and have been off steroids for ≥4 weeks prior to enrolment). 4. Women of child-bearing potential (or who are already pregnant or lactating). Exceptions apply. 5. Men with partners of childbearing potential. Exceptions apply. 6. Major thoracic or abdominal surgery from which the potential participant has not yet recovered. 7. At high medical risk because of non-malignant systemic disease, including active uncontrolled infection. 8. Known history of current or latent tuberculosis, HIV or Hepatitis B or C infection. 9. Prior treatment with EP4 inhibitor. 10. Treatment with selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in the 8 weeks prior to enrolment. 11. Known hypersensitivity or intolerance to hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or any of the excipients used in HTL0039732 Tablets (microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide or Opadry® QX coating \[macrogol (PEG) polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymer, talc, iron oxide red, part hydrolysed polyvinyl alcohol, iron oxide yellow, iron oxide black, titanium dioxide\]). 12. Use of systemic immunosuppressive agent in the 2 weeks prior to enrolment. Exceptions apply. 13. Current or prior malignancy that could affect safety or efficacy assessment of the IMP or compliance with the protocol or interpretation of results. Patients with curatively-treated non-melanoma skin cancer, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, or carcinomas-in-situ are generally eligible. 14. Significant cardiovascular disease. 15. Known active peptic ulcer disease, or symptoms of gastritis, dyspepsia or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (one or more episodes per week). 16. Current or planned participation in another interventional clinical trial, whilst taking part in this trial of HTL0039732. 17. Potential participants at increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (including individuals receiving concomitant anticoagulants, or with known coagulopathies or other factors predisposing them to bleeding) if intolerant to gastric protection therapy with PPIs or equivalent. 18. Limited ability to swallow or absorb oral medications. 19. Any other condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, would mean that the trial is not in the best interests of the potential participant. Phase 1 Part B and Phase 2a: 20. Clinically significant primary or secondary immunodeficiency. 21. Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the 2 years prior to enrolment. 22. History or clinical suspicion of interstitial lung disease, history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, or current pneumonitis. 23. Hypersensitivity to atezolizumab or any of its excipients. 24. Prior adverse reaction to cancer immunotherapy that required steroid or other immunosuppressive treatment or led to discontinuation of that treatment.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
6 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Addenbrooke's Hospital
RECRUITINGCambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
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Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
RECRUITINGLiverpool, CH63 4JY, United Kingdom
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Guy's Hospital
RECRUITINGLondon, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
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Ninewells Hospital
RECRUITINGDundee, DD1 9SY, United Kingdom
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The Christie Hospital
RECRUITINGManchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom
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Velindre Cancer Centre
RECRUITINGCardiff, CF14 2TL, United Kingdom
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