Can a One-Two punch of immune boosters revive cancer treatment?
NCT ID NCT03991130
First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether combining high-dose IL-2 with nivolumab can shrink tumors in people with advanced melanoma or kidney cancer that has progressed despite prior anti-PD-1 therapy. Participants receive nivolumab and high-dose IL-2 in repeated cycles, and researchers measure how many tumors shrink or disappear. The goal is to see if this combination can overcome resistance to standard immunotherapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination of two immunotherapy drugs: high-dose IL-2 (a protein that boosts immune cells) and nivolumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody that helps immune cells attack cancer)
- What this could lead to
- If this combination works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced melanoma or kidney cancer whose tumors have stopped responding to standard immunotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 6 participants, so results may not apply broadly. High-dose IL-2 can cause severe side effects, and the combination may not improve response rates.
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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UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can your genes predict your melanoma risk?
- Biopsies may reveal why some cancers respond to immunotherapy