HIV cancer hope: immune combo shows early promise but trial halted

NCT ID NCT02408861

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-phase trial tested two immunotherapy drugs, ipilimumab and nivolumab, in people with HIV who had advanced solid tumors or Hodgkin lymphoma that had spread or come back. The goal was to find the safest dose and see if the combination could shrink tumors. The study was terminated early, so full results are not available, but the approach aims to boost the immune system to fight cancer in a vulnerable population.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
ipilimumab and nivolumab (immunotherapy antibodies)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with HIV who have certain advanced cancers that are hard to treat.
What could go wrong
This was a very early (phase I) trial that was terminated, so results are limited. The combination may cause serious immune-related side effects, and it is unclear if it will work for all HIV-associated cancers.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ADVANCED MALIGNANT SOLID NEOPLASM are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

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

  • Baylor College of Medicine/Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason

    Seattle, Washington, 98101-2795, United States

  • FHCC South Lake Union

    Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

  • George Washington University Medical Center

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20037, United States

  • Harborview Medical Center

    Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States

  • John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County

    Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

  • Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    New York, New York, 10065, United States

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

    Commack, New York, 11725, United States

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

    Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

    Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

    East White Plains, New York, 10604, United States

  • Moffitt Cancer Center

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus

    The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States

  • Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein Campus

    The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States

  • Montefiore Medical Center-Weiler Hospital

    The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States

  • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

  • Pennsylvania Hospital

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States

  • Saint Vincent's Hospital

    Darlinghurst, New South Wales, 2010, Australia

  • Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

  • Temple University Hospital

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States

  • UC San Diego Medical Center - Hillcrest

    San Diego, California, 92103, United States

  • UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

    La Jolla, California, 92093, United States

  • UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education

    Los Angeles, California, 90035, United States

  • UCSF Medical Center-Mount Zion

    San Francisco, California, 94115, United States

  • UCSF Medical Center-Parnassus

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

  • UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

  • University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Sacramento, California, 95817, United States

  • University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Sylvester Cancer Center

    Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

  • University of New South Wales

    Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

  • University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • Virginia Mason Medical Center

    Seattle, Washington, 98101, United States

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

  • Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital

    San Francisco, California, 94110, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.