Common antifungal drug shows promise against esophageal cancer
NCT ID NCT05563766
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase II trial tests whether adding itraconazole, a common antifungal medication, to standard chemoradiation can improve outcomes for people with resectable esophageal cancer. About 78 participants will receive itraconazole before and after standard treatment, then undergo surgery. The main goal is to see if more tumors completely disappear by the time of surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Itraconazole (an antifungal drug)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to boost the effectiveness of standard chemoradiation for esophageal cancer, potentially improving survival chances.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (78 people). The drug may not improve response rates as hoped, and side effects from adding itraconazole to chemoradiation are not yet fully known.
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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Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27705-3875, United States
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Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030-4211, United States
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
RECRUITINGAnn Arbor, Michigan, 48105-2303, United States
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VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX
RECRUITINGDallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States
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VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA
RECRUITINGPalo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States
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VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
RECRUITINGPortland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
RECRUITINGSeattle, Washington, 98108-1532, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a new infusion drug shrink Hard-to-Treat tumors?
- Can a new drug combo shrink Hard-to-Treat tumors?
- Can a swallowed balloon unlock the genetic secrets of esophageal cancer?
- Can a new drug rally the immune system against Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- AI biomarker may reveal who responds to esophageal cancer immunotherapy
- Pulsing radiation may spare esophageal cancer patients from agonizing throat pain