New drug cocktail aims to shrink skin cancer before surgery
NCT ID NCT04869137
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether giving a combination of two drugs—lenvatinib and pembrolizumab—before surgery can help people with Merkel cell carcinoma. The study involves 26 participants with stage II, III, or IV disease. The main goal is to see if the treatment leads to a complete disappearance of cancer cells in the removed tissue.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
lenvatinib (Lenvima) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
What this could lead to
If successful, this combination could shrink tumors before surgery, potentially improving outcomes for people with Merkel cell carcinoma.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 26 participants. It may not work for everyone, and side effects from the drug combination could be significant.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States