Mini-Device implanted in tumors could reveal which drug works best

NCT ID NCT06782399

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only This study
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-phase study tests a tiny implantable device that delivers very small amounts of several approved cancer drugs directly into skin cancer tumors. The goal is to see if the device can safely and effectively identify which drug triggers the most cancer cell death in that specific tumor. The study involves 25 people with squamous cell carcinoma and focuses on whether the device can be placed and removed without damaging the tissue.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Microdevice (implantable nanodose drug delivery device releasing multiple approved drugs)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could lead to a way to quickly test which drugs are most effective for a person's specific skin cancer, making treatment more personalized and efficient.
What could go wrong
This is a very early, small pilot study (25 people) focused on whether the device can be safely placed and removed. It does not test if the drugs actually shrink tumors, so many more studies would be needed before this approach could be used in practice.

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

Early phase 1

The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.

Participants

About 25 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Oct 2025

Expected to finish

Jul 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

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

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

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

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have clinical diagnosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with cutaneous involvement supported by histological evaluation of skin lesions based upon available clinical data including pathology reports from non-study institution (if applicable) * Participants must have visible cutaneous disease. Skin lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions. * A single lesion is amenable to placement of one or multiple devices in terms of lesion size and location, as assessed by dermatologist (minimum lesion diameter of 1.0 cm). * Washout period from previous treatments is not necessary. * Age minimum of age 18. Because of limited incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the pediatric population, children are excluded from this study. * ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%, see Appendix A). * Participants will undergo laboratory testing within 28 days prior to the procedure. Participants must have marrow function as defined below: absolute neutrophil count ≥500/mcL platelets ≥50,000/mcL * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial. * For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated. * Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For participants with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load. * Participants with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the efficacy assessment of the systemic regimen are eligible for this trial in the systemic treatment cohort (expansion cohort). * Participants must be evaluated by a dermatologist or medical oncologist who will determine the clinically appropriate treatment strategy based on clinical history and extent of disease. Systemic therapy will be mandatory for expansion/systemic treatment cohort. Systemic therapy may be initiated anytime within 4 weeks of MD removal. * Patients must be deemed medically stable to undergo percutaneous procedures by their treating cutaneous oncologist. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. * Patients must be willing to undergo research-related genetic and transcriptomic sequencing (somatic and germline) and data management, including the deposition of de-identified genetic sequencing data in NIH central data repositories. * Patient is considered to have capacity to properly follow instructions at home for the care of device(s) (see Appendix B). Exclusion Criteria: * Positive serum pregnancy test at screening visit. Pregnant women are excluded from this study because the agents used for microdosing have the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is enrolled in this study. * Uncorrectable bleeding or coagulation disorder known to cause increased risk with surgical or biopsy procedures. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to agents used in this study. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Patients who will receive standard of care systemic therapy in expansion cohort are not allowed to start any new skin directed therapy (e.g. topical 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, etc.) concurrent with first systemic therapy initiated after device implantation and retrieval. Should a patient clinically progress on first systemic therapy and require a change in treatment, skin directed therapies may be introduced if desired.

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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.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Dana Farber Cancer Insitute

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

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