New drug aims to shrink GI cancers before surgery

NCT ID NCT04196465

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether giving the immune checkpoint inhibitor IMC-001 before surgery can shrink tumors in people with resectable gastric, esophageal, or liver cancer. About 48 participants will receive two cycles of the drug, then undergo surgery. The main goal is to see if the drug causes a major reduction in tumor cells.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

IMC-001 (a drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that giving IMC-001 before surgery helps shrink gastrointestinal cancers, potentially leading to better surgical outcomes and longer survival.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial (48 people) with no control group, so results may not be definitive. Immune-related side effects are possible, and the drug may not work for all cancer types studied.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

esophageal squamous cell carcinoma gastric adenocarcinoma gastric cancer hepatocellular carcinoma liver cancer Liver Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Asan Medical Center

    Seoul, South Korea