Can a cancer drug stop AML from coming back?

NCT ID NCT02275533

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests whether the immunotherapy drug nivolumab can wipe out any leftover leukemia cells and prevent the cancer from returning in people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are already in remission after chemotherapy. The trial enrolled 82 adults whose AML had responded to initial treatment. Participants received either nivolumab or standard observation to see if the drug improves how long they stay cancer-free.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: nivolumab (a drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a way to keep acute myeloid leukemia in remission longer after chemotherapy, reducing the chance of relapse.
What could go wrong: This is a phase II trial with only 82 participants, so results are preliminary. Nivolumab can cause immune-related side effects, and it may not prevent relapse in all patients.

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.

acute myeloid leukemia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Banner University Medical Center - Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
Baylor College of Medicine/Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Ben Taub General Hospital

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Duarte, California, 91010, United States
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur, Illinois, 62526, United States
Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
Illinois CancerCare-Peoria

Peoria, Illinois, 61615, United States
Indiana University/Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone

New York, New York, 10016, United States
Los Angeles General Medical Center

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States
Moffitt Cancer Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
Moffitt Cancer Center-International Plaza

Tampa, Florida, 33607, 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
NCI - Center for Cancer Research

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033-0850, United States
Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Buffalo, New York, 14263, United States
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
Smilow Cancer Center/Yale-New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
UC Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross

New Lenox, Illinois, 60451, United States
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
UT Southwestern/Simmons Cancer Center-Dallas

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
University Health Network-Princess Margaret Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
University of Arizona Cancer Center-North Campus

Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
University of Chicago Medicine-Orland Park

Orland Park, Illinois, 60462, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
University of Kansas Clinical Research Center

Fairway, Kansas, 66205, United States
University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center

Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States
University of Kentucky/Markey Cancer Center

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States
University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center - University Hospital

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute

Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center

Farmington Hills, Michigan, 48334, United States
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

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