New cocktail shows promise for tough lung cancer

NCT ID NCT03575793

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Salma Sabbour Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tested a combination of three drugs—nivolumab, ipilimumab, and plinabulin—in 39 adults with recurrent small cell lung cancer that had worsened after initial chemotherapy. The goal was to find the safest dose and see if the combo could slow cancer growth. Results from this completed early-phase trial help guide future research, but the treatment is not yet proven to work for everyone.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: nivolumab, ipilimumab, and plinabulin
What this could lead to: If this combination works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with recurrent small cell lung cancer who have run out of standard therapies.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with only 39 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drugs can cause serious immune-related side effects, and the benefit over existing treatments is not yet proven.

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.

lung cancer lung neoplasm small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

LUNG CANCER SCLC

Contacts and locations

Locations

City of Hope

Duarte, California, 91010, United States
Erlanger Health System

Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37403, United States
Henry Ford Health System

Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Moffitt Cancer Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
University of Illinois Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

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