Immunotherapy-Chemo combo targets tough neuroendocrine cancers

NCT ID NCT03582475

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This early-phase trial tests whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard platinum-based chemotherapy can help people with rare, aggressive small cell or neuroendocrine cancers of the bladder or prostate. The study includes 15 participants whose cancer has spread. Researchers are looking at how many patients respond and for how long, as well as safety. The goal is to see if this combination is worth testing in larger studies.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pembrolizumab (immunotherapy) plus platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin with etoposide or docetaxel)
What this could lead to: If this combination works, it could point toward a new treatment option for rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cancers of the bladder or prostate.
What could go wrong: This is a very early (Phase 1) and small (15 people) trial, so results may not apply to larger groups. The combination may cause significant side effects from both immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

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.

bladder transitional cell carcinoma castration-resistant prostate carcinoma infiltrating bladder urothelial carcinoma metastatic prostate carcinoma prostate cancer prostate neuroendocrine neoplasm prostate small cell carcinoma stage IVb bladder cancer transitional cell carcinoma ureter small cell carcinoma urethra cancer urethra transitional cell carcinoma Urethral Neoplasms Urinary Bladder Neoplasms urinary bladder small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma urothelial carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BLADDER SMALL CELL NEUROENDOCRINE CARCINOMA CASTRATION-RESISTANT PROSTATE CARCINOMA METASTATIC BLADDER UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA METASTATIC URETHRAL UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA PROSTATE CARCINOMA METASTATIC IN THE BONE PROSTATE NEUROENDOCRINE NEOPLASM PROSTATE SMALL CELL CARCINOMA STAGE III BLADDER CANCER AMERICAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON CANCER ( AJCC) V8 STAGE III PROSTATE CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE III URETHRAL CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE IV BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE IV PROSTATE CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE IV URETHRAL CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE IVA BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE IVB BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8 URETER SMALL CELL CARCINOMA UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

UCLA / Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

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