Immunotherapy plus radiation may fight metastatic colon cancer
NCT ID NCT02437071
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard radiation or ablation could help people with metastatic colorectal cancer. The idea is that the combination might trigger a stronger immune response that also attacks tumors not directly treated. The trial enrolled 34 adults who had already tried at least two standard treatments. Researchers measured how many patients saw their tumors shrink and tracked side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) plus radiation therapy or radiofrequency ablation
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced colorectal cancer who have run out of standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 34 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination may cause side effects and may not shrink tumors as hoped.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, 10065, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a Triple-Drug rechallenge tame colorectal cancer?