Can a new chemo combo outsmart small cell lung cancer?
NCT ID NCT04209595
First seen Aug 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial is testing whether a new form of chemotherapy called PLX038 can be safely combined with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib to shrink tumors in people with small cell lung cancer, small cell cancer outside the lungs, or other solid tumors. The study has two parts: first, finding the safest dose of the combination, and then seeing how well it works. Participants receive PLX038 as an IV infusion once every three weeks and take rucaparib pills twice a day for part of that cycle. The goal is to see if this pairing can stop tumor growth better than standard treatments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- PLX038 (PEGylated SN38) and rucaparib
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for small cell lung cancer and other hard-to-treat solid tumors.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants, so the combination may not prove safe or effective. Side effects from the drugs could be serious.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
10 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2020
- Finished
-
Feb 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Subjects with: * histologically confirmed solid tumors (Phase I), OR * histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (Phase II), OR * histologically or cytologically confirmed extra-pulmonary small cell carcinomas (Phase II). * Age greater than or equal to 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of PLX038 (PEGylated SN38) in combination with rucaparib in participants \<18 years of age, children are excluded from this study, but will be eligible for future pediatric trials. * Subjects must have progressed on or after standard first-line systemic chemotherapy and have no effective treatment options. * Participants must have disease that is not amenable to potentially curative resection. * Participants must have measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. * Participants with asymptomatic brain metastases and treated brain metastases are eligible. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status less than or equal to 2. * Adequate hematological function defined by: * white blood cell (WBC) count greater than or equal to 3 x 10\^9/L, * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 x10\^9/L, * platelet count greater than or equal to 100 x 10\^9/L, * Hemoglobin (Hgb) greater than or equal to 9 g/ dL * Adequate hepatic function defined by: * a total bilirubin level less than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), * an aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level less than or equal to 2.5xULN, (less than or equal to 5X ULN if liver metastasis) * an alanine transaminase (ALT) level less than or equal to 2.5 xULN, (less than or equal to 5X ULN if liver metastasis). * Adequate renal function defined by: * Creatinine OR Measured, or calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may also be used in place of CrCl): \< 1.5x institution upper limit of normal OR greater than or equal to 45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 for participant with creatinine levels greater than or equal to 1.5 X institutional ULN. Note: Creatinine clearance (CrCl) or eGFR should be calculated per institutional standard. * The effects of the study treatment on the developing human fetus are unknown; thus, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study treatment and up to 6 months after the last dose of the study drug (s). Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. * Subjects must be able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents. * Systemic anti-cancer treatment or major surgery within 2 weeks prior to enrollment. * Radiotherapy within 24 hours prior to enrollment. * Participants who require treatment with strong inhibitors or inducers of Cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A (CYP3A) or with uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 gene (UGT1A1) inhibitors during the planned period of investigational treatment with PLX038. * Participants with known Gilbert's syndrome. * Participants homozygous for the UGT1A1\*28 variant allele with severely reduced UGT1A1 activity. * Participants with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) status on antiviral drugs are excluded due to the absence of previous experience with concurrent use of antiviral medications and the investigational drug product to be evaluated in the current study and possible for adverse pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interactions. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to PLX038 or rucaparib. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that may impair the participants tolerance of study treatments. * Pregnant women are excluded from this study because PEGSN38 and rucaparib potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects are unknown. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with PEGSN38 and rucaparib, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with study drugs.
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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
-
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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