New drug cocktail targets Virus-Linked cancers in early trial

NCT ID NCT04902443

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

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 5 times

Summary

This phase 1 study tests a combination of two drugs, pomalidomide (a pill) and nivolumab (an infusion), in adults with cancers caused by viruses like Epstein-Barr, HPV, or hepatitis. The goal is to find a safe dose and see if the drugs can shrink tumors. Up to 58 people with Kaposi sarcoma, lymphomas, or other virus-associated cancers that haven't responded to standard treatment can join, including those with HIV.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pomalidomide and nivolumab
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for several hard-to-treat virus-related cancers.
What could go wrong: This is an early phase 1 trial with only 58 participants, so safety and dosing are still being figured out. It may not work for all cancer types, and side effects from the drug combination are possible.

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.

aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma AIDS cervical carcinoma Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma Epstein-Barr virus-associated mesenchymal tumor Hodgkins lymphoma Kaposi's sarcoma nasopharyngeal carcinoma oropharyngeal carcinoma oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma primary effusion lymphoma virus associated tumor

As listed by the trial registrant

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

EBV/KSHV-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOMAS KAPOSI SARCOMA VIRAL ASSOCIATED MALIGNANCIES

Contacts and locations

Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
RECRUITING

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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