Can a Two-Drug combo outsmart resistant breast and ovarian cancers?
NCT ID NCT04315233
First seen Sep 04, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026
Summary
Researchers are testing whether combining ribociclib and belinostat can help people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer or recurrent ovarian cancer. The trial starts by finding the safest dose of the drug pair, then expands to see how well it works in breast cancer patients. Participants receive both drugs in cycles, and researchers monitor side effects and tumor responses.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A combination of two drugs: ribociclib, which blocks proteins that help cancer cells divide, and belinostat, which alters gene activity to slow cancer growth.
- What this could lead to
- If the combination proves safe and shows promise, it could offer a new treatment option for people with hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early, small trial focused on safety and dosing, so the combination may not work as hoped or may cause significant side effects.
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
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
-
12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2021
- Finished
-
Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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
-
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: For dose escalation cohorts only: \- Pathologically confirmed breast cancer with the following features: * Measurable disease by RECIST 1.1; * ER and PR ≤ 1% by immunohistochemistry; * Her-2/neu negative (0 or 1+ by immunohistochemistry OR not-amplified by CAP/ASCO standards); * Metastatic or unresectable and locally advanced and not amenable to treatment with curative intent, in the opinion of the enrolling investigator. OR: * Platinum-resistant (defined as progression within 12 months of last platinum therapy administration), pathologically confirmed serous ovarian cancer that is recurrent and is unresectable, in the opinion of the enrolling investigator. For dose expansion cohort only: \- Pathologically confirmed breast cancer with the following features: * Measurable disease by RECIST 1.1; * ER and PR ≤ 1% by immunohistochemistry; * Her-2/neu negative (0 or 1+ by immunohistochemistry OR not-amplified by CAP/ASCO standards); * Metastatic or unresectable and locally advanced and not amenable to treatment with curative intent, in the opinion of the enrolling investigator. For all patients: * Age ≥ 18. * ECOG performance Status ≤ 2. * Able to swallow pills. * Adequate organ function as defined as: * Hematologic: * ANC \> 1,500/mm3 * Platelets \> 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin \> 9g/dL * Hepatic: * Serum bilirubin levels ≤1.5 mg/dL. Higher levels are acceptable if these can be attributed to active hemolysis or ineffective erythropoiesis. Bilirubin above 1.5mg/dL due to Gilbert's is still excluded. * Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 X upper limit of normal. ----AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 5 × institutional ULN for patients with liver metastasis. * Alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5 X upper limit of normal, unless bone metastasis is present in the absence of liver metastasis * Renal: * Serum creatinine levels ≤1.5 mg/dL * Patient must have the following laboratory values within normal limits or corrected to within normal limits with supplements before the first dose of study medication: * Potassium * Magnesium * Total Calcium (corrected for serum albumin) * Coagulation * INR ≤1.5 (unless the patient is receiving anticoagulants and the INR is within the therapeutic range of intended use for that anticoagulant within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug) * Presence of ≥ 1 metastatic sites of disease that can be safely accessed for biopsy and patient willingness to undergo fresh tissue biopsies of up to 3 lesions. (Safely accessible means risk of mortality or major morbidity \< 1.5%, such as core needle biopsy of breast, superficial lymph node, subcutaneous nodule, peripheral liver nodule, pleural nodule, omental nodule, etc. or per investigator discretion) * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening for women of childbearing potential. * Agrees to continue use of approved birth control for at least 6 months after receiving the last dose of study drugs. * Able to provide informed consent and have signed an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous use of CDK 4/6 or HDAC inhibitors for cancer treatment * Major surgery, radiotherapy, anticancer therapy, or investigational agents ≤ 4 weeks of treatment day 1 or ≤5 half-lives, whichever is shorter. * Patients with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease unless determined by the treating physician that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy. * Medical condition that in the opinion of the enrolling investigator would require the use of valproic acid within ≤ 5 days of the first dose of belinostat or while on study. * Active infection requiring systemic therapy. * History of allergy or hypersensitivity to belinostat, ribociclib, or their binders. * Uncontrolled arrhythmia, congestive heart failure or angina. Patients who have had a myocardial infarction, symptomatic pericarditis, or cardiac surgery should be at least 6 months from the event and free of active symptoms * Known left ventricular ejection fraction \< 50%. (Echocardiogram is not required for study entry) * Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia), complete left bundle branch block, high-grade AV block (e.g., bifascicular block, Mobitz type II and third degree AV block) * Congenital long QT syndrome. * Baseline QTcF\>450 msec. The heart rate on the qualifying ECG must be between 50 and 90 BPM. * Concurrent use of medication known to inhibit UGT1A1. Patients currently taking these medications must have discontinued ≥7 days prior to treatment day 1. * Concurrent use of herbal supplements, unless approved by the prinicipal investigator. Patients currently taking herbal supplements must have discontinued ≥ 7 days prior to treatment day 1. * Concurrent use of medication with a known risk of inducing Torsades de Pointes (on the known risk list of crediblemeds.org) that cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication ≥ 7 days prior to starting the study drug. * Unresolved diarrhea ≥ Grade 2, per CTCAE v5.0. * Use of any of the following substances ≤ 7 days prior to the start of the treatment: * Known strong and moderate inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4/5, including grapefruit, grapefruit hybrids, pomelos, star-fruit, and Seville oranges. * Medications that have a narrow therapeutic window and are predominantly metabolized through CYP3A4/5. Examples include certain benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and anti-seizure medications such as carbamazepine. Ultimately determination of drugs with a narrow therapeutic window is left to the discretion of the principal investigator. * Patient is currently receiving warfarin or other coumarin derived anti-coagulant, for treatment, prophylaxis or otherwise. --Note: Therapy with heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), an oral factor Xa inhibitor, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, or fondaparinux is allowed. * Impaired GI function that may alter absorption of medicines, such as uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease, uncontrolled vomiting, or major stomach or small bowel resection. * Pregnant or breast feeding * Women of child-bearing potential defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant or men whose female partner is of child-bearing potential, unless they are using highly effective methods of contraception during the study treatment and for 6 months after stopping the treatment. Highly effective contraception methods include: * Total abstinence (when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception * Female sterilization (have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy), total hysterectomy or tubal ligation at least 6 weeks before taking study treatment. In case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment * Male partner sterilization (at least 6 months prior to screening). For female patients on the study, the vasectomized male partner should be the sole partner for that patient and the success of the vasectomy must be medically confirmed as per local practice. * Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD). * Use of hormonal contraception plus a barrier contraceptive. * Known HIV infection with a detectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment. --Note: Patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with an undetectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment are eligible for this trial. * Known chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection with a detectable viral load. --Note: Patients with an undetectable HBV viral load on appropriate suppressive therapy are eligible. Patients with an undetectable HCV viral load are eligible. * Malignancy other than breast carcinoma or ovarian cancer (dose escalation) anticipated to need systemic treatment within 1 year in the opinion of the enrolling investigator.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Metastatic breast cancer are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
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
-
Huntsman Cancer Institute
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
-
Inova Schar Cancer Institute
Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a platform trial match the right drug combo to each tumor?
- Can a vaccine teach the immune system to fight HER2-Positive tumors?
- Can a drug duo outsmart advanced breast cancer?
- Can ultrasound predict cancer drug response earlier?
- Can a Two-Drug attack shrink Hard-to-Treat breast cancer?
- Can mapping tumor DNA unlock personalized breast cancer care?