Immune drug rituximab tested to shrink prostate tumors before surgery
NCT ID NCT01804712
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested whether rituximab, a drug that depletes B cells, could reduce immune cell infiltration in prostate tumors. Eight high-risk prostate cancer patients received four weekly doses before their scheduled prostate removal. The main goal was to see if B-cell levels in the tumor decreased after treatment, not to measure cancer outcomes directly.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
rituximab (Rituxan)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a new way to treat high-risk prostate cancer by targeting immune cells that help tumors grow.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase pilot study with only 8 participants, so results may not apply broadly. It is designed mainly to check a biological effect, not to prove the drug works against cancer.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Moores UCSD Cancer Center
La Jolla, California, 92093-0698, United States