New drug cocktail shows promise in Hard-to-Treat biliary cancers
NCT ID NCT02151084
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase II trial tests whether adding the targeted drug selumetinib to standard chemotherapy (cisplatin and gemcitabine) works better than chemotherapy alone for advanced biliary tract or gallbladder cancer. The study enrolls 57 adults who have not had prior treatment. Researchers are measuring tumor shrinkage, survival, and 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
- Selumetinib (a targeted cancer drug) combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine (standard chemotherapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option that slows tumor growth and improves survival for people with advanced biliary cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (Phase II) with only 57 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Adding selumetinib may also increase side effects like fatigue or liver issues.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BILIARY TRACT CARCINOMA 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
-
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can blood tests reveal how liver and bile duct cancers respond to treatment?
- Can matching drugs to tumor genes beat biliary cancer?
- Can freezing tumors boost immunotherapy in hard-to-treat bile duct cancers?
- Can two targeted drugs boost chemo against a rare Bile-Duct cancer?
- Chemotherapy sprayed directly into the abdomen: a new attack on stubborn cancers
- Engineered immune cells take aim at two cancer targets in hard-to-treat bile duct cancers