Could a common diabetes drug boost immunotherapy in Hard-to-Treat cancers?
NCT ID NCT07634380
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing whether adding sitagliptin, a diabetes drug, to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab is safe and can help people with advanced kidney cancer or melanoma whose cancer has stopped responding to standard treatment. The study will first find the safest dose of sitagliptin, then test how well the combination works in 64 participants. It is a small, early study focused on safety and dosing, not a proven treatment yet.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- sitagliptin and pembrolizumab
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced kidney cancer or melanoma whose cancer has stopped responding to standard immunotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small phase 1 trial focused on safety and dosing, so it is uncertain whether the combination will actually shrink tumors or improve outcomes. 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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Iowa
RECRUITINGIowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New combo therapy takes on advanced cancers