Mining Responders' tumors for clues to a universal cancer therapy
NCT ID NCT05230186
First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers want to learn which molecules on cancer cells the immune system attacks when checkpoint inhibitor drugs work well. They collect tumor and blood samples from adults with solid tumors who respond to these drugs, either during treatment or after surgery. The team then sequences the T cells in those samples to identify new targets and their matching receptors. The goal is to build a library of targets that could later be used to engineer T-cell therapies for other patients with similar cancers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- tumor and blood sample collection for T-cell analysis
- What this could lead to
- If researchers identify new targets, this could point toward engineered T-cell therapies for people with similar solid tumors.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early tissue-collection study with a small number of participants. It may not find usable targets, and any therapy based on the findings would be years away.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2021
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Both men and women and members of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this protocol. Patients with solid tumors who are responding to ICI therapy will be enrolled.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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: Cohort Legend: Cohort 1: On-Treatment Responder (Biopsy), Cohort 2: Pre and On-Treatment (Biopsy), Cohort 3: On-Treatment Responder (Surgery), Cohort 4: Post-Treatment Vitiligo, Cohort 5: Post-Treatment Responder (Frozen) 1. Study Cohorts 1,2,3 and 5: Known or suspected diagnosis of non-hematological malignancy. 2. Age 18 years at time of diagnosis. 3. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1 and 2: ECOG performance status 0-2. 4. Ability to understand and willingness to sign an informed consent document. 5. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,3 and 5: Patients must be eligible for or currently receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy as determined by the patient's treating oncologist. The treatment regimen may comprise more than one agent but must include at least one ICI drug. Examples of FDA-approved ICI drugs include pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), atezolizumab (Tecentriq), avelumab (Bavencio), durvalumab (Imfinzi), cemiplimab (Libtayo), and ipilimumab (Yervoy). Immune-checkpoint inhibitors not on this list may also be used, provided they are FDA-approved. 6. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,3 and 5: Patients undergoing an on-treatment biopsy must show radiographic regression of one or more lesion, as assessed by the investigator. 7. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1 and 2: Patients undergoing an on-treatment biopsy must have a cancer lesion that is amenable for biopsy under local anesthesia or moderate sedation per standard procedures. The tumor biopsy must have an acceptable clinical risk, as judged by the investigator. 8. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: Platelet count \>50,000 prior to biopsy or per the service performing the biopsy. 9. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: Absolute neutrophil count \>1500. 10. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: Must be able to safely hold anticoagulants for 5 days prior to biopsy. 11. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: Not receiving therapeutic anticoagulation at the time of the biopsy. Patients on therapeutic anticoagulation must be able to safely hold anticoagulation for the procedure with an acceptable risk, as judged by the investigator. Patients who are on anticoagulation for clinical reasons and deemed appropriate for biopsy must be OFF anticoagulation prior to biopsy as follows: i. No warfarin (Coumadin) for 5 days. No low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH; e.g. dalteparin/ Fragmin, enoxaparin/ Lovenox) for 24 hours. ii. No fondaparinux/ Arixtra for 48 hours. iii. Patients receiving alternative forms of anticoagulation not listed above (e.g., dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) should consult with the prescribing physician and the service performing the biopsy regarding safety and administration guidelines prior to biopsy. Bleeding risks with these agents should be considered when deciding on whether to perform the biopsy if for research purposes only. Exclusion Criteria: Cohort Legend: Cohort 1: On-Treatment Responder (Biopsy), Cohort 2: Pre and On-Treatment (Biopsy), Cohort 3: On-Treatment Responder (Surgery), Cohort 4: Post-Treatment Vitiligo, Cohort 5: Post-Treatment Responder (Frozen) 1. Concurrent disease or condition that would make the patient inappropriate for study participation, or any serious medical or psychiatric disorder that would interfere with safety. 2. Dementia, altered mental status, or any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of informed consent. 3. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: History of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction to local anesthetics (i.e., lidocaine, xylocaine). 4. Pregnant women are excluded because there may be an increased risk to both mother and fetus in the setting of moderate sedation, which is required for biopsies of certain anatomic sites (e.g., liver, lung, bone). Also, ionizing radiation from CT-guided biopsies may pose a risk to the unborn fetus. 5. Research Biopsy Study Cohorts 1,2,4: Active cardiac disease, defined as: i. Uncontrolled or symptomatic angina within the past 3 months. ii. History of clinically significant arrhythmias (such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, torsades de pointes). Atrial fibrillation with controlled ventricular response on treatment is not an exclusion. iii. Myocardial infarction \< 6 months from study entry. iv. Uncontrolled or symptomatic congestive heart failure. f. Any other condition, which in the opinion of the patient's treating oncologist or the physician performing the biopsy procedure, would make participation in this protocol unreasonably hazardous for the patient.
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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
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Advanced Oncology PC
New York, New York, 10013, United States
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Atlantic Health System
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States
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Ochsner Clinic Foundation
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70124, United States
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USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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