New combo therapy shows early promise for hard-to-treat colorectal cancer
NCT ID NCT02512172
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-stage study tested whether adding two drugs (romidepsin and 5-azacitidine) to an immunotherapy (MK-3475) could help shrink tumors in people with a type of advanced colorectal cancer that usually doesn't respond to immunotherapy. 27 adults with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer who had already tried standard treatments took part. The main goals were to check safety and see if the combination increased immune cells in the tumors.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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27 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2016
- Finished
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Nov 2021
- Lead sponsor
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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
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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: 1. Have histologically confirmed microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer and have received at least one line of treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer including fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan 2. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial 3. Be 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent 4. Have measurable disease 5. Have biopsiable disease. If biopsy is attempted and unsuccessful (the patient undergoes an invasive procedure), the patient may still be treated 6. Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale at study entry 7. Demonstrate adequate organ function 8. Female subject of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication 9. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication 10. Male subjects must agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy 11. In patients with liver metastases, there should be \<50% involvement of the liver. 12. Patients must have had \< 3 prior therapies in the metastatic setting. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients whose tumors have progressed at the first restaging during first line therapy 2. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment 3. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment 4. Has had a prior monoclonal antibody within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier 5. Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosureas or mitomycin C) prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent 6. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment 7. Has known central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis 8. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. 9. Has evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis. 10. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. 11. Any clinical or radiological ascites or pleural effusions 12. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator 13. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial 14. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial 15. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, anti-OX-40, anti-CD40, or anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways). Prior therapies with other immunomodulatory agents must be reviewed by the PI and may be cause for ineligibility 16. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies) 17. Has known active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C 18. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment 19. Any known cardiac abnormalities
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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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Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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