New drug combo targets Hard-to-Treat cancers in early trial
NCT ID NCT03875820
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase I trial tests a combination of two oral drugs, defactinib and VS-6766, in people with advanced solid tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer, low-grade serous ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The study aims to find the safest dose and evaluate how well the drugs work together. About 87 participants will be enrolled in two parts: dose escalation and dose expansion.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- defactinib and VS-6766 (two oral drugs that target cancer cell growth signals)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option for people with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase I trial with a small number of participants, so the combination may not prove effective or may cause significant side effects. Results may not apply to all cancer types.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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87 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2017
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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. Dose escalation: Histologically or cytologically proven solid tumours, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient enriching for patients with RAS mutant solid tumours. Dose expansion: Histologically or cytologically proven advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a documented KRAS mutation, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (20 patients). OR Histologically or cytologically proven advanced low grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (20 patients). OR Histologically or cytologically proven advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) with a documented RAS mutation, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (10 patients). OR Histologically or cytologically proven RAS mutant solid tumours, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient. Patient must have biopsiable disease, be willing and has consented to undergo biopsies at three time-points (6 patients). OR Histologically or cytologically proven advanced pancreatic cancer or metastatic pancreatic cancer, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (10 patients). OR Endometroid subtype of gynaecological cancers (ovarian, endometrial, endometriosis related) with a documented RAS or RAF mutation, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (10 patients). OR Histologically or cytologically proven advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a documented KRAS G12V specific mutation, refractory to conventional treatment, or for which no conventional therapy exists or is declined by the patient (10 patients). 2. Predicted life expectancy of at least 12 weeks 3. World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status of 0 or 1 (Appendix 1) 4. Haematological and biochemical indices within the ranges shown below. These measurements must be performed within one week (Day -7 to Day 1) before the patient goes in the trial. Haemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9.0 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L Platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x (ULN) unless raised due to tumour in which case up to 5 x ULN is permissible Either: Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min (uncorrected value) Or: Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN 5. Men and women aged 18 years or over. 6. Written (signed and dated) informed consent and be capable of co-operating with treatment and follow-up. 7. Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule. 8. Dose escalation: Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1 or evaluable disease. All radiology studies must be performed within 28 days prior to registration. Dose expansion: Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1, all radiology studies must be performed within 28 days prior to registration. 9. Corrected QT interval (QTc) \< 470 ms (as calculated by the Fridericia correction formula, averaged over 3 ECGs). 10. Agrees to the use of archival paraffin embedded tissue and has archival tumour tissue available. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Radiotherapy (except for palliative reasons), endocrine therapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy during the previous four weeks (six weeks for nitrosoureas, Mitomycin-C) before treatment. 2. Ongoing toxic manifestations of previous treatments. Exceptions to this are alopecia or certain Grade 1 toxicities, which in the opinion of the Investigator and the DDU should not exclude the patient. 3. Known untreated or active central nervous system (CNS) metastases (progressing or requiring corticosteroids for symptomatic control). Patients with a history of treated CNS metastases are eligible, provided they meet all of the following criteria: * Evaluable or measurable disease outside the CNS is present. * Radiographic demonstration of improvement upon the completion of CNS-directed therapy and no evidence of interim progression between the completion of CNS-directed therapy and the baseline disease assessment for at least 28 days. 4. Ability to become pregnant (or already pregnant or lactating). However, those female patients who have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test before enrolment and agree to use two medically approved forms of contraception (oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraception and condom, have an intra-uterine device and condom, diaphragm with spermicidal gel and condom) from time of consent, during the trial and for six months afterwards are considered eligible. 5. Male patients with partners of child-bearing potential (unless they agree to take measures not to father children by using one form of medically approved contraception \[condom plus spermicide\] during the trial and for six months afterwards). Men with pregnant or lactating partners should be advised to use barrier method contraception (for example, condom plus spermicidal gel) to prevent exposure to the foetus or neonate. 6. Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to entry to the study (excluding placement of vascular access), or minor surgery within 2 weeks of entry into the study and from which the patient has not yet recovered. 7. Treatment with warfarin. Patients on warfarin for DVT/PE can be converted to LMWH. 8. Known history of Gilbert's Syndrome. 9. Acute or chronic pancreatitis. 10. At high medical risk because of non-malignant systemic disease including active uncontrolled infection. 11. Known to be serologically positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 12. Patients with the inability to swallow oral medications or impaired gastrointestinal absorption due to gastrectomy or active inflammatory bowel disease. 13. Concurrent ocular disorders: 1. Patients with history of glaucoma, history of retinal vein occlusion (RVO), predisposing factors for RVO, including uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes 2. Patient with history of retinal pathology or evidence of visible retinal pathology that is considered a risk factor for RVO, intraocular pressure \> 21mm Hg as measured by tonometry, or other significant ocular pathology, such as anatomical abnormalities that increase the risk for RVO. 3. Patients with a history of corneal erosion (instability of corneal epithelium), corneal degeneration, active or recurrent keratitis, and other forms of serious ocular surface inflammatory conditions. 14. Concurrent congestive heart failure, prior history of class III/ IV cardiac disease (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] - refer to Appendix 4), myocardial infarction within the last 6 months, unstable arrhythmias, unstable angina or severe obstructive pulmonary disease. 15. Patients exposed to strong CYP3A4 and strong CYP2C9 inhibitors within 7 days prior to the first dose. N.B. Because the lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated list such as http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/ddis/table.aspx; medical reference texts such as the Physicians' Desk Reference may also provide this information. 16. Is a participant or plans to participate in another interventional clinical trial, whilst taking part in this Phase I study of VS-6766 in combination with Defactinib. Participation in an observational trial would be acceptable. 17. Symptoms of COVID-19 and/or documented current COVID-19 infection (the patient can be reassessed for eligibility following a full recovery and negative COVID-19 test). 18. Any other condition which in the Investigator's opinion would not make the patient a good candidate for the clinical trial.
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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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The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, Greater Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom
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The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Freeman Hospital
Newcastle, NE7 7DN, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust - Gynecology Unit
London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust - Gynecology Unit
Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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