Sound waves and immunotherapy join forces against cancer
NCT ID NCT06524570
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-stage trial tests whether combining high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab and nivolumab) is safe and feasible for people with metastatic or unresectable cancer that has worsened after standard treatments. 24 adults will receive one session of HIFU during their immunotherapy. The study focuses on side effects, tolerability, and whether the combination can shrink tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ipilimumab and nivolumab (immune checkpoint inhibitors) plus high-intensity focused ultrasound histotripsy (HIFU-HT) device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new way to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer by using ultrasound to break up tumors.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 24 participants, so safety and feasibility are the main focus. It may not lead to a proven treatment, and there are risks from both the drugs and the ultrasound procedure.
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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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2030
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. Histologically confirmed metastatic or unresectable cancer that progressed under standard of care treatment options. 2. Age ≥ 18 years. 3. Has signed and dated written informed consent before performing any study procedure, including screening. 4. Anticipated life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks by investigator judgement. 5. At least one tumor lesion (primary tumor or metastasis) which is amenable to application of high intensity focused ultrasound histotripsy (determined by a radiologist with HIFU-expertise). * The lesion must have a distance of ≤30 mm to the skin. * At least part of the lesion must have a distance of ≥10 mm to the skin and other vulnerable structures (e.g. large blood vessels). This part should be sufficient to be able to select at least one HT focus in an area of solid tumor. Most liver metastases cannot be treated currently (due to their depth, overlying ribs and movement during breathing), some superficial large left-sided and caudally located right-sided liver metastases excepted • If the target lesion contains cystic or necrotic regions: the solid component should be ≥10 mm in diameter, sufficient to be able to select at least one HIFU-HT focus in an area of solid tumor with ≥10 mm distance to the skin. 6. Sonication will be performed on tumors that have not previously directly been treated with radiation therapy or surgery unless they showed significant mass regrowth. 7. Measurable disease (at least one lesion besides the HIFU-HT treated lesion) on CT according to RECIST V 1.1 criteria (or on PET-CT according to PERCIST criteria) as assessed by investigator and local radiology review. 8. Performance status of 0 or 1 on the WHO Performance Scale. 9. Screening laboratory values must meet the following criteria: * WBC ≥ 2.0x109/L, * Neutrophils ≥1.5x109/L * Platelets ≥100 x109/L * Hemoglobin ≥5.5 mmol/L * Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or calculated creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/minute (≤Grade 1) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5 x ULN; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5 x ULN; AST/ALT \<5 x ULN if liver involvement * Serum bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN or direct bilirubin ≤ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \>1.5xULN, except in subjects with Gilbert's Syndrome 10. Patients must agree to use an adequate method of contraception for the course of the study through 180 days after the last dose of study medication. 11. Patients must be willing to undergo tumor biopsy. 12. Sufficient proficiency in the Dutch language to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of known central nervous system, meningeal, or epidural metastatic disease. However, subjects with known brain metastases are allowed if the brain metastases are stable for ≥4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment. Stable is defined as neurological symptoms not present or resolved to baseline, no radiologic evidence of progression, and steroid requirement of prednisone ≤10 mg/day or equivalent. 2. Patients currently participating and receiving study therapy or patients who participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study treatment. 3. Prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy or monoclonal antibodies within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study treatment. 4. Prior radiotherapy within 8 weeks prior to the first dose of the study treatment. The patient will be excluded from the study if the only targetable lesion has directly been treated with radiation therapy in the past with an exception for lesions that showed massive regrowth. 5. Prior surgery or ablative therapy within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study treatment. The patient will be excluded from the study if the only targetable lesion has directly been treated with ablative therapy in the past. 6. Ongoing adverse events \> Grade 1 due to a previously administered therapy. Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy, vitiligo, thyroid disorders, hypocortisolism or alopecia of any grade are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study. 7. History of other malignancies, except adequately treated and a cancer-related life-expectancy of more than 5 years. 8. Concurrent medical condition requiring the use of immunosuppressive medications, or immunosuppressive doses of systemic or absorbable topical corticosteroids; exceeding prednisolone 10 mg or equivalent. 9. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, high-dose corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. 10. Active infection requiring systemic therapy. 11. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis. 12. Known history of active Tuberculosis. 13. Receipt of a live vaccine within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study treatment. 14. Hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or their excipients. 15. Contra-indications to MR imaging (e.g. certain pacemakers or severe claustrophobia). Contra-indications to gadolinium-based contrast agents are not an exclusion criterion, as a different brand of gadolinium can be used or if necessary the MRI can be performed without contrast. 16. Pregnancy or lactation. 17. Any other medical or social condition that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, might put the subject at risk of harm during the study or might adversely affect the interpretation of the study data.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Medical Center Utrecht
RECRUITINGUtrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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