Can a black seed extract boost immunotherapy against a rare cancer?
NCT ID NCT05262556
First seen Aug 10, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot trial is testing whether adding NP-101, a compound from black seed oil, to two immunotherapy drugs (nivolumab and ipilimumab) can help control advanced or metastatic extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NECA) that has progressed after initial treatment. About 15 participants will receive the combination for up to six cycles. The main goal is to see if tumors shrink or stabilize, while also monitoring safety and side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- NP-101 (black seed oil extract) combined with nivolumab and ipilimumab
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this combination could offer a new second-line treatment option for people with advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma, potentially slowing tumor growth.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-phase pilot study, so results may not apply broadly. The combination may cause significant side effects, and the benefit over standard care is unproven.
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
-
Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
-
15 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2022
- Finished
-
Oct 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: * Subjects must have histologically or cytologically confirmed of relapsed and/or refractory unresectable advanced and/or metastatic high-grade extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NECAs), and have failed at least one standard line of therapy. * Subjects must have received at least one prior therapy for this disease. Subjects must have recovered from acute toxicities of prior chemotherapy. Any prior non-hematologic vital organ toxicity (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, and renal) of previous therapy must have resolved to grade 1 or less. Neurological toxicities must have resolved to grade 2 or less. * Age \>18 years. * Subjects must have radiologic disease measurable by RECIST criteria. * All previous chemotherapy or radiation must be completed at least three weeks prior to starting study treatment. * Performance status ECOG Performance status ≤ 2 * Subjects must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: * Hemoglobin ≥ 7.0 g/dl * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mcL * Total bilirubin ≤ 3 X institutional upper limit of normal (except subjects with elevated bilirubin unrelated to liver dysfunction) * AST (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * Subjects must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. * Subjects of childbearing potential must agree to practice reliable contraception or to practice abstinence for at least 28 days before and for 60 days after the last dose of study drug. Reliable contraception is defined as: * One highly effective method and one additional effective (barrier) method: * Examples of highly effective methods: * Intrauterine device (IUD) * Hormonal (injections, implants, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system \[IUS\], medroxyprogesterone acetate depot injections, ovulation inhibitory progesterone-only pills \[e.g. desogestrel\]) * Tubal ligation * Partner's vasectomy * Examples of additional effective methods: * Male condom * Diaphragm * Cervical Cap Inclusion of Women and minorities * People of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial. Exclusion Criteria: * Well-differentiated GEP-NETs are excluded from this trial. * Prior treatment toxicities that have not resolved to ≤ Grade 2 according to NCI CTCAE Version 5.0 (list exceptions, e.g. alopecia, neuropathy, etc). * Subjects received prior nivolumab or ipilimumab * Subjects with untreated brain metastases/CNS disease will be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events. Participants with treated oligometastatic CNS metastases will be considered for the study. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to NP-101 (TQ Formula) or immunotherapy (nivolumab or ipilimumab) used in this study. * Subjects with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded from this study because NP-101 (TQ Formula) effects on pregnancy and the fetus used in this protocol is unknown. * Known chronic active untreated hepatitis B or C infection. * HIV-positive subjects on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible because of the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with NP-101 (TQ Formula) and immunotherapy agents.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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 hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Swiss registry aims to map rare neuroendocrine tumors
- Can a Two-Drug chemo combo outsmart resistant tumors?
- One dose may not fit all: blood tests could tailor cancer drug dosing
- New drug cocktail aims to fight rare cancer
- Double-Action antibody takes on Hard-to-Treat neuroendocrine cancers
- Two-Drug combo aims to stall rare gut tumors