New injection aims to shrink skin tumors before surgery
NCT ID NCT06014086
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Sep 21, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This early-stage trial tests a drug called PH-762, injected directly into skin tumors, for people with squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, or Merkel cell carcinoma. Participants receive four weekly injections into one tumor, then have it surgically removed about two weeks later. The main goal is to check safety and see how the body processes the drug, while also watching for tumor shrinkage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- PH-762 (a drug that targets PD-1 to help the immune system fight cancer)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new way to shrink skin cancers before surgery, potentially improving outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early (Phase 1) trial with only 30 people, so it's mainly checking safety. It may not shrink tumors or work for everyone.
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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22 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2023
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- 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.
- Ages
-
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.
Key Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), melanoma, or Merkel cell carcinoma, meeting one of the following criteria: * cSCC, resectable local tumors: must be Stage II or lower, amenable to curative resection and in a location where acceptable surgical margins are anticipated * cSCC, unresectable local tumors: must be Stage II or lower, tumor has been unresponsive to prior radiation therapy or is not a candidate for curative radiation therapy * cSCC, metastatic disease: disease has progressed during or following prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy (anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody) * Melanoma, metastatic disease: Stage IV disease with a cutaneous lesion that has progressed during or following checkpoint inhibitor therapy (anti-PD-1/-PD-L1), and if BRAF-mutation is present, has progressed during or following prior treatment with anti-BRAF + MEK therapy * Merkel cell carcinoma, metastatic disease: Stage IV disease with a cutaneous lesion that has progressed during or following checkpoint inhibitor therapy (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) * A minimum of one tumor of ≥ 1.0 cm and \< 3.0 cm in longest dimension that is accessible (with or without imaging guidance) for intratumoral injection and for biopsy and surgical excision must be present. The tumor is not necrotic, hemorrhagic, or friable, and is not within 2 cm of the eye or within 0.5 cm of or on the lip (including the vermilion border) and is not in a mucosal or visceral location. Key Exclusion Criteria: * Other malignancy within prior 3 years, with certain exceptions. * Current cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or biologic therapy. * Any serious or uncontrolled medical disorder including auto-immune disease that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, or interfere with the interpretation of study results. * Females who are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
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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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Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Arizona, 85234, United States
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Centricity Research
Columbus, Ohio, 43213, United States
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Integrity Research
Delray Beach, Florida, 33445, United States
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Paradigm Clinical Research
San Diego, California, 92108, United States
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Skin Cancer and Dermatology Institute
Reno, Nevada, 89509, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Experimental virus therapy takes on advanced cancers in first human trial