New drug cocktail shows promise for tough childhood cancers
NCT ID NCT05429502
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested a combination of three drugs—ribociclib, topotecan, and temozolomide—in children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma and other solid tumors. The goal was to find a safe dose and see if the combination could shrink tumors. Only 12 children took part before the study was stopped early, so we don't yet know if this approach works well.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ribociclib (Kisqali) combined with topotecan (Hycamtin) and temozolomide (Temodar)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for children with hard-to-treat neuroblastoma and other solid tumors.
- What could go wrong
- This trial was terminated early with only 12 participants, so results are very limited. The combination may cause serious side effects, and it is unclear if it will work better than existing treatments.
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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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2022
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- 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
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12 months to 21 years
- 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. Participants and/or guardian have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. 2. Age ≥ 12 months and ≤ 21 years at the time of signing consent form Note: The first dose level of Phase I - part A (dose finding) will enroll participants ≥ 12 years - 21 years old, and may expand to younger participants (≥ 12 months to \< 12 years) as determined by the data. 3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors listed below that have progressed despite standard therapy or for which no effective standard therapy exists. 1. Neuroblastoma (for Phase I and Phase II): Histologically proven neuroblastoma as per International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS); Relapsed or refractory disease; Measurable disease per International Neuroblastoma Response criteria (INRC); Bone marrow only disease not eligible; Available MYCN status before screening 2. Medulloblastoma (for Phase I) regardless of genetic status (i.e. Groups 3 or 4 WNT-activated or non-WNT, SHH-activated or non-SHH) 3. High-grade glioma (for Phase I): including HGG NOS, WHO Grade III or Grade IV; Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype or IDH-mutant; Anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-mutant; Anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant; Anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma; Diffuse midline gliomas, H3 K27-altered; Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant; Diffuse pediatric-type HGG, H3-wildtype and IDH-wildtype. 4. Malignant rhabdoid tumor (for Phase I) includes diagnoses of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), and rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), and other soft tissues as defined by 2 of the 3 following criteria; either (1)+(2) or (1)+(3): (1) Morphology and immunophenotypic panel consistent with rhabdoid tumor; (2) Loss of SMARCB1 confirmed by immunohistochemistry; (3) Molecular confirmation of tumor-specific bi-allelic SMARCB1 loss/mutation is encouraged in cases where SMARCB1 immunohistochemistry is equivocal, and required if SMARCB1 immunohistochemistry is not available 5. Rhabdomyosarcoma (for Phase I) independent of fusion status and subtype 4. Participants with CNS disease who are on corticosteroids should take stable doses for at least 7 days prior to first dose of ribociclib with no plans for escalation. 5. Performance status: 1. ≤ 16 years: Lansky Play score ≥ 50% 2. \>16 years: Karnofsky performance status ≥ 50% or ECOG \< 3 6. Life expectancy of ≥ 12 weeks at the time of enrollment 7. Adequate bone marrow function (bone marrow may be involved with tumor) and organ function 8. Adequate hepatic, renal, cardiac function 9. Females who are sexually active must agree to use highly effective contraception during and for 6 months after treatment. Additionally, females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the first dose of study medication. Pregnant or lactating females are not eligible for the study. 10. Sexually active males (including those that have had a vasectomy), who do not agree to abstinence, must be willing to use a condom during intercourse while on study treatment and for 6 months after stopping treatment. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known hypersensitivity to any of the excipients of ribociclib or topotecan or temozolomide. 2. Not recovered from clinical and laboratory acute toxicities related to prior anti-cancer therapies 3. Concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled concurrent medical conditions (serious infections or significant cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, psychiatric, GI disease, or other organ dysfunction) that in the investigator's judgement could compromise their ability to tolerate or absorb protocol therapy or would interfere with the study procedures or results 4. Clinically significant, uncontrolled heart disease and/or cardiac repolarization abnormality 5. History of QTc prolongation; taking medications with a known risk to prolong the QT interval hat cannot be discontinued or replaced by safe alternative medication 6. Currently taking medications that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4/5 with a narrow therapeutic index, strong inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4/5, herbal preparations/medications and dietary supplements 7. Vaccinated with live, attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks 8. Participated in a prior investigational study within 30 days 9. Received prior treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor 10. Received last dose of anticancer therapy (including experimental) within 4 weeks 11. Previous myeloablative therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue within 8 weeks 12. Allogeneic stem cell transplant within 3 months 13. Has last fraction of radiation within 4 weeks 14. Major surgery within 2 weeks 15. Pregnant or nursing (breast feeding) female participant or female participant who plans to become pregnant or breast-feed during the trial. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply
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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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Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York
New Hyde Park, New York, 11040, United States
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Novartis Investigative Site
Cologne, 50937, Germany
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Novartis Investigative Site
Milan, MI, 20133, Italy
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Novartis Investigative Site
Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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St Jude s Childrens Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee, 38105-2794, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a Two-Drug combo outsmart returning childhood cancers?
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- Can trained immune cells outsmart brain tumors?
- Could cutting a wider margin around brain tumors extend survival?