Experimental cancer cocktails show promise, but study halted early
NCT ID NCT04000529
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage trial tested two drug combinations—TNO155 plus spartalizumab or ribociclib—in 122 adults with advanced solid tumors like lung, head and neck, and colorectal cancers. The goal was to check safety and see if the drugs could slow cancer growth. The study was terminated, so full results are not available, but the data may guide future research.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- TNO155 (a drug) combined with either spartalizumab (an immunotherapy) or ribociclib (a targeted therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward new combination treatments for several advanced cancers, including lung, head and neck, and colorectal cancers.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very early (Phase 1) study that was terminated, so results are limited. The combinations may cause significant side effects or fail to shrink tumors.
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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122 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2019
- Finished
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Jan 2024
- 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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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: 1. Signed informed consent must be obtained prior to participation in the study. 2. Age ≥ 18 years. For Japan only: written consent is necessary both from the patient and his/her legal representative if he/she is under the age of 20 years. 3. ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status ≤ 1. 4. Dose escalation part: Patients with advanced solid tumors, with evaluable disease as determined by RECIST version 1.1, and fit into one of the following groups: a. For TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination: i. Advanced EGFR WT, ALK WT NSCLC, after progression on or intolerance to platinum-containing combination chemotherapy and after progression on anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy. ii. Advanced HNSCC or esophageal SCC, after progression on or intolerance to platinum-containing combination chemotherapy. iii. Advanced CRC, after progression on or intolerance to all standard-of-care (SOC) therapy per local guidelines. b. For TNO155 plus ribociclib combination: Advanced solid malignancies with the exception of CRC or GIST, after progression on or intolerance to all SOC therapy per local guidelines. The exclusion of CRC applies only as of Protocol Amendment 4. 5. Dose expansion part: Patients with advanced solid tumors, with at least one measurable lesion as determined by RECIST version 1.1, who fit into one of the following groups: a. For TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination: i. Advanced EGFR WT, ALK WT, KRAS G12C NSCLC after progression on or intolerance to platinum-containing combination chemotherapy and after progression on anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy. ii. Advanced EGFR WT, ALK WT, KRAS WT NSCLC, after progression on or intolerance to platinum-containing combination chemotherapy and after progression on anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy. iii. Advanced HNSCC, after progression on or intolerance to, platinum-containing combination chemotherapy. b. For TNO155 plus ribociclib combination: i. Advanced EGFR WT, ALK WT, KRAS WT NSCLC, after progression on or intolerance to platinum-containing chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy ii. Advanced HNSCC, after progression on or intolerance to all SOC per local guidelines 6. Patients with NSCLC whose tumors harbor genomic aberrations for which SOC targeted therapies exist and are locally approved and available must have had progression on or after, or intolerance to, the SOC targeted therapy/therapies as indicated 7. Patients must have a site of disease amenable to biopsy Key Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior treatment with a MAPK pathway inhibitor 2. Clinically significant cardiac disease or risk factors 3. Use of any agent known to prolong the QT interval unless it can be permanently discontinued for the duration of study (see list in Section 6.2.2). 4. History or current evidence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or current risk factors for RVO 5. Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) or impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of study drugs 6. Symptomatic CNS metastases which are neurologically unstable 7. Insufficient bone marrow function at screening: 1. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) \< 1.5 x 109/L. 2. Hemoglobin \< 9.0 g/dL. 3. Platelets \< 75 x 109/L for TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination; \< 100 x 109/L for TNO155 plus ribociclib combination. 8. Insufficient hepatic or renal function at screening: 1. Serum total bilirubin \> upper limit of normal (ULN) or, for TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination only, if liver metastases are present at baseline, serum total bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN. An exception for either combination is for patients with Gilbert's syndrome, who are excluded if total bilirubin \> 3.0 x ULN or direct bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN 2. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \> 3 x ULN for TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination or \> 2.5 x ULN for TNO155 plus ribociclib combination, or \> 5 x ULN for either combination if liver metastases are present. 3. Creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min (calculated using Cockcroft-Gault equation). 9. Pregnant or breast-feeding (lactating) women. Additional exclusion criteria for the TNO155 plus spartalizumab combination 10. History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other mAbs. 11. Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. 12. History of or current interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis grade ≥ 2. 13. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, unless the patient is on antiviral therapy and has undetectable viral load. 14. Active hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. 15. Systemic chronic steroid therapy 16. Patients who discontinued prior anti-PD-1 therapy due to an anti-PD-1-related toxicity. Additional exclusion criteria for the TNO155 plus ribociclib combination 17. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) \< 90 mmHg. 18. International Normalized Ratio (INR) \> 1.5 (unless the patient is receiving anticoagulants and the INR is within the therapeutic range of intended use for that anticoagulant within seven days prior to the first dose of study drug). 19. History of HIV infection (testing not mandatory) 20. Currently receiving any of the following substances and cannot be discontinued seven days prior to Cycle 1 Day 1: * Concomitant medications or herbal supplements, that are strong inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4/5, * Medications that have a narrow therapeutic window and are predominantly metabolized through CYP3A4/5. 21. Previous treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. 22. Patient is currently receiving or has received systemic corticosteroids ≤ 2 weeks prior to starting study drug, or who have not fully recovered from side effects of such treatment. Note: The following uses of corticosteroids are permitted: single doses, topical applications (e.g., for rash), inhaled sprays (e.g., for obstructive airways diseases), eye drops or local injections (e.g., intra-articular).
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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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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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Novartis Investigative Site
Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia
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Novartis Investigative Site
Brussels, 1200, Belgium
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Novartis Investigative Site
Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Cologne, 50937, Germany
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Novartis Investigative Site
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Novartis Investigative Site
Chuo Ku, Tokyo, 104 0045, Japan
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Novartis Investigative Site
Singapore, 119228, Singapore
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Novartis Investigative Site
Barcelona, Catalonia, 08035, Spain
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Novartis Investigative Site
Valencia, Valencia, 46010, Spain
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