Virus and radiation combo takes aim at tough sarcomas
NCT ID NCT06660810
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether injecting a modified herpes virus (TVEC) directly into tumors, combined with radiation therapy before surgery, can shrink advanced soft tissue sarcomas. The study enrolled 2 adults with specific sarcoma types that could not be removed with clear margins. The main goal is to see if at least 90% of the tumor dies from the treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC), a modified herpes virus that attacks cancer cells
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this combination could shrink sarcomas enough to allow successful surgery, potentially improving survival and reducing recurrence.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, tiny trial (only 2 participants) with no control group. The virus may cause flu-like symptoms or injection site reactions, and the approach may not work for all sarcoma types.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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2 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Mar 2025
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2031
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.
1. Subject has provided informed consent. 2. Histologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced STS subtypes (including undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST)) that are unresectable with clear wide margins, for which preoperative radiotherapy is considered appropriate. EXAMPLES: * Resectable stage IIB, III, and IV disease that are not suitable for surgical resection alone due to inability to achieve clear margins. * Including metastatic (stage IV) disease for which radiotherapy and surgical resection are indicated. * Sarcoma histologies to include: undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (including the terms including, but not limited to pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, unclassified spindle cell sarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma not otherwise specified, pleomorphic spindle cell sarcoma, pleomorphic fibroblastic sarcoma, undifferentiated high-grade pleomorphic sarcoma, pleomorphic sarcoma with prominent inflammation, pleomorphic sarcoma with giant cells, malignant fibrous histiocytoma fibrosarcoma), fibromyxosarcoma, and MPNST 3. Previous treatment: prior systemic anti-cancer treatment consisting of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy are allowed provided therapy completed at least1 year prior to enrollment. * No prior Talimogene laherparepvec or tumor vaccines allowed. * No prior radiation to the same tumor bed allowed. 4. Age ≥18 years. 5. Both men and women of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial. 6. ECOG performance status ≤1. 7. Patient must have measurable disease: •Tumor size at least ≥ 5 cm in the longest diameter as measured by CT scan or MRI for which radiation is feasible. 8. Patient must have injectable disease (direct injection or ultrasound guided). 5.2 Eligibility Exclusion Criteria 1. Sarcoma histologies that are not consistent with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, or MPNST 2. History or evidence of sarcoma associated with immunodeficiency states (e.g.:Hereditary immune deficiency, HIV, organ transplant or leukemia). 3. Subjects with retroperitoneal and visceral sarcoma. 4. History or evidence of uncontrolled gastrointestinal inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) or other symptomatic uncontrolled autoimmune disease including, inflammatory bowel disease, or history of any poorly controlled or severe systemic autoimmune disease (i.e., severe rheumatoid arthritis requiring biologic treatment, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or autoimmune vasculitis). History of other malignancy within the past 3 years except treated with curative intent and no known active disease present and has not received chemotherapy for ≥ 1 year before enrollment/randomization and low risk for recurrence. 5. History of prior or current splenectomy or splenic irradiation. 6. Active herpetic skin lesions 7. Require intermittent or chronic treatment with an anti-herpetic drug (e.g., acyclovir), other than intermittent topical use. 8. Any non-oncology vaccine therapies used for the prevention of infectious disease within 28 days prior to enrollment and during treatment period. 9. Concomitant treatment with therapeutic anticoagulants such as warfarin. Patients on therapeutic low molecular weight heparin may be allowed provided the dose can be safely held as per the treating investigator on the morning of scheduled intratumoral injection and can be resumed 12 hours after the procedure. 10. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease (requires negative test for clinically suspected HIV infection). 11. Acute or chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection (requires negative test for clinically suspected hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection). * Evidence of hepatitis B - 1. Positive HBV surface antigen (indicative for chronic hepatitis B or recent acute hepatitis B). 2. Negative HBV surface antigen but positive HBV total core antibody (indicative for resolved hepatitis B infection or occult hepatitis B) and detectable copies of HBV DNA by PCR (detectable HBV DNA copies suggest occult hepatitis B). * Evidence of hepatitis C - a)Positive HCV antibody and positive HCV RNA by PCR (undetectable RNA copies suggest past and resolved hepatitis C infection). 12. Female subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding or planning to become pregnant during study treatment and through 3 months after the last dose of study treatment. 13. Female subjects of childbearing potential or male subjects who are unwilling to use 2 highly effective methods of contraception during study treatment and through 3 months after the last dose of study treatment. See Section 8.5 for more details. 14. Currently receiving treatment in another investigational device or drug study, or less than 30 days since ending treatment on another investigational device or drug study(s). 15. Other investigational procedures while participating in this study that could affect the primary objective of the study as determined by the PI are excluded 16. Subject previously has entered this study. 17. Evidence of CNS metastases. 18. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to talimogene laherparepvec. 19. 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 20. Patients on or requiring immunosuppressive therapies. 21. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities: * Hemoglobin \< 9.0 g/dL * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1500 per mm3 * Platelet count \< 100,000 per mm3 * Total bilirubin \> 1.5 × ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \> 2.5 × ULN * Alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 × ULN * PT (or INR) and PTT (or aPTT) \> 1.5 × ULN * Creatinine \> 2.0 × ULN
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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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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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