New x-ray activated drug injection tested for Hard-to-Treat cancers
NCT ID NCT04389281
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage trial is testing a treatment called X-PACT for people with advanced head and neck cancer, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, or melanoma that has not responded to standard treatments. X-PACT involves injecting a drug called methoxsalen directly into the tumor and then activating it with a targeted X-ray beam. The main goal is to check if the treatment is safe, with up to 52 participants receiving multiple injections over several weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- X-PACT (methoxsalen injection plus X-ray activation)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new local treatment option for advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 52 participants, focused on safety. It may not show meaningful tumor shrinkage, and there are risks from the injection and X-ray exposure.
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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About 52 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2021
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately. 2. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent 3. ECOG Performance Status of ≤ 1 4. Subjects with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced solid tumors which have progressed after standard therapy(ies), intolerant to standard therapy, refused standard therapy or for which no standard therapy(ies) exist. Furthermore, the tumor targeted for injections should be: 1. A non-visceral tumor, a metastatic lymph node, a metastasis from a visceral solid tumor provided the lesion is extravisceral, or a cutaneous tumor. Visceral tumors will not be treated. 2. The tumor must be measurable as per RECIST criteria. 3. The tumor should be directly accessible for injection or accessible with the use of ultrasound/CT guidance. 4. The tumor identified for injection should be selected so local control could potentially provide benefit to the patient. 5. 80% of the tumor must be accessible for injection with X-PACT (assessed by the treating physician) 6. The tumor must be superficial and not exceed a depth of 5 cm. 7. Eye or brain tumors will not be treated. 5. A patient with prior brain metastasis may be considered if they have completed their treatment for brain metastasis at least 4 weeks prior to day 1 of treatment, have been off of corticosteroids for ≥ 2 weeks, and brain metastases are asymptomatic. 6. The study site Radiation Oncologist Investigator/sub-investigator has determined additiional radiation delivered via X-PACT is appropriate given patient's prior radiation exposure. The treating Radiation Oncologist will review all prior radiation received to the proposed site of X-PACT treatment and assess the potential for unacceptable toxicity to the site or local organ(s) using QUANTEC. 7. All toxicities from prior therapy should be ≤Grade 1 before start of study treatment. All radiation associated toxicities must have completely resolved to be considered for inclusion into the study. 8. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in the table below: Hematological: White blood cell (WBC) ≥ 3 x 109/L Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L Platelet Count ≥ 100 x 109/L Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 8 g/dL2 Renal: Serum creatinine OR Creatinine clearance ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR, in patients with a serum creatinine 1.5 x ULN, ≥ 60 mL/min as measured by a 24-hour urine collection or estimated by the Cockcroft and Gault formula Hepatic: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN (in patients with known Gilbert Syndrome a total bilirubin ≤3.0× ULN with direct bilirubin ≤1.5 X ULN) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × ULN (or ≤ 5 if liver metastases are present) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN (or ≤ 5 if liver metastases are present) Coagulation: International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 9. Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 3 days prior to day 1 of treatment. NOTE: Females are considered of childbearing potential unless they are surgically sterile (have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or are postmenopausal (at least 12 consecutive months with no menses without an alternative medical cause). 10. FCBP must be willing to use a highly effective contraceptive method (i.e., achieves a failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly) from the time of informed consent until 28 days after treatment discontinuation. Contraceptive methods with low user dependency are preferable but not required (see table below, adapted from: http://www.hma.eu/fileadmin/dateien/Human\_Medicines/01-About\_HMA/Working\_Groups/CTFG/2014\_09\_HMA\_CTFG\_Contraception.pdf) Highly Effective Birth Control Methods: * combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation o oral * intravaginal * transdermal * progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation o oral * injectable * implantable * intrauterine device (IUD) * intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS) * vasectomised partner * sexual abstinence 11\. Male patients must be willing to use condoms from the time of informed consent until 28 days after treatment discontinuation. For a non-pregnant FCBP partner, contraception recommendations should also be considered. 12\. As determined by the enrolling physician, ability of the patient to understand and comply with study procedures for the entire length of the study 13\. Patient is expected to have a life expectancy of at least 4 months 14\. If the proposed site of treatment with X-PACT had prior exposure to curative-intent radiation, the patient may be entered into the trial with the following provisions satisfied. * There is at least a 6 month wash out period from the last date radiation was received to assess for radiation toxicity. * If there was previous radiation toxicity at the proposed site of X-PACT, the toxicity resolved at least three months ago and the site did not involve a major organ. * The site investigator in addition to the radiation oncologist (as a part of criterion #6) has fully reviewed the subject's radiation history, has examined the area for radiation toxicity and assessed the cumulative dose for either 5 or 7 X-PACT treatments and determined they will not pose additional risk for radiation toxicity or re-activate any other previous toxicity. Exclusion Criteria: * Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or breastfeeding (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study.) 2. Prior exposure to methoxsalen 3. History of any of the following: a. Idiosyncratic or hypersensitivity reactions to any psoralen compounds or any of their excipients b. Light sensitive disease state c. Disease associated with photosensitivity including lupus erythematosus, porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoietic protoporphyria, variegate porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum and albinism d. Aphakia 4. History of idiosyncratic or hypersensitivity reactions to any of the phosphor device components 5. Known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection (NOTE: testing not required) 6. Active infection requiring systemic therapy (NOTE: at discretion of investigator, patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections may be eligible.) 7. Has a known additional other primary malignancy that is active and/or progressive requiring treatment; exceptions include basal cell skin cancer, in situ cervical or bladder cancer, or other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for at least five years. 8. Systemic anti-cancer treatment within 28 days (or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter) prior to day 1 of treatment 9. Treatment with any investigational drug within 5 half-lives or 28 days, whichever is shorter (or if half-life is unknown, within 28 days) prior to day 1 of treatment 10. Impaired cardiac function or clinically significant cardiac diseases, including any of the following: a. Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia (patients with rate-controlled atrial fibrillation are not excluded) b. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP \> 170 mmHg or diastolic BP \> 105 mmHg at screening) despite two concomitant antihypertensive therapies. c. Acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina ≤ 6 months prior to day 1 of treatment d. New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure ( 11. Other uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements as determined by the investigator. 12. The tumor identified for treatment has a volume greater than 500 cc (Soft Tissue Sarcoma only). All other tumor types may have a maximum volume of 300 cc 13. Receiving or planned use of corticosteroids. Subjects will require a one-week washout period from prior corticosteroid use. Inhaled or topical steroids are permitted. 14. Subjects with active autoimmune disease requiring 10 mg or greater of prednisone and/or biologic agents. 15. Subjects with a history of pancreatitis or elevated baseline serum lipase without otherwise specified etiology. For the Expansion Cohorts, the inclusion criteria remain the same except for Inclusion Criteria #4 and #14 and which reads: 4\. Subjects with histologically and/or cytologically confirmed, inoperable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer\* (TNBC Cohort) or advanced, metastatic or relapsed soft tissue sarcoma\*\* (STS Cohort). Furthermore, the tumor targeted for injections should be: 1. A non-visceral tumor, a metastatic lymph node, a metastasis from a visceral solid tumor provided the lesion is extravisceral, or a cutaneous tumor. Visceral tumors will not be treated. 2. The tumor must be measurable as per RECIST criteria, at least 1 cm for masses and 1.5 cm for lymph nodes. 3. The tumor should be directly accessible for injection or accessible with the use of ultrasound/CT guidance. 4. 80% of the tumor must be accessible for injection with X-PACT (assessed by the treating physician) 5. Up to 4 target lesions may be selected for injection in up to two radiation fields, but the radiation fields may not overlap, however, the total phosphors delivered may not exceed 840 mg for each treatment day (e.g. investigators may elect to treat only one very large tumor, two medium tumors, one large and one small tumor, or 4 very small tumors to ensure the total phosphors limit per treatment). Selected lesions must represent at least 50% of the tumor load by investigator determination. * For the TNBC Cohort, participants must have either unresectable, locally advanced, relapsed, refractory or metastatic disease with HER2 negative/low ER/PR status (\<10%) or HER2 negative/ER/PR negative. Patients determined to be HER2 ultra-low will not be enrolled. Furthermore, participants must have received at least one prior treatment (best medical treatment for cancer stage, PDL-1 status, BRCA 1 or 2 status and general health status) as per Figure 26-1 (see Protocol for schematic . Participants who are intolerant or refuse best medical care would also be eligible. * For the STS Cohort, participants must have received at least one prior treatment (best medical treatment recommended for the participants sub-type) for unresectable, locally advanced, relapsed, refractory or metastatic disease. Participants who are intolerant to or have refused best medical treatment for their subtype will also be eligible. Best medical treatment includes: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy (including doxorubicin, Trabectedin), gene therapy, targeted therapy (pazopanib) or antibody-drug conjugates. * 14 It is preferable to select tumors that have not been previously radiated, but if other options are not available and the tumor selected is in a field which received curative-intent radiation, then the participant may only be enrolled with the following provisions satisfied. * There is at least a 6 month wash out period from the last date radiation was received to assess for radiation toxicity. * If there was previous radiation toxicity at the proposed site of X-PACT, the toxicity resolved at least three months ago and the site did not involve a major organ. * The site investigator in addition to the radiation oncologist (as a part of criterion #6) has fully reviewed the subject's radiation history, has examined the area for radiation toxicity, has assessed the cumulative dose for total X-PACT treatments and determined they will not pose additional risk for radiation toxicity or re-activate any other previous toxicity. For the TNBC cohort the following exclusion criteria has been added: 17\. For the TNBC Cohort, patients determined to be HER2 ultra-low.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
4 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Duke University
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Levine Cancer Institute
RECRUITINGCharlotte, North Carolina, 28204, United States
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Prisma Health
RECRUITINGGreenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
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Sibley Hospital - Johns Hopkins University
RECRUITINGWashington D.C., District of Columbia, 20016, United States
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