Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a combination of two immunotherapy drugs in patients with four types of rare cancers: neuroendocrine tumors, biliary tract cancers, ovarian clear cell carcinoma, and tumors with high microsatellite instability. This Phase 2 trial involves 240 patients and is based on earlier research showing these cancers may respond well to this type of treatment.
WHY IT MATTERSPatients with these rare cancers now have access to a targeted immunotherapy combination that showed promise in earlier studies, potentially offering a new treatment option for cancers that historically have limited therapeutic choices.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a new cancer drug called CLR 131 in children and young adults whose cancers have come back or stopped responding to standard treatments. The study includes kids with several types of hard-to-treat cancers like neuroblastoma, sarcomas, and brain tumors. This is an early-stage study to figure out the right dose and see if the drug is safe and effective.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers a potential treatment option for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, sarcomas, and other pediatric solid tumors where standard treatments have failed—conditions with very limited curative options.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing new cancer treatments for people with rare types of ovarian cancer that have come back or didn't go away after initial treatment. The study will test different medicines based on specific genetic markers found in each patient's tumor. About 176 patients will participate, and the trial is being run by Roche, a major pharmaceutical company.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers personalized treatment options for patients with recurrent or persistent rare epithelial ovarian cancers, where standard treatments have failed or stopped working—a situation with very limited options.
ResearchCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are studying 1,000 children and adults with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer of the adrenal glands. They want to understand why some people survive longer than others and whether certain treatments work better. The average person with ACC lives about 14.5 months after diagnosis, but survival times vary widely.
WHY IT MATTERSThis study is actively collecting data that could help doctors better predict outcomes and choose more effective treatments for ACC patients, though it is not currently recruiting new participants.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing whether two cancer-fighting drugs called atezolizumab and bevacizumab work better together for treating rare cancers. These drugs help the body's immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. The study includes 133 patients with various uncommon solid tumors and is currently enrolling participants.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers patients with rare cancers like Merkel cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal cancer, and mesothelioma access to a combination immunotherapy treatment that may not be available outside of clinical research.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers at Vanderbilt University are studying how the nervous system controls blood vessels in the abdomen and how this might cause high blood pressure in people with certain rare nervous system disorders. The study focuses on three conditions where the nervous system doesn't work properly: Multiple System Atrophy, Orthostatic Hypotension, and Supine Hypertension. By understanding this connection, doctors may find new ways to treat high blood pressure in these patients.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial directly addresses a poorly understood cause of high blood pressure in patients with Multiple System Atrophy and related autonomic nervous system disorders, potentially leading to better treatment options for this hard-to-manage symptom.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a new drug called furmonertinib in patients with advanced lung cancer that has specific genetic mutations. This is an early-stage study (Phase 1) with 160 patients to see if the drug is safe and how well it works. The drug targets uncommon mutations in EGFR and HER2 genes that some lung cancer patients have.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial addresses treatment options for patients with advanced NSCLC carrying uncommon EGFR or HER2 mutations, which typically have fewer targeted therapy options than common mutations.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a new way to help young people with rare bone diseases get better. The program combines sailing therapy (being out on the water) with online rehabilitation exercises that patients can do at home. This study builds on earlier successful results and will compare two different treatment approaches to see which works best.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers young patients with rare skeletal disorders access to an innovative rehabilitation model combining in-person sailing therapy with remote maintenance care, potentially improving outcomes beyond traditional therapy alone.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a combination of two cancer-fighting treatments called talimogene laherparepvec and nivolumab in patients with rare lymphomas (blood cancers) and skin cancers that didn't respond to previous treatments. Talimogene laherparepvec is a modified virus that helps the immune system fight cancer cells, while nivolumab is an immunotherapy drug that removes the brakes on the immune system. This study involves 68 patients and is currently enrolling participants.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers a potential new treatment option for patients with refractory (treatment-resistant) rare lymphomas like mycosis fungoides and Merkel cell carcinoma, which have very limited options after standard therapies fail.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers across 7 European countries are working together to develop better ways to diagnose two rare kidney diseases: atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3G). This study is enrolling 180 people, including patients with these conditions and healthy volunteers, to test new diagnostic tools that could help doctors identify these diseases more quickly and accurately.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial is developing improved diagnostic tests for aHUS and C3G, which could help patients get diagnosed faster and start treatment sooner—critical since these complement-mediated kidney diseases can cause permanent kidney damage if left untreated.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing two cancer-fighting drugs called nivolumab and ipilimumab together to treat patients with rare types of cancer. These drugs help the body's immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. The trial is currently active but not accepting new patients at this time.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial tests a combination immunotherapy approach across 50+ rare tumor types, offering potential treatment options for patients with uncommon cancers that have limited standard therapies available.