Phase II Study of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Combination With Immunotherapy for Patients With Merkel Cell Cancer (NCT05583708)
A Single Arm Study With Safety Run-in of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) in Combination With Immunotherapy for Patients With Merkel Cell Cancer (HCRN MCC20-443; iPRRT Study)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The purpose of this study is to find out what effects an immunotherapy drug, called pembrolizumab, combined with a radioactive drug, called lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera®) have on patients with Merkel cell carcinoma. Pembrolizumab works by helping patient's immune system to fight cancer. Lutathera works by killing cancer cells. Pembrolizumab is approved by the FDA to treat Merkel cell cancer and has caused some Merkel cell cancers to shrink and/or resolve. Lutathera is FDA-approved to treat some neuroendocrine tumors and has caused some patient's neuroendocrine tumors to shrink and allowed them to live longer, but it is not approved by the FDA to treat Merkel cell cancer. The combination of Lutathera and pembrolizumab to treat Merkel cell cancer is investigational, which means this combination is not approved by the FDA to treat Merkel cell cancer.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — Iowa City, Iowa
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (3 Sites)
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — Iowa City, Iowa
- Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital — New York, New York
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center — Madison, Wisconsin
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Randomized Study of Nivolumab+Ipilimumab+/- SBRT for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma — Tampa, Florida
- Study of Avelumab and/or Radiation Therapy in People With Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma — Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of RP1 in Adult Patients With Organ Transplants and Advanced Skin Malignancies — Phoenix, Arizona
- Neoadjuvant Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab in Merkel Cell Carcinoma — Tampa, Florida
- Exploring Merkel Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial Engagement Patterns — San Francisco, California
- ASTX727 & Retifanlimab-dlwr for Advanced Merkel Cell After Progression on Anti-PD-(L)1 — Madison, Wisconsin
Explore by condition: All Merkel Cell Carcinoma clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.