Clinical trial • Phase II • Oncology

MELPHALAN for Metastatic breast cancer | Liver-dominant metastatic breast cancer

Phase II trial of MELPHALAN for Metastatic breast cancer | Liver-dominant metastatic breast cancer.

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Oncology
Trial Disease
Metastatic breast cancer | Liver-dominant metastatic breast cancer
Trial Stage
Phase II
Drug Modality
Small molecule

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
29-09-2025
First CTIS Authorization Date
04-02-2026

Trial design

Randomised, open-label, eribulin (halaven) - comparator single-agent; vinorelbine (vinorelbina aurobindo) - comparator single-agent; capecitabine (xeloda) - comparator single-agent. doses and schedules not specified in the provided record.-controlled Phase II trial in Italy, Spain.

Randomised
Yes
Open Label
Yes
Comparator
Eribulin (HALAVEN) - comparator single-agent; Vinorelbine (Vinorelbina Aurobindo) - comparator single-agent; Capecitabine (Xeloda) - comparator single-agent. Doses and schedules not specified in the provided record.
Target Sample Size
78

Eligibility

Recruits 78 Vulnerable population selected. Signed informed consent is required (principal inclusion criterion: Signed informed consent). Minimum age is 18 years. Subject information and informed consent forms are listed for country-specific use (documents available for Italy and Spain). No specific assent procedures for minors are provided (minimum age excludes minors)..

Pregnancy Exclusion
Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable population selected. Signed informed consent is required (principal inclusion criterion: Signed informed consent). Minimum age is 18 years. Subject information and informed consent forms are listed for country-specific use (documents available for Italy and Spain). No specific assent procedures for minors are provided (minimum age excludes minors).

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Patient is ≥ 18 years of age on day of consent\n- If there is evidence of extrahepatic metastatic disease, it is limited, and the life-threatening component of disease is in the liver. Extrahepatic disease is restricted to lesions in the breast, lung, other visceral organs, lymph nodes, bones and skin\n- Each extrahepatic lesion must not exceed 3 cm in diameter and the total diameter of all extrahepatic lesions must not exceed 20 cm. Additionally, the maximum diameter of tumor lesions within each specific organ cannot be greater than 5 cm. Bone disease is allowed but is excluded from the extrahepatic tumor burden threshold\n- Disease in the liver must be measurable (per RECIST v1.1 guidelines) by computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)\n- Patient weighs ≥ 35 kg (due to possible size limitations with respect to percutaneous catheterization of the femoral artery and vein required with Melphalan/HDS)\n- Scans used to determine eligibility (CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis and MRI of the liver) must be performed within 28 days prior to randomization\n- Patient has an ECOG PS of 0-1\n- Patient has adequate hepatic function documented within 14 days prior to randomization: total serum bilirubin ≤1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN), prothrombin time (PT) within 2 seconds of the ULN, and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ≤ 5 x ULN. Patient with a documented diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome may be eligible with total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 × ULN and direct (conjugated) bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN\n- Patient has the following documented within 14 days prior to randomization: platelet count > 100,000/μL; hemoglobin ≥ 9 gm/dL; white blood cell count (WBC) > 2,000/ μL; absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L; and creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min/ (as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault formula)\n- Woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) (i.e., fertile meaning not permanently sterilized and having had a menstrual period within the past 12 months), should have a negative serum pregnancy test (β-human chorionic gonadotropin) within 7 days prior to randomization\n- If patient is a WOCBP or fertile male (not permanently sterile by bilateral orchiectomy), they or their partner must be willing to use a highly effective contraception method (e.g., combined hormonal contraception; progestogenonly hormonal contraception; intrauterine device, intrauterine hormonereleasing system; bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner or sexual abstinence) from consent to at least 6 months after the last administration of study treatment. Additionally, WOCBP using hormonal contraception must be willing to add a barrier contraception method, and fertile males must be willing to use a condom\n- Histologically confirmed diagnosis of MBC\n- Signed informed consent\n- Patients with HER2-negative (IHC 0 or 1+ or 2+ and ISH non-amplified) MBC (including triple negative disease)\n- Patient with Hormone Receptor-Positive disease has progressed on or intolerant of prior endocrine therapy and CDK 4/6 inhibitors\n- Disease progression after TOPO-1 isomerase inhibitor payload ADC, such as sacituzumab govitecan and/or trastuzumab deruxtecan. Patients not eligible or suitable for ADCs can be considered for this study. NOTE: In jurisdictions where those ADCs are not available as standard of care, patients will be eligible after prior treatment or intolerable toxicity on two standard chemotherapy regimens for the appropriate disease subtype\n- Patient with HER2-negative breast cancer suitable for single agent chemotherapy as per judgement of treating investigator\n- Patient is a suitable candidate for treatment with one of the following: eribulin, vinorelbine, or capecitabine as per judgement of treating investigator\n- Patient has liver dominant metastatic disease. Liver-dominant is defined as the majority of total tumor burden is located in the liver, and/or the lifethreatening component of the disease is located in the liver\n- MBC metastases must involve ≤ 50% of the liver parenchyma"}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Prior chemoembolization or radioembolization to the liver or prior hepatic arterial infusion therapy.\n- Patient is a WOCBP (i.e., fertile meaning not permanently sterilized and having had a menstrual period within the past 12 months) who is unable to undergo hormonal suppression to avoid menstruation during treatment.\n- Patient requires chronic use of immunosuppressive drugs. NOTE: Oral prednisolone ≤ 10 mg/day or equivalent is allowed.\n- Patient is unable to be temporarily removed from chronic anti-coagulation therapy.\n- Patient has active bacterial infections with systemic manifestations (malaise, fever, leukocytosis).\n- Patient has an active infection, including Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infection. NOTE: Patients with anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBc) positive, or hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but DNA negative are allowed exception(s).\n- Patient has known severe allergic reaction to iodine contrast that cannot be controlled by premedication with antihistamines and steroids.\n- Patient has a history of or known hypersensitivity to melphalan or the components of the Melphalan/HDS system.\n- Patient has known latex allergy.\n- Patient has a history of known hypersensitivity to heparin or the presence of heparininduced thrombocytopenia.\n- Patient has an uncontrolled endocrine disorder including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism.\n- Patient has evidence of clinically significant portal hypertension by history, endoscopy, or radiologic studies (large abdominal varices, prior history of varices by endoscopy).\n- Patient received anti-cancer therapy including radiotherapy or investigational agent for any indication ≤ 30 days prior to randomization.\n- Patients should have recovered to Grade 1 or less for AEs related to prior treatment unless deemed clinically not significant, such as lymphopenia, anemia, or grade 2 neuropathy due to prior taxane treatment. NOTE: Certain side effects that are unlikely to develop into serious or life–threatening events (e.g., alopecia) are allowed at ≥ Grade 1.\n- Patient is < 28 days after surgery and surgical wound is not fully healed.\n- Patient is currently under treatment for cancer other than MBC or is not deemed to be cancer free.\n- Patient is not eligible to receive either eribulin or vinorelbine or capecitabine.\n- Albumin level < 3.0 g/dL.\n- Patient has been committed to an institution by virtue of an order issued either by the judicial or the administrative authorities.\n- Patient has New York Heart Association functional classification II, III or IV or active cardiac condition(s), including unstable coronary syndromes (unstable or severe angina, recent myocardial infarction), worsening or new-onset congestive heart failure, significant arrhythmias, or severe valvular disease that create(s) undue risks of undergoing general anesthesia.\n- Patient has history or evidence of clinically significant pulmonary disease that precludes the use of general anesthesia.\n- Patient has a history of bleeding disorders, presence of brain metastases or other intracranial abnormalities that would put them at risk for bleeding with anti-coagulation.\n- Patient has known varices at risk of bleeding, including medium or large esophageal or gastric varices, active peptic ulcer, or history of recent hemoptysis.\n- Patient has an active second malignancy or has a history of recent definitively treated invasive cancer within 2 years prior to enrolment. Exceptions are optimally treated and controlled basal cell carcinoma, other skin cancers, thyroid cancer.\n- Patients with symptoms and signs indicating clinically significant progression of disease including cord compression, increasing pain symptoms, increasing oxygen requirements, impending pathological fracture, compressive lymphadenopathy, or symptomatic pleural effusion.\n- Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding."}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Hepatic progression free survival (hPFS)","definition_or_measurement_approach":"No detailed primary endpoint definition provided in the record; disease in the liver must be measurable per RECIST v1.1 by CT and/or MRI (eligibility criterion), implying progression-free survival assessed by imaging per RECIST v1.1."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Progression free survival (PFS)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Overall response rate (ORR) (complete response [CR] + partial response [PR])","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Defined in-record as ORR = complete response (CR) + partial response (PR)."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Hepatic ORR (hORR)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Duration of response (DOR)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Hepatic DOR (hDOR)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Disease control rate (DCR)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Hepatic DCR (hDCR)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Overall survival (OS)","definition_or_measurement_approach":""}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
78
Recruitment Window Months
35
Consent Approach
Signed informed consent required (principal inclusion criterion: Signed informed consent). Subject information and informed consent forms are provided for Italy (Italian documents) and Spain (Spanish documents) as listed in the trial documents. Minimum age for consent is 18 years. No additional assent procedures for minors are provided.

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
3
Total Number Of Participants
78

Italy

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
15-12-2025
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
04-02-2026
Processing Time Days
51
Number Of Sites
1
Number Of Participants
3

Sites

Site Name
Istituto Europeo Di Oncologia S.r.l.
Department Name
Clinical senology
Principal Investigator Name
Elisabetta Munzone
Principal Investigator Email
elisabetta.munzone@ieo.it
Contact Person Name
Elisabetta Munzone
Contact Person Email
elisabetta.munzone@ieo.it
Number Of Participants
3

Spain

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
19-12-2025
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
06-02-2026
Processing Time Days
49
Number Of Sites
2
Number Of Participants
9

Sites

Site Name
Institut Catala D'oncologia
Department Name
Medical Oncology
Principal Investigator Name
Sonia Pernas
Principal Investigator Email
spernas@iconcologia.net
Contact Person Name
Sonia Pernas
Contact Person Email
spernas@iconcologia.net
Site Name
Hospital Beata Maria Ana
Department Name
Medical Oncology
Principal Investigator Name
Javier Cortes
Principal Investigator Email
javier.cortes@maj3.health
Contact Person Name
Javier Cortes
Contact Person Email
javier.cortes@maj3.health

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Delcath Systems Inc.
Organisation Type
Pharmaceutical company
Country Of Registered Address
United States

Contract research organisations

Name
Precision for Medicine GmbH
Responsibilities
Molecular and Proteomic Testing; multiple sponsor duties including regulatory and operational functions (sponsor duties listed in record).
Name
Medpace Reference Laboratories LLC
Responsibilities
Laboratory testing (sponsor duty code 4).
Name
Medidata Solutions Inc.
Responsibilities
Safety reporting gateway and imaging portal (sponsor duties include codes 15, 3, 7 as listed).

Third parties

  • {"country":"Germany","full_name":"Myonex GmbH","duties_or_roles":"Sponsor duty code: 14","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Germany","full_name":"Precision for Medicine GmbH","duties_or_roles":"Molecular and Proteomic Testing","organisation_type":"Laboratory/Research/Testing facility"}
  • {"country":"United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)","full_name":"Almac Diagnostic Services Limited","duties_or_roles":"Histopathology and Molecular and Proteomic Testing","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"United States","full_name":"Medidata Solutions Inc.","duties_or_roles":"Safety reporting gateway and imaging portal; sponsor duty codes: 3, 7","organisation_type":"Non-Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"United States","full_name":"Predicine Inc.","duties_or_roles":"Molecular and Proteomic Testing","organisation_type":"Hospital/Clinic/Other health care facility"}
  • {"country":"Hungary","full_name":"Precision for Medicine (HU) Kft.","duties_or_roles":"Sponsor duties codes: 1, 10, 12, 2, 5, 6, 8","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"United States","full_name":"Medpace Reference Laboratories LLC","duties_or_roles":"Sponsor duty: 4","organisation_type":"Laboratory/Research/Testing facility"}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
MELPHALAN HIKMA 50 mg/10ml, poudre et solvant pour solution injectable / pour perfusion
Active Substance
MELPHALAN
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
INTRAARTERIAL USE
Route
INTRAARTERIAL
Authorisation Status
34009 302 790 9 0
Maximum Dose
220.00 mg/kg (max daily dose amount as listed)
Investigational Product Name
HALAVEN 0.44 mg/ml solution for injection
Active Substance
ERIBULIN
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
Route
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
Authorisation Status
EU/1/11/678/001
Maximum Dose
2.80 mg (max daily dose amount as listed)
Investigational Product Name
Vinorelbina Aurobindo 10 mg/ml concentrato per soluzione per infusione.
Active Substance
VINORELBINE TARTRATE
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION / INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION
Route
INTRAVENOUS
Authorisation Status
038875011 / 038875035
Maximum Dose
30.00 mg (max daily dose amount as listed)
Investigational Product Name
Xeloda 150 mg film-coated tablets
Active Substance
CAPECITABINE
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
ORAL
Route
ORAL
Authorisation Status
EU/1/00/163/001
Maximum Dose
5600.00 mg (max daily dose amount as listed)
Investigational Product Name
Xeloda 500 mg film-coated tablets
Active Substance
CAPECITABINE
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
ORAL
Route
ORAL
Authorisation Status
EU/1/00/163/002
Maximum Dose
5600.00 mg (max daily dose amount as listed)
Combination Treatment
Yes

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