NCT07927998 · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
A Study of Retifanlimab After Chemoradiation in People With Anal Cancer
What this study is about
Participants will receive retifanlimab during 28-day treatment Cycles and will continue to receive retifanlimab for up to 6 Cycles (up to 12 Cycles with study doctor approval) unless the participant's cancer comes back, have serious side effects and cannot continue study treatment, or the study doctor thinks it is in the participant's best interest to stop.
View original scientific description
Participants will receive retifanlimab during 28-day treatment Cycles and will continue to receive retifanlimab for up to 6 Cycles (up to 12 Cycles with study doctor approval) unless the participant's cancer comes back, have serious side effects and cannot continue study treatment, or the study doctor thinks it is in the participant's best interest to stop.
Interventions
DRUG
Retifanlimab
IV Retifanlimab every 4 weeks for 6 cycles
Primary outcome measures
Rate of ctDNA clearance at 12 weeks
Time frame: 12 weeks
To determine the rate of ctDNA clearance at 12-weeks (pre-Cycle 4) in ASCC participants with MRD after completion of definitive-intent chemoradiation, following treatment with retifanlimab.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Subject or legally authorized representative is willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Age ≥ 18 on day of signing informed consent.
- Consent for use of archival tissue and blood draws for research purposes.
- Documentation of Disease o Patients must have pathologically confirmed anal squamous cell carcinoma. ° Pathology confirmation of the primary tumor at time of initial diagnosis is acceptable.
- Disease Specific Criteria
- Patients must have MRD after completion of definitive-CRT defined as:
- Detectable on the last day of or after completing definitive-CRT.
- In patients with MRD within 6 months of CRT completion, patients with no overt clinical or radiographic progression will be eligible, the treatment response evolves for up to 6-months after completion of CRT. The ACT II trial demonstrated that 70% of patients with an incomplete response to CRT at 3-months achieved a clinical complete response by 6-months \[18\].
- ctDNA will be assessed using Natera Signatera, a CLIA- validated tumor informed ctDNA assay, which MSK patients currently undergo baseline, on-treatment, and surveillance monitoring as standard of care.
- As patients will not have measurable radiographic disease at time of enrollment, RECIST will not be used for study.
- Patients must sign informed consent within 4 weeks of positive ctDNA result. The 4 weeks is considered from the date that the ctDNA resulted, and not the date it is drawn.
- Patients must have completed definitive CRT per institutional standards or as determined appropriate by the principal investigator.
- Resolution of all non-hematologic toxicities of prior therapy or surgical procedures to baseline or Grade 1 (except for hypothyroidism requiring medication, which must have resolved to Grade ≤2), alopecia, and other toxicities considered clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy as determined by the investigator. o Lymphopenia is a known side effect of CRT, which can take months to resolve \[4\], and is not an
Exclusion criteria
- to eligibility.
- ECOG Performance Status of ≤ 2
- Required Organ Function
- Adequate hematologic function defined as follows:
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥= 1,000 cells/mm3
- Platelets ≥ 75,000 cells/mm3
- Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl
- Adequate renal function defined as follows:
- Creatinine clearance (CrCL) of ≥30 mL/min by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (Note: For agents for which renal excretion is not a major route of clearance and for which renal toxicity is not an issue, the threshold for creatinine clearance should be ≥30 mL/min.): CrCl (mL/min) = \[ (140 - Age) × Weight (kg)\] / \[72 × Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)\], multiplied by 0.85 for females.
- Adequate hepatic function defined as follows:
- Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (patients with known Gilbert's disease who have bilirubin level ≤ 3 x ULN may be enrolled)
- AST and ALT ≤2.5 x institutional ULN
- Adequate cardiac function defined as follows:
- Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.
- To be eligible for this trial, patients with known congestive heart failure should be class 2B or better (see Appendix II: New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification). Exclusion Criteria:
- Presence of metastatic or recurrent disease.
- Active infection requiring parenteral antibiotic(s).
- Known active TB (Bacillus tuberculosis) infection.
- Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
- Active immune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression in excess of physiologic maintenance doses of corticosteroids (\>10mg of prednisone or equivalent).
- Interstitial lung disease or active noninfectious pneumonitis.
- Known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
- History of allogeneic bone marrow/stem, cell, or solid organ transplant.
- Pregnant or nursing or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial. o Participants of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) during study therapy and for 6 months following the completion of study therapy.
- Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load and CD4+ count \>300/μL within 6 months are eligible.
- Known to be hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen, or any other positive test for HBV indicating acute or chronic infection. Patients who are receiving or who have received anti-HBV therapy and have undetectable HBV DNA prior to study entry are eligible.
- Known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by positive serology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients on or who have received antiretroviral therapy are eligible provided they are virus-free by PCR for at least 6 months prior to study entry.
- Receipt of a live vaccine within 28 days of planned start of study drug. Note: Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox/zoster, yellow fever, rabies, BCG, and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., FluMist®) are live-attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
- Prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 agent.
- History of allergic reaction to the study agent(s), compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to the study agent (s) (or any of its excipients).
Where
- Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Middletown, New Jersey
- Montvale, New Jersey
- Commack, New York
- Harrison, New York
- New York, New York
- Rockville Centre, New York
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations