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Recruiting Phase 1, Phase 2 NCT05251389

NCT05251389 FMT to Convert Response to Immunotherapy

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05251389
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 1, Phase 2
Sponsor The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Condition Melanoma Stage III
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 24 participants
Start Date 2022-08-31
Primary Completion 2026-08

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Fecal microbiota transplantation

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 1 is the earliest stage of human testing — safety and dosage are the primary focus. Visits are frequent and medical supervision is intensive. You will be among the first people to receive this treatment.

This trial targets 24 participants in total. It began in 2022-08-31 with a primary completion date of 2026-08.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

In this study the aim is to investigate whether transfer of the microbiota of either responder or non-responder patients via fecal microbiotica transplantation (FMT) can convert the response to immunotherapy in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) refractory metastatic melanoma patients. This is a randomized double-blind intervention phase Ib/IIa trial in ICI refractory metastatic melanoma patients receiving either FMT of an ICI responding or FMT from an ICI non-responding donor, in combination with ICI. Following randomization, patients will receive vancomycin 250 mg, four times daily for 4 days (day -5 up until day -2), and undergo bowel clearance on day -1 (in total 1L MoviPrep). The FMT, either derived from donor group R (who showed a good response on anti-PD-1 therapy) or donor group NR (who showed progression on anti-PD-1 therapy), will be performed by a gastroenterologist using esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A total amount of 198mL (containing a total of 60 gram feces) will be used for transplantation. Anti-PD-1 treatment will be continued according to the patient's regular treatment schedule. Evaluation of safety and response to treatment will be performed.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients should be 18 years or older * Patients have pathologically confirmed advanced stage cutaneous melanoma (stage III or IV) requiring systemic treatment with anti-PD-1 * In case of stage IV disease, only patients with M1a or M1b disease are eligible. * Patients have confirmed disease progression (≥20% increase according to RECIST1.1) on two consecutive scans with a four week interval while on anti-PD-1 treatment, of which the second scan has to be performed within 3 weeks prior to signing informed consent. * Patients must have measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria * Patients have an ECOG performance status of 0-1 (appendix D) * Patients have a life expectancy of \>3 months * Patients have adequate organ function as determined by standard-of-care pre-checkpoint inhibitor infusion lab (including serum ALAT/ASAT less than three times the upper limit of normal (ULN); serum creatinine clearance 50ml/min or higher; total bilirubin less than or equal to 20 micromol/L, except in patients with Gilbert's Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin less than 50 micromol/L) * Patients have an LDH level of ≤1 times ULN * Patients of both genders must be willing to use a highly effective method of birth control during treatment * Patients must be able to understand and sign the Informed Consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with acral, uveal or mucosal melanoma, or patients with an unknown primary * Patients who have received treatment for their melanoma other than anti-PD-1 treatment. * Stage IV patients with M1c or M1d disease. * Patients with autoimmune diseases: patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are excluded from this study (except Hashimoto thyroiditis, vitiligo, history of psoriasis, but no active disease) * Patients with any grade 3 or 4 immune-related adverse events still requiring active immunosuppressive medication, apart from endocrinopathies that are stable under hormone replacement therapy. Patients who had developed grade 3-4 immune related toxicity, which has reverted to grade I with immunosuppressive drugs and who are off immunosuppression at least two weeks prior to enrollment are eligible * Patients with brain or LM metastasis. * Patients with an elevated LDH level * Patients that have undergone major gastric/esophageal/bowel surgery (like Wipple, subtotal colectomy) * Severe food allergy (e.g. nuts, shellfish) * Patients with a swallowing disorder or expected bowel passage problems (ileus, fistulas, perforation) * Severe dysphagia with incapability of swallowing 2 liters of bowel lavage * Patients with a life expectancy of less than three months * Patients with severe cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities (per judgement of the investigator) * Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding * Patients with any active systemic infections, coagulation disorders or other active major medical illnesses * Patients with other malignancies, except adequately treated and a cancer-related life-expectancy of more than 5 years * Patients who received treatment with antibiotics in the three months prior to study enrolment, or patients we are expected to receive systemic antibiotics during the course of this study

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

John Haanen, Prof

✉ j.haanen@nki.nl

📞 +31205129111

Principal Investigator

John Haanen, Prof

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Medical Oncologist

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05251389 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Melanoma Stage III. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT05251389 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 1 trials are the first stage of human testing. The primary goal is to assess safety and determine appropriate dosage levels. Participants are closely monitored. These trials typically involve a small number of volunteers.

Is NCT05251389 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05251389 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at j.haanen@nki.nl for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05251389 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05251389 clinical trial?

NCT05251389 is sponsored by The Netherlands Cancer Institute. The principal investigator is John Haanen, Prof at Medical Oncologist. The trial plans to enroll 24 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology