ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03317457MEDISARCUpdated Jun 15, 2023

Durvalumab and Tremelimumab Compared to Doxorubicin in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma

A Phase 2 interventional study of Durvalumab and Tremelimumab and Doxorubicin in Metastatic Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Recurrent Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, sponsored by AIO-Studien-gGmbH. Completed at 1 site in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-06-15.

Sponsored by AIO-Studien-gGmbH · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

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Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
103
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-14

Among 101 studies in Sarcoma with a site in Germany — 19 open to participants now, 29 under way, 3 of them phase 3. Sarcoma · Germany.

Enrollment
42nd of 82
103 · median 107
Started
2017
with 8 others
Phase 2
29 of 101
1 open now
Registered
60th of 101
by date

Among the 101 studies in Sarcoma with a site in Germany, this one is the 42nd largest by enrollment of the 82 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 9 that started in 2017, is one of 29 in phase 2, and was the 60th registered.

Sarcoma

1,607 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcoma; 365 are open to participants now.

Browse Sarcoma studies →

Open to participants now

19 of the 101 studies in Sarcoma with a site in Germany are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:

14 more — sign in →

All 19 open studies →

A study can be open while its sites in Germany have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in Germany →

Who these studies take

Of the 301 Sarcoma studies recruiting now, 191 (63%) set no upper age limit and 83 (28%) stop at 75 or younger; 92 take children under 18; 12 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 18 Years and older · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.

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02

Study summary

The objective of the trial is to assess the efficacy of Durvalumab and Tremelimumab in comparison to doxorubicin in treatment-naïve Soft tissue sarcoma patients

03

Conditions studied

  • Metastatic Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma
  • Recurrent Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Browse trials for

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

    1. Written and any locally-required authorization (EU Data Privacy Directive in the EU) obtained from the subject prior to performing any protocol-related procedures, including screening evaluations 2. Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry 3. Body weight > 30kg at study inclusion 4. confirmed diagnosis of or advanced soft tissue sarcoma of intermediate or high grade [according to FNCLCC score; intermediate=grade 2 score of 4-5 points, high grade = grade 3 score of 6-8 points] with disease progression within 6 months prior to study inclusion:

      • Fibrosarcoma
      • Pleomorphic high grade sarcoma ("malignant fibrous histiocytoma")
      • Leiomyosarcoma
      • Liposarcoma (myxoid liposarcoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma)
      • Malignant glomus tumor
      • Rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar or pleomorphic (excluding embryonal)
      • Vascular sarcoma (angiosarcoma)
      • Synovial sarcoma
      • High-grade sarcoma, not otherwise specified (NOS)
      • Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
      • Other types of sarcoma (not listed as ineligible), if approved by the coordinating investigator / study coordinator.

Excluding:

Uncertain differentiation (epithelioid, alveolar soft part, clear cell, desmoplastic small round cell, malignant mesenchymoma, PEComa), chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcomas/PNET, chordoma, malignant solitary fibrous tumors, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (low-grade), neuroblastoma, malignant mesothelioma, and mixed mesodermal tumors of the uterus (Study inclusion is based on local histopathological diagnosis). 5. Metastatic or locally advanced STS, not amendable to surgery with curative intention.

  1. No prior treatment line for advanced or metastatic disease. 7. performance status 0-2 8. Patients with (at least one uni-dimensionally measurable target lesion by CT-scan or MRI) according to (RECIST 1.1) are eligible.
  1. If prior palliative radiotherapy has been given to metastatic lesions: either ≥1 measurable lesion remains outside the radition field or the sole lesion meets RECIST 1.1 criteria for progression at study entry.
  1. Patients with bone lesions as the only measurable lesion are eligible, provided that lesions consist of soft tissue, which is measurable via CT or MRI.
  1. Prior radiotherapy and surgery are allowed if completed 4 weeks (for minor surgery and palliative radiotherapy for bone pain: 2 weeks) prior to start of treatment and patient recovered from toxic effects.
  1. Adequate blood count, liver-enzymes, and renal function:
  • ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L (> 1500 per mm3)
  • count ≥ 100 x 109/L (>100,000 per mm3)
  • Serum ≤ 1.5 x . This will not apply to subjects with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome (persistent or recurrent hyperbilirubinemia that is predominantly unconjugated in the absence of hemolysis or hepatic pathology), who will be allowed only in consultation with their physician.
  • (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal unless liver metastases are present, in which case it must be ≤ 5x ULN
  • Serum creatinine CL>40 mL/min by the formula (Cockcroft and Gault 1976) or by 24-hour urine collection for determination of creatinine clearance 13. Adequate cardiac function ( ≥50% as assessed by ECHO) 14. Female subjects must either be of non- (ie, by history: ≥60 years old and no menses for ≥1 year without an alternative medical cause; OR history of hysterectomy, OR history of bilateral tubal ligation, OR history of bilateral oophorectomy) or must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry.

    1. Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including follow up.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

    1. Patients who are suitable for anthracycline-based combination therapies 2. Cardiac events such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, CHF, apoplexy, lung embolism within 6 months prior to study treatment 3. Mean corrected for heart rate (QTc) ≥470 ms calculated from 3 (ECGs) using Fredericia's correction 4. Uncontrolled severe hypertension (failure of diastolic blood pressure to fall below 100 mmHg and systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg) 5. Previous (other than STS) which either progresses or requires active treatment.

Exceptions are: basal cell cancer of the skin, pre-invasive cancer of the cervix, T1a or T1b prostate carcinoma, or superficial bladder tumor [Ta, Tis and T1].

  1. History or clinical evidence of

Exceptions are: Subjects who have completed local therapy and who meet both of the following criteria:

  1. are asymptomatic and
  2. have no requirement for 6 weeks prior to start of study treament. Screening with CNS imaging (CT or MRI) is required only if clinically indicated or if the subject has a history of CNS metastases 7. Active or prior documented disease within the past 2 years. NOTE: Subjects with vitiligo, Grave's disease, or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment (within the past 2 years) are not excluded.

    1. Active or prior documented inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) 9. History of primary immunodeficiency 10. History of allogeneic organ transplant 11. History of to durvalumab, tremelimumab (alone or in combination), doxorubicin or any of the constituents of the products 12. Medication that is known to interfere with any of the agents applied in the trial.
    1. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, active peptic ulcer disease or gastritis, active bleeding diatheses including any subject known to have evidence of acute or chronic , or (HIV), or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or compromise the ability of the subject to give written .
    1. Major surgical procedure (as defined by the Investigator) within 28 days prior to the first dose of study medication. Note: Local surgery of isolated lesions for palliative intent is acceptable.
    1. Any unresolved toxicity > grade 2 from previous anti-cancer therapy with the exception of alopecia, vitiligo, and the laboratory values defined in the inclusion criteria.
    • Patients with Grade ≥2 neuropathy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the Coordinating Investigator.
    • Patients with irreversible toxicity not reasonably expected to be exacerbated by treatment with durvalumab or tremelimumab (if applicable) may be included only after consultation with the Coordinating Investigator.

      1. Any prior Grade ≥3 immune-related adverse event (irAE) while receiving any previous immunotherapy agent, or any unresolved irAE >Grade 1 17. Known history of previous clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis 18. Receipt of within 30 days prior to study entry or within 30 days of receiving durvalumab 19. Female subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding or male or female patients of who are not employing an effective method of (failure rate of less than 1% per year) 20. Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results 21. Participation in another clinical study with an product during the last 30 days before inclusion 22. Any previous treatment with a or PD-L1 or CTLA-4 inhibitor, including durvalumab and tremelimunab 23. Current or prior use of medication within 28 days before the first dose of durvalumab, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid 24. Receipt of the last dose of anti-cancer therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, biologic therapy, tumor embolization, monoclonal antibodies, other investigational agent) ≤ 21 days prior to the first dose of study drug or ≤4 half-lifes of the agent administered, which ever comes first.
      1. Previous enrollment or randomization in the present study (does not include screening failure).
      1. Patient who has been incarcerated or involuntarily institutionalized by court order or by the authorities (§ 40 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 4 AMG).
      1. Patients who are unable to consent because they do not understand the nature, significance and implications of the clinical trial and therefore cannot form a rational intention in the light of the facts [§ 40 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 3a AMG].
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(32)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Measurable disease

The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.

The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.

RECIST

The standard rules for measuring tumours on CT or MRI scans, to tell whether a cancer is shrinking, stable or growing during treatment.

“Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1” usually means at least one tumour 10 mm or more at its longest on a CT scan, or a lymph node 15 mm or more across its short axis.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

Reproductive potential

Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.

Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

QT and QTc

On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.

The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.

ECG (electrocardiogram)

A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Brain metastases

Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).

Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

CTCAE grade

The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.

1
Mild.
2
Moderate.
3
Severe.
4
Life-threatening.
5
Death due to the event.

“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors

PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.

PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
103 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Durvalumab and Tremelimumab

    Cycles/courses 1-3: Durvalumab 1.5g q4wks Tremelimumab 75 mg q4wks Cycles/courses ≥4: Durvalumab 1.5g q4wks Tremelimumab 75 mg q12wks

    Biological: Durvalumab and Tremelimumab

  • Active comparator
    Doxorubicin

    Doxorubicin 75 mg/qm q3wks for 6 courses

    Drug: Doxorubicin

Interventions

  • BiologicalDurvalumab and Tremelimumab

    immun checkpoint inhibitor

  • Anthracycline

This study also gives Durvalumab, Tremelimumab. No intervention listed here names it: that was found by reading the record.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. overall survival (OS)

    Time frame: up to 57 months from randomization

Secondary outcomes

  1. AEs / SAEs and Treatment Emergent Adverse Events according to CTCAE 4.03

    Assessment of adverse events of tremelimumab and durvalumab (MEDI4736) combination therapy

    Time frame: up to 18 months from randomization

  2. Objective Response Rate (ORR) according to RECIST 1.1 criteria

    Time frame: up to 57months from randomization

  3. OS mile stone rate at 24 months

    Time frame: up to 24 months from randomization

  4. Duration of response

    Time frame: up to 57 months from randomization

  5. progression-free survival (PFS)

    Time frame: up to 57 months from randomization

  6. Quality of life QLQ-C30

    scores according to EORTC QLQ-C30 scoring manual (Quality of life)

    Time frame: up to 12 months from randomization

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
    Hannover, 30625, Germany
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Dec 2017 to primary completion in Aug 2022, 55 months.

Of 198 non-industry phase 2 interventional studies under Sarcoma, half reached primary completion within 66 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 46 and three quarters within 91. This study's 55 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 227 studies reached it within 66 months; a quarter within 43 and three quarters within 92.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Oct 18, 2017
First posted
Oct 23, 2017
StartActual
Dec 15, 2017
Primary completionActual
Aug 12, 2022
CompletionActual
Aug 12, 2022
Last update
Jun 15, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 15, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03317457
Lead sponsor
AIO-Studien-gGmbH
Collaborators
AstraZeneca
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 23, 2017
Start date
Dec 15, 2017
Primary completion
Aug 12, 2022
Completion
Aug 12, 2022
Last update
Jun 15, 2023

Study contacts

Viktor Grünwald, Dr.
principal investigator · Universitätsklinikum Essen

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Tremelimumab

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