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SuspendedNCT03919292Updated Jun 29, 2026

Neratinib + Valproate in Advanced Solid Tumors, w/Expansion Cohort in Ras-Mutated Ca

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Neratinib and Divalproex Sodium in Solid Tumor, Adult, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University. Suspended at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-29.

Sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was suspended
Pending amendment approval
Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
83
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

To determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination of neratinib and sodium valproate when given to patients with advanced solid tumors. Then to explore the antitumor effects of the neratinib and sodium valproate combination in advanced solid tumors with attention to RAS-mutated tumors, EGFR-altered GBM, and ocular melanoma, as part of the phase 2 expansion cohort.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this trial is to test the safety of combining 2 drugs, neratinib (Nerlynx) and divalproex sodium (Depakote DR), also commonly called valproate, when treating patients with advanced cancer.

In an earlier stage of this trial the purpose was to test different doses of neratinib in combination with divalproex sodium to see which doses should be used in future research trials. This trial will also help us to learn how advanced tumors respond to the combination of neratinib and divalproex sodium.

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Conditions studied

  • Solid Tumor, Adult

Keywords

  • Colon Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Other solid tumor
  • Advanced solid tumor
  • Tumor progression
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In context

Colonic Neoplasms

1,432 studies on the registry are indexed under Colonic Neoplasms; 357 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 83 is close to the median of 90 across 1,034 interventional studies indexed under Colonic Neoplasms.

Browse Colonic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Virginia Commonwealth University is the lead sponsor of 641 studies on the registry; 82 are open to participants now.

Of its 88 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 62 (70%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Phase 1 - Dose Escalation Phase: Advanced solid tumor that has progressed during or after treatment with approved therapies or for which there is no standard effective therapy available
  • Phase 2 - Dose Expansion Phase: One of the following advanced solid tumors that is RAS-mutated and has progressed during or after treatment with at least one approved therapy or for which there is no standard effective therapy available: :
  • Colon Cancer with a RAS mutation
  • Pancreatic Cancer with a RAS mutation
  • Other Solid Tumor with RAS Mutation
  • Ocular melanoma, which includes melanoma that develops in the sclera, retina, uvea (iris, choroid layer, and ciliary layer), or conjunctiva or other cancers with a GNAQ or GNA11 mutation
  • Measurable disease by RECIST v1.1
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
  • Adequate bone marrow function
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/mm3
  • Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL (untransfused)
  • Adequate renal function
  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for the laboratory or calculated or actual creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
  • Adequate hepatic function
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN for the laboratory Exception: If a patient has documented Gilbert's syndrome and a total bilirubin is > 1.5 x ULN for the laboratory, the total bilirubin requirement may be waived provided the direct bilirubin is within normal limits (WNL) for the laboratory.
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3.0 x ULN for the laboratory
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN for the laboratory
  • Note: For the expansion cohorts, in patients with documented liver metastasis, the AST and ALT requirements will be ≤ 5 x ULN for the laboratory
  • Non-hematologic toxicities from previous cancer therapies resolved to ≤ grade 1 except chronic residual toxicities that in the opinion of the investigator are not clinically relevant given the known safety/toxicity profiles of neratinib and sodium valproate (eg, alopecia, changes in pigmentation, stable endocrinopathies, neuropathy, skin toxicities)
  • International normalized ratio (INR) is ≤ 1.5 and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN for the laboratory
  • A woman of childbearing potential (WCBP), defined as a woman who is \< 60 years of age and has not had a hysterectomy, must have a documented negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to initiating study treatment
  • WCBP and a male patient with a partner who is a WCBP must agree to use a medically accepted method for preventing pregnancy for the duration of study treatment and for 2 months following completion of study treatment
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Current or prior known meningeal metastases Known brain metastases that are symptomatic or untreated Note: Patients with known brain metastases who are asymptomatic and have had post-treatment imaging that indicates stable brain disease are eligible. Note that brain imaging in patients with known brain metastases is required within 8 weeks prior to initiation of study therapy.

  • Any investigational agent within 4 weeks prior to initiating study treatment
  • Previous therapy with neratinib
  • Active uncontrolled diarrhea leading to dehydration or electrolyte disturbances not easily controlled with oral repletion
  • Inability to swallow medication
  • Known or suspected malabsorption condition or obstruction. Note: Use of pancreatic enzyme supplements is allowed to control malabsorption
  • Inability to shift medications as follows: Antacids (eg, calcium carbonate): dose at least 3 hours after dosing with neratinib. H2 receptor antagonists: dose must be taken at least 2 hours after or 10 hours before dosing with neratinib
  • Resting systolic blood pressure (BP) \< 100 mmHg
  • Active or clinically significant cardiac disease including any of the following:
  • Unstable angina (eg, anginal symptoms at rest) or onset of angina within 3 months prior to initiating study treatment
  • Myocardial infarction diagnosed within 6 months prior to initiating study treatment
  • Cardiac arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy other than beta blockers
  • New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV congestive heart failure
  • Seizure disorder requiring an enzyme inducing antiepileptic medication (EIAED)
  • Serious (ie, ≥ grade 3) uncontrolled infection
  • Chronic or active hepatitis B or C infection with elevated transaminase levels
  • Pleural effusion or ascites that causes respiratory compromise (ie, ≥ grade 2 dyspnea)
  • Known mitochondrial disorder caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (γ)
  • Known urea cycle disorders
  • Planned ongoing treatment with other drugs thought to potentially have adverse interactions with either of the medications included in the study treatment:
  • Cosyntropin
  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
  • High-risk P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates (eg, digoxin, dabigatran, fexofenadine). Other anticoagulants are not considered high-risk P-gp substrates
  • Strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors and/or Strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers. Examples of clinical inhibitors and clinical inducers for P450-mediated metabolism and classification of strong, moderate, and weak interactions are available through the FDA website, Tables 3-2 and 3-3: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/DrugInteractionsLabeling/ucm093664.htm Note: If such medications have been used, patients must have discontinued these agents ≥ 2 weeks prior to initiating study treatment
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Medical, psychological, or social condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the patient's risk or limit the patient's adherence with study requirements
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Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Sequential assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
83 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Neratinib + Divalproex Sodium - Dose Escalation Cohort

    Neratinib by mouth (PO) once daily + Divalproex Sodium (Valproate) by mouth (PO) twice daily on days 1-28 of each course.

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

  • Experimental
    Colon

    Colon Cancer (RAS-mutated) - Phase II dose expansion at recommended phase II dose (RP2D)

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

  • Experimental
    Glioblastoma (GBM)

    Glioblastoma with a RAS-mutation or EGFR alteration at RP2D

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

  • Experimental
    Ocular Melanoma (OM)

    Phase II dose expansion at RP2D

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

  • Experimental
    Other Cancer

    "Other Cancer" (RAS-mutated) at RP2D

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

  • Experimental
    Pancreatic Cancer

    RAS-mutated pancreatic cancer at RP2D

    Drug: Neratinib · Drug: Divalproex Sodium

Interventions

  • DrugNeratinib

    Combination of Neratinib and Divalproex Sodium (Valproate) will be given to patients with advanced solid tumors (dose escalation) and Ras-mutated cancers (dose expansion). Doses of Neratinib are escalated in small groups of patients during the dose expansion portion of the study.

    Also known as: Nerlynx

  • DrugDivalproex Sodium

    Combination of Neratinib and Divalproex Sodium (Valproate) will be given to patients with advanced solid tumors (dose escalation) and Ras-mutated cancers (dose expansion).

    Also known as: Depakote, Valproate

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Determination of Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D)

    RP2D for the combination of neratinib and sodium valproate that is less than or the same as the maximum tolerated dose (MTD).

    Time frame: 28 Days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Evaluation of Treatment Related Adverse Events of Neratinib combined with Sodium Valproate

    Determine the safety and toxicity of the combination of neratinib and sodium valproate by the number of participants with serious adverse events, and types of events as assessed by utilizing the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.

    Time frame: 13 Months

  2. Solid Tumor Antitumor Effects

    Phase 2 advanced solid tumor cohorts only: Evaluate number of participants with tumor response based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1), in patients evaluable for response.

    Time frame: 13 Months

  3. Glioblastoma Antitumor Effects

    Phase 2 GBM cohort only: Evaluate number of participants with tumor control based on objective response based on Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria or Macdonald criteria, or disease control defined as PFS ≥ 6-month in patients evaluable for response

    Time frame: 13 Months

  4. Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    Evaluate the number of participants with progression free survival (PFS) defined as the duration of time from start of combination treatment (Cycle 1, Day 1) to date of progression.

    Time frame: 13 Months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center
    Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Dent P, Booth L, Poklepovic A, Kirkwood JM. Neratinib kills B-RAF V600E melanoma via ROS-dependent autophagosome formation and death receptor signaling. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2022 Jan;35(1):66-77. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.13014. Epub 2021 Sep 4. PubMed 34482636 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — There is no plan to make individual participant data available to other researchers at this time.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 29, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03919292
Lead sponsor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Collaborators
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 18, 2019
Start date
May 1, 2019
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 31, 2031 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 29, 2026

Study contacts

Andrew Poklepovic, MD
principal investigator · Massey Cancer Center

Oversight

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

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This study is suspended, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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