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Not yet recruitingNCT07078838Updated Sep 28, 2026

Tirzepatide in Women With Obesity and Endometrial Intra-epithelial Neoplasia or Grade 1 Endometrial Cancer

A Phase 2 interventional study of Tirzepatide in Endometrial Cancer, Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Grade 1 Endometrial Endometrioid Carcinoma, sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.

Sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Sep 28, 2026Start date movedGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The goal of this study is to determine the anti-proliferative effect of tirzepatide on the endometrium of patients with endometrial intra-epithelial neoplasia (EIN) and Grade 1 endometrial cancer (EC), by comparing archival endometrial biopsy samples of patients randomized to tirzepatide versus SOC (no tirzepatide) to their post-intervention hysterectomy specimens.

It was hypothesized that tirzepatide may help fight tumors in two ways: indirectly, by improving the body's overall metabolic health, and directly, by acting on abnormal cells in the uterus, such as those found in endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) and endometrial cancer (EC). EIN is considered a precursor to EC. Tirzepatide may influence the tumor environment through key biological pathways related to insulin, fat metabolism, and mTOR signaling, all of which are often disrupted in individuals with obesity. Because both EIN and EC are strongly linked to obesity, tirzepatide could offer a promising dual benefit, promoting weight loss while also slowing or stopping tumor growth. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether tirzepatide can reduce cell proliferation in the lesions or tumors of patients with EIN and early- stage (Grade 1) EC.

Patients will either be randomized to receive tirzepatide or no tirzepatide for 4 weeks prior to their hysterectomy surgery. Patients randomized to the tirzepatide arm will be given a glucose monitoring system for continuous monitoring with real-time alarms to alert of hypoglycemia. Patients will complete diaries during treatment to document compliance with medication and record any side effects.

Patients will undergo standard of care surgery 7-10 days after the final dose of tirzepatide in order to minimize the risk of gastroparesis. During surgery (hysterectomy), an endometrial biopsy for uterine biopsy tissue will be collected.

At the 1-month post-operation visit, patients from both arms will be referred to an institutional weight loss clinic.

02

Conditions studied

  • Endometrial Cancer
  • Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia
  • Grade 1 Endometrial Endometrioid Carcinoma

Keywords

  • tirzepatide
  • obesity
  • tumor environment
  • cell proliferation
03

In context

Endometrial Neoplasms

1,425 studies on the registry are indexed under Endometrial Neoplasms; 473 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 71 across 1,026 interventional studies indexed under Endometrial Neoplasms.

Browse Endometrial Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 429 studies on the registry; 97 are open to participants now.

Of its 33 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 26 (79%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
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

  • Written obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information.
  • The subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgement of the investigator.
  • Age > 18 years at the time of consent.
  • ≤ 2 or Performance Status of >50
  • Histological or cytological evidence/confirmation of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) or grade 1 endometrioid histology endometrial cancer (EC) and scheduled to undergo standard of care hysterectomy and staging.
  • Subject must have archival EC tissue available.
  • of >30kg/m2
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in the protocol, all screening labs to be obtained within 28 days prior to initiating study treatment

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active infection requires systemic therapy.
  • Subject is pregnant or breast breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant at any time during the study
  • Taking any prescription medications or other drugs that influence weight change in the past 3 months.
  • Known sensitivities (i.e., urticaria and eczema) to GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists.
  • Have type 1 diabetes mellitus or latent diabetes in adults, or are receiving treatment with insulin.
  • Have a history of severe hypoglycemia or not be able to communicate an understanding of hypoglycemic symptoms.
  • Have a history of acute or chronic pancreatitis or serum lipase/amylase >2X or fasting triglyceride >500 mg/dL at screening.
  • Have a diagnosis of gastroparesis, history of bariatric surgery, or a gastric emptying abnormality.
  • Have a history or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia, thyroid C-cell hyperplasia, or medullary thyroid carcinoma.
  • Currently receiving another treatment for EIN or EC.
  • Any condition, in the opinion of the investigator, which would prohibit safe participation.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(7)

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.

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.

Karnofsky performance status (KPS)

A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.

Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

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.

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.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    tirzepatide

    The treatment arm will receive 5mg tirzepatide for 4 weeks prior to standard of care surgery.

    Drug: Tirzepatide

  • No intervention
    No tirzepatide

    No tirzepatide arm will not receive tirzepatide, and Standard Operating Procedures will be applied.

Interventions

  • Patients will receive a subcutaneous dose of 5 mg weekly for the 4 weeks prior to surgical staging.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Anti-proliferative effect of Tirzepatide

    Anti-proliferative effect of Tirzepatide will be measured via Immunohistochemistry analysis using multi-color fluorescence assays to assess Ki-67 staining.

    Time frame: At 4th week (during surgery)

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Ki-67/caspase-3 ratio change

    The Ki-67/caspase-3 ratio will be assessed via immunohistochemistry, before and after treatment in the 2 groups. It is expected that the ratio will exhibit stronger intervention effects since proliferation should decrease and apoptosis should increase.

    Time frame: At 4th week (during surgery)

  2. Response to treatment

    Response to treatment will be defined as a decrease of ≥13% in proliferation of the endometrium (EIN and EC) from pre- to post-treatment.

    Time frame: At 4th week (during surgery)

07

Study locations

1 site
08

References and documents

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Start date
Aug 2026→Jan 2027
Sep 28, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Sep 28, 2026
    Start date Aug 2026→Jan 2027
    + 1 other change: verification date

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07078838
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 22, 2025
Start date
Jan 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 28, 2026

Study contacts

Chelsea Baker
Contact
chelsea_baker@med.unc.edu
(919)-843-5230
Tamara Pfeffer
Contact
tamara_pfeffer@med.unc.edu
+1 919-966-4432
Victoria Bae-Jump
principal investigator · UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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