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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

SAINT:Trabectedin, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab for Previously Treated Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma

SAINT: A Phase 1/2 Study of Safe Amounts of IPLIMUMAB, NIVOLUMAB and TRABECTEDIN for Previously Treated Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)

SAINT:Trabectedin, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab for Previously Treated Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (NCT03138161) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma, sponsored by Sarcoma Oncology Research Center, LLC. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is an open label, dose-seeking phase 1/2 study using escalating doses of TRABECTEDIN given intravenously with defined doses of IPILIMUMAB and NIVOLUMAB based on preliminary results of the Checkmate 012 trial for NSCLC (Hellman et al., 2016). For the Phase 1 Part of Study, only previously treated patients will be enrolled. For the Phase 2 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 250 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Individuals must meet all of the inclusion criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study, as follows: - Male or Female ≥ 18 years of age - Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma - For the Phase 1 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled. For the Phase 2 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled. - Ability to understand the purposes and risks of the study and has signed and dated a written willing to sign a consent form form approved by the investigator's IRB/Ethics Committee - Willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study. - Measurable disease by RECIST v1.1 - ECOG performance status ≤1 - expected to live at least 3 months - Acceptable liver function: Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN; except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin level ≤ 3.0 ULN);AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN if liver metastases) - Acceptable renal function: Creatinine ≤1.5 times ULN or ≥ 60 mL/min (using the Cockcroft Gault formula) - Acceptable hematologic status (without hematologic support): WBC ≥2000/µL; white blood cell count (ANC) at least 1500 cells/μL; Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL; blood count (hemoglobin) at least 9.0 g/dL; Normal PT, PTT, INR - All women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and all subjects must agree to use highly effective means of contraception (surgical sterilization or the use of barrier contraception with either a condom or diaphragm in conjunction with spermicidal gel or an IUD) with their partner from entry into the study through 5 months for women and 7 months for men after the last dose. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - All individuals meeting any of the exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from study participation, as follows: ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals must meet all of the inclusion criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study, as follows: * Male or Female ≥ 18 years of age * Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma * For the Phase 1 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled. For the Phase 2 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled. * Ability to understand the purposes and risks of the study and has signed and dated a written informed consent form approved by the investigator's IRB/Ethics Committee * Willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study. * Measurable disease by RECIST v1.1 * ECOG performance status ≤1 * Life expectancy of at least 3 months * Acceptable liver function: Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN; except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin level ≤ 3.0 ULN);AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN if liver metastases) * Acceptable renal function: Creatinine ≤1.5 times ULN or ≥ 60 mL/min (using the Cockcroft Gault formula) * Acceptable hematologic status (without hematologic support): WBC ≥2000/µL; ANC ≥ 1500 cells/μL; Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL; Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL; Normal PT, PTT, INR * All women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and all subjects must agree to use highly effective means of contraception (surgical sterilization or the use of barrier contraception with either a condom or diaphragm in conjunction with spermicidal gel or an IUD) with their partner from entry into the study through 5 months for women and 7 months for men after the last dose. Exclusion Criteria: * All individuals meeting any of the exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from study participation, as follows: * Subjects with untreated CNS metastases. Subjects are eligible if CNS metastases have been adequately treated and have neurologically returned to baseline (except for residual signs or symptoms related to the CNS treatment) for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment initiation. In addition, subjects must be either off corticosteroids, or on a stable or decreasing dose of ≤10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent) for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment initiation. * Subjects with carcinomatous meningitis * Anticancer treatment with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other antitumor treatment within 2 weeks prior to study entry * Subjects who participated in an investigational drug or device study within 14 days prior to study entry * Females who are pregnant or breast-feeding * Unwillingness or inability to comply with the study protocol for any reason * Non-oncology vaccine therapy used for prevention of infectious disease within 4 weeks of trial enrollment * • History of or known or suspected autoimmune disease (exception(s): patients with vitiligo, Type I diabetes, resolved childhood atopic dermatitis, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism that is clinically euthyroid at Screening are allowed). Other exceptions may be allowed following discussion with the Sponsor Medical Monitor for patients who have not received treatment for their autoimmune disorder in the past 3 years. * Systemic immunosuppression, including HIV positive status with or without AIDS * Skin rash (psoriasis, eczema) affecting ≥ 25% body surface area * Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis) * Ongoing or uncontrolled diarrhea within 4 weeks of trial enrollment * Recent history of acute diverticulitis, intraabdominal abscess or gastrointestinal obstruction within 6 months of trial enrollment, which are known risk factors for bowel perforation * Patients with congestive heart failure or recent cardiac event * Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease or any other concurrent condition, including psychiatric, which in the principal investigator's opinion makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the trial or which would jeopardize compliance with the trial * Any positive test for hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus indicating acute or chronic infection * Known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). * Inadequate hematologic, renal or hepatic function defined by any of the following screening laboratory values: WBC ≤2000/µL; Neutrophils ≤1500/µL; Platelets ≤ 100,000/µL; hemoglobin ≤9.0 g/dL; Serum creatinine ≥1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance ≤ 60 mL/min (using the Cockcroft Gault formula); AST/ALT ≥3 x ULN (≥ 5 x ULN if liver metastases); Total Bilirubin ≥1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin level ≥ 3.0 ULN) * Current, active or previous history of heavy alcohol abuse * Pituitary endocrinopathy * Adrenal insufficiency or excess

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Trabectedin

Trabectedinis an alkylating drug indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma who received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen.

DRUG

Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab is a human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4)-blocking antibody indicated for (1) treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma, and (2) adjuvant treatment of patients with cutaneous melanoma with pathologic involvement of regional lymph nodes of more than 1 mm who have undergone complete resection, including total lymphadenectomy.

DRUG

Nivolumab

A fully human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed cell death-1 (PD-1, PCD-1) with immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Nivolumab binds to and blocks the activation of PD-1, an Ig superfamily transmembrane protein, by its ligands programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1), overexpressed on certain cancer cells, and programmed cell death ligand (PD-L2), which is primarily expressed on APCs (antigen presenting cells). This results in the activation of T-cells and cell-medicated immune responses against tumor cells or pathogens. Activated PD-1 negatively regulates T-cell activation and plays a key role in tumor evasion from host immunity.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Sarcoma Oncology Research Center
Santa Monica, California, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03138161), the sponsor (Sarcoma Oncology Research Center, LLC), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03138161 clinical trial studying?

This is an open label, dose-seeking phase 1/2 study using escalating doses of TRABECTEDIN given intravenously with defined doses of IPILIMUMAB and NIVOLUMAB based on preliminary results of the Checkmate 012 trial for NSCLC (Hellman et al., 2016). For the Phase 1 Part of Study, only previously treated patients will be enrolled. For the Phase 2 Part of Study, previously treated patients will be enrolled. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03138161?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03138161?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03138161. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03138161. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.