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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Safety, Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Activity Study of NUC-7738 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours and Lymphoma

A Phase I/II, Open-label, Dose-escalation and Expansion Study to Assess the Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Activity of NUC-7738, a Nucleotide Analogue, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours and Lymphoma

A Safety, Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Activity Study of NUC-7738 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours and Lymphoma (NCT03829254) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Advanced Cancer and Lymphoma, sponsored by NuCana plc. 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 a Phase I/II, dose-escalation and expansion study of NUC-7738 administered by intravenous infusion as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. In Phase I, NUC-7738 monotherapy is evaluated across two administration schedules (weekly or fortnightly) in a dose-escalation design in patients with advanced solid tumours. The main objectives are to assess the safety and tolerability of NUC-7738, in addition to establishing the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and dose administration schedule of NUC-7738 for further exploration in the Phase II part of the study. In Phase II, the selected dose and designated dosing schedule will be further evaluated in dose-confirmation expansion cohorts enrolling a total of approximately 40 additional patients with advanced solid tumours. Based on emerging data, approximately 6 patients with cutaneous melanoma will be enrolled to these expansion cohorts and will receive NUC-7738 monotherapy. A further cohort will assess NUC-7738 in combination with pembrolizumab in approximately 6-12 patients with cutaneous melanoma. Based on efficacy signals observed in the initial melanoma combination cohort, a further expansion cohort will be initiated to expand to a total of 40 patients to allow a powered analysis. In addition, 12 patients with lymphoma (with potential expansion to a total of 25 patients) may be enrolled to receive NUC-7738 monotherapy.

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 Cancer, 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 135 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Advanced Cancer 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: 1. Provision of signed written willing to sign a consent form. 2. Solid tumour cohorts only (Phase I and Phase II; excluding NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort): diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) diagnosis of an advanced solid tumour with measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 criteria and/or evaluable disease (evaluable: cytologically or radiologically detectable disease such as ascites, peritoneal deposits, or lesions, which do not fulfil RECIST v1.1 criteria for measurable disease) for solid tumours. 3. NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort only (Phase II): diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) diagnosis of metastatic cutaneous melanoma with measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 criteria. Must have progressed on ≤2 prior lines of therapy for advanced/metastatic disease. In addition, patients may have been treated in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting. At least one prior line must have included a PD-1/PD-L1-containing regimen (either monotherapy or in combination) for which they progressed on. 4. Lymphoma cohort only (Phase II): Relapsed refractory lymphoma (high grade and low grade B-NHL, Hodgkin's Lymphoma and T-cell lymphomas), which is not amenable to standard of care, is refractory to standard of care or for which no standard of care exists. Patients must have bi-dimensionally measurable disease as per Cheson et al, 2007 criteria for lymphoma. 5. For solid tumours in single-agent Phase II cohorts only: patients should have received no more than 3 prior lines of treatment for metastatic disease. 6. Age ≥18 years (no upper age limit). 7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. 8. Life expectancy of ≥12 weeks. 9. Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function. 10. Ability to comply with protocol requirements. ...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: 1. Provision of signed written informed consent. 2. Solid tumour cohorts only (Phase I and Phase II; excluding NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort): Histologically confirmed diagnosis of an advanced solid tumour with measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 criteria and/or evaluable disease (evaluable: cytologically or radiologically detectable disease such as ascites, peritoneal deposits, or lesions, which do not fulfil RECIST v1.1 criteria for measurable disease) for solid tumours. 3. NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort only (Phase II): Histologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic cutaneous melanoma with measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 criteria. Must have progressed on ≤2 prior lines of therapy for advanced/metastatic disease. In addition, patients may have been treated in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting. At least one prior line must have included a PD-1/PD-L1-containing regimen (either monotherapy or in combination) for which they progressed on. 4. Lymphoma cohort only (Phase II): Relapsed refractory lymphoma (high grade and low grade B-NHL, Hodgkin's Lymphoma and T-cell lymphomas), which is not amenable to standard of care, is refractory to standard of care or for which no standard of care exists. Patients must have bi-dimensionally measurable disease as per Cheson et al, 2007 criteria for lymphoma. 5. For solid tumours in single-agent Phase II cohorts only: patients should have received no more than 3 prior lines of treatment for metastatic disease. 6. Age ≥18 years (no upper age limit). 7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. 8. Life expectancy of ≥12 weeks. 9. Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function. 10. Ability to comply with protocol requirements. 11. Female patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 3 days prior to the first NUC-7738 administration. All patients of child-bearing potential must agree to practice true abstinence or to use two forms of contraception, one of which must be a highly effective method of contraception, from the time of screening until 6 months after the last dose of study medication. 12. Phase I and Phase II dose-confirmation cohorts only: Patient must be willing to undergo a new tumour biopsy at Screening and during therapy on the study. Biopsies are mandatory for patient inclusion, except where taking a biopsy would be associated with unacceptable clinical risk due to the location of the disease. Such patients may be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the study Medical Monitor to determine their eligibility. A prior (archival) biopsy that is less than 3 months old may be substituted for a fresh tumour biopsy at Screening with agreement from the Medical Monitor. From protocol v3.4 onwards, biopsies are no longer required. 13. Patients must have been advised to take measures to avoid or minimise exposure of the skin and eyes to UV light, including avoiding sunbathing and visits to the solarium, for the duration of study participation and for a period of 4 weeks following the last dose of study medication. Exclusion Criteria: The following exclusion criteria apply to all patients. Please also refer to additional exclusion criteria for the NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort below. 1. History of allergic reaction fo any of the components of NUC-7738. 2. Central nervous system or leptomeningeal metastases. Patients with brain metastases are eligible if they have no ongoing neurological symptoms, have not received corticosteroids within 7 days prior to enrolment, and show radiographic stability for at least 2 weeks. 3. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy (other than a short cycle of palliative radiotherapy for bone pain), immunotherapy, or exposure to another investigational agent within 28 days (for biological agents decision on washout period will be made on a case by base basis) of first administration of the IMP: 1. For nitrosoureas and mitomycin C within 6 weeks of first administration of NUC-7738 2. For hormone therapy within 14 days of first administration of NUC-7738 3. Corticosteroid treatment is allowed during the screening period but should be weaned to a dose of 10 mg prednisolone (or steroids equivalent) by Cycle 1 Day 1. 4. Prior toxicities from anti-cancer agents or radiotherapy, which have not regressed to Grade ≤1 severity (NCI-CTCAE v5.0), excluding neuropathy, ototoxicity and alopecia (which are excluded if ≥Grade 3). 5. Presence of any uncontrolled concomitant illness, serious illness, medical conditions, or other medical history, including laboratory results, which, in the Investigator's opinion, would be likely to interfere with their participation in the study, or with the interpretation of results, including the following: 1. Congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class III or Class IV). 2. Myocardial infarction within 6 months of the first dose of study medication. 3. Unstable or poorly controlled angina pectoris. 4. Complete left bundle branch, bifascicular block or other clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram finding. 5. A history of or current risk factor for Torsades de Point (e.g., heart failure, hypokalaemia, or a family history of long QT syndrome). 6. A history of, or current diagnosis of, interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis. 6. Known human immunodeficiency virus positive or known active hepatitis B or C. Presence of an active bacterial or viral infection including Herpes zoster or chicken pox. 7. Any condition (e.g., known or suspected poor compliance, psychological instability, geographical location etc.) that, in the judgment of the Investigator, may affect the patient's ability to sign the informed consent and undergo study procedures. 8. Currently pregnant, lactating or breastfeeding. 9. QTc interval \>450 milliseconds for males and \>470 milliseconds for females. 10. Concomitant use of drugs known to prolong QT/QTc interval. 11. Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. The use of strong CYP3A4 inducers within 2 weeks of first receipt of study drug or the use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors within 1 week of first receipt of study drug is also excluded. 12. Have received a live vaccination within four weeks of first planned dose of study medication. NUC-7738 + pembrolizumab cohort only 1. Any history of hypersensitivity or current contra-indication to the components of pembrolizumab (L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sucrose, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid). 2. Current contra-indication to immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors. 3. Systemic steroid therapy or any immunosuppressive therapy (≥10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent). 4. Known neutralising antibodies against checkpoint inhibitors. 5. Patients previously exposed to checkpoint inhibitors who are not adequately treated for skin rash or have no replacement therapy for endocrinopathies. 6. Any prior toxicity attributed to checkpoint inhibitors that resulted in discontinuation of therapy. These patients should be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the Medical Monitor. 7. Active autoimmune disease or a documented history of autoimmune disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease or any condition that requires systemic steroids. 8. Prior treatment with cell therapies.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

NUC-7738

NUC-7738

DRUG

Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab

Locations (9)

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.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrookes Hospital)
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Western General Hospital
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
Glasgow, United Kingdom
University College London Hospital
London, United Kingdom
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
London, United Kingdom
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, United Kingdom
Freeman Hospital
Newcastle, United Kingdom
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford, United Kingdom
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Preston Hospital
Preston, United Kingdom

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03829254), the sponsor (NuCana plc), 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 NCT03829254 clinical trial studying?

This is a Phase I/II, dose-escalation and expansion study of NUC-7738 administered by intravenous infusion as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. In Phase I, NUC-7738 monotherapy is evaluated across two administration schedules (weekly or fortnightly) in a dose-escalation design in patients with advanced solid tumours. The main objectives are to assess the safety and tolerability of NUC-7738, in addition to establishing the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and dose administration schedule of NUC-7738 for further exploration in the Phase II part of the study. In Phase II, the sel… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03829254?

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 NCT03829254?

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 NCT03829254. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03829254. 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.