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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

SHARON: A Clinical Trial for Metastatic Cancer Using Chemotherapy and Patients' Own Stem Cells

SHARON: Study of Metastatic Cancers in Patients Using Autologous Stems Cells and Potentiated Redox Cycling to Overcome Drug Resistance to Nitrogen Mustard Derivatives

SHARON: A Clinical Trial for Metastatic Cancer Using Chemotherapy and Patients' Own Stem Cells (NCT04150042) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic and BRCA1 Mutation, sponsored by General Oncology, Inc.. 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

The clinical trial is a phase 1, single-arm trial that will evaluate the safety of the investigational treatment on metastatic pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer. The investigational treatment will involve 2 cycles of a combination of intravenous melphalan, BCNU, vitamin B12b, and vitamin C with autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion. A dose-escalation schedule is being employed for the vitamin C.

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 Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic, 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.

With a target enrollment of 24 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Inclusion Criteria - Age ≥ 18 years. - Pancreatic or breast cancer, as described below. - Stage IV (based on AJCC staging guidelines) at the time of enrollment. a. Note that potential subjects with stage IV cancer that have had a complete response from prior chemotherapy are still potentially eligible. - Expected survival time ≥ 6 months, as determined by the investigator. - Life expectancy not severely limited by diseases other than malignancy, as determined by the investigator. - Karnofsky score ≥ 60%. - No chemotherapy within 2 weeks of enrollment. - Prior surgical resection or ablation of the primary tumor is allowed but not required. - If post-surgical, the subject must be at least 28 days post-op with the surgical wounds healed and significant complications resolved. - Potential subjects who have received previous chemotherapy and/or PARP inhibitors may be enrolled. - Measurable or non-measurable disease by the revised response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) v.1.1. - For potential subjects with a germline BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutation: a. The mutation must be known to be deleterious or suspected to cause functional impairment as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory according to the variant classification criteria described in the study protocol. - For potential subjects with somatic BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutations: 1. The mutation must be a known or suspected deleterious mutation as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory according to the variant classification criteria described in the study protocol. 2. There must be biallelic loss or inactivation of the mutated BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 gene as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory. 3. The Genetics Review Committee for this trial, which is comprised of a core group of investigators and whose actions are performed in accordance with the committee's charter, must agree that the biallelic mutations are deleterious or suspected deleterious. ...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 * Age ≥ 18 years. * Pancreatic or breast cancer, as described below. * Stage IV (based on AJCC staging guidelines) at the time of enrollment. a. Note that potential subjects with stage IV cancer that have had a complete response from prior chemotherapy are still potentially eligible. * Expected survival time ≥ 6 months, as determined by the investigator. * Life expectancy not severely limited by diseases other than malignancy, as determined by the investigator. * Karnofsky score ≥ 60%. * No chemotherapy within 2 weeks of enrollment. * Prior surgical resection or ablation of the primary tumor is allowed but not required. * If post-surgical, the subject must be at least 28 days post-op with the surgical wounds healed and significant complications resolved. * Potential subjects who have received previous chemotherapy and/or PARP inhibitors may be enrolled. * Measurable or non-measurable disease by the revised response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) v.1.1. * For potential subjects with a germline BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutation: a. The mutation must be known to be deleterious or suspected to cause functional impairment as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory according to the variant classification criteria described in the study protocol. * For potential subjects with somatic BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutations: 1. The mutation must be a known or suspected deleterious mutation as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory according to the variant classification criteria described in the study protocol. 2. There must be biallelic loss or inactivation of the mutated BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 gene as assessed by a CLIA-certified laboratory. 3. The Genetics Review Committee for this trial, which is comprised of a core group of investigators and whose actions are performed in accordance with the committee's charter, must agree that the biallelic mutations are deleterious or suspected deleterious. * For subjects without a BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutation 1. Subject must have received at least 16 weeks of first-line (platinum-based\*) chemotherapy with no evidence of treatment failure, where treatment failure is defined as growing tumors, new lesions, or a steadily rising tumor marker during or within eight weeks of completion of the first line therapy. 2. \* Subjects can also have been treated with FOLFIRINOX but switched to FOLFIRI due to oxaliplatin side effects. * For potential subjects with pancreatic cancer: 1. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma. 2. If the potential subject has had surgical resection of the primary tumor, then there must be no evidence of disease progression between the time of surgical resection of the primary tumor and screening for enrollment if the patient is seeking enrollment in the immediate post-surgery period. * For potential subjects with breast cancer: 1. Adenocarcinoma of the breast. 2. HER2-negative cancer as per American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer guidelines. 3. Male or female sex. * Histological or cytological confirmation of the primary cancer diagnosis is required. * Metastatic disease must be histologically or cytologically confirmed unless in the clinical judgment of the investigator a biopsy is not needed for diagnostic purposes. * Female participants of childbearing potential must agree to do one of the following from the time of signing of the informed consent through 6 months after the last dose of melphalan: 1. Simultaneously practice two effective barrier methods of contraception. Oral and injectable contraceptives are not allowed. Barrier methods of birth control (e.g., diaphragm and spermicide, or condom and spermicide) are required. 2. Practice true abstinence when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods, and withdrawal) are not acceptable methods of contraception. * Male participants: 1. Unless the male is in a monogamous relationship with a female that does not have child-bearing potential, male subjects (even if surgically sterilized) must agree to do one of the following from the time of signing of the informed consent through 6 months after the last dose of melphalan: 1. Practice effective barrier contraception, plus a second method of effective contraception. 2. Practice true abstinence when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods, and withdrawal) are not acceptable methods of contraception. Exclusion Criteria * Rapid disease progression or clinical features concerning for onset of rapid symptomatic deterioration, as determined by the investigator. * Biliary tract obstruction. * Current cholangitis. A biliary stent in situ does not otherwise exclude protocol participation. * A history of only one episode of cholangitis and fewer than 30 days have passed since discontinuation of antibiotic treatment. * A history of multiple episodes of cholangitis and after discussion between the site study team and sponsor medical monitor and careful evaluation for suitability the patient is deemed to be unsuitable for the trial due to risk of recurring cholangitis. * Portal hypertension. * Sinistral portal hypertension. * Obliteration or significant obstruction of the major veins or arteries (e.g., portal vein, superior mesenteric artery, superior mesenteric vein). * Clinically significant malignant ascites or malignant pleural effusion, as determined by the investigator. * Metastatic lesion to the heart or eye. * Chemotherapy for an indication other than treatment of the current cancer within the past 1 year with a more than 30% risk of recurrence as determined by the investigator. * Known or suspected metastatic involvement of the central nervous system. * Left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45% by Multigated Acquisition Scan or echocardiogram (or significantly below the lower limit of normal for the specific test). * Clinically significant structural heart disease or vascular disease. * Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment; New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure; angina; uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias; or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities. * Clinically significant prolongation of QTc (Bazett formula) on EKG, defined as \> 0.45 s in males and \> 0.47 s in females. * Severe hypertension, which is defined as the presence of any of the following: 1. History of hypertensive crisis, hypertensive emergency, or malignant hypertension within the last year. 2. Sustained or persistent systolic BP \> 165 mm Hg or diastolic \> 110 mm Hg. * Other clinically significant cardiovascular disease. * NOTE: 1. A past history of severe hypertension that is well-controlled with therapy or that was addressed by removal of the cause (e.g., removal of a medicine that caused the severe hypertension) is not an exclusion criterion. 2. The presence of a pacemaker is not a contraindication and is not considered an exclusion criterion * History or evidence of interstitial lung disease (e.g., pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis). * If a smoker, refusal to stop smoking for the duration of the trial. * FEV1 or DLCO (adjusted for hemoglobin) \< 50% of predicted. * Total bilirubin \> 2x upper normal limit, except that potential subjects with Gilbert's Disease are permitted to exceed 2x upper normal limit. * ALT or AST \> 2.5x upper normal limit. * Alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5x upper normal limit, in conjunction with elevated GGT. * Albumin \< 3.0 g/dl. * Clinical evidence of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. * Corrected creatinine clearance consistently \< 50 ml/min/1.73 m\^2. * Clinically significant renal disease. * Hemolytic anemia. * Family history of catalase deficiency or history or evidence of a severe adverse reaction to hydrogen peroxide consistent with catalase deficiency, unless testing has demonstrated that the patient is not catalase-deficient. * Evidence of bone marrow insufficiency or failure, in the judgment of the investigator. * A hemoglobin \< 9 g/dL. * G6PD deficiency as measured by quantitative enzyme levels below the normal reference range in blood. * Pre-existing bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy. * Potential subject is pregnant. * Breast feeding and unwilling to stop. * Wilson's disease. * Primary or secondary hemochromatosis. * Hgb A1c \> 9%. * Hyperuricemia that is not responsive to therapy. * Plasma oxalate greater than 10 µM, which is not responsive to measures to reduce the level below 10 µM. * History of clinically significant elevation of plasma oxalic acid or complications related to oxalic acid. * Prior or current hepatitis B or C. * HIV infection or seropositivity for HIV. * Active, clinically significant bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. * History of colonization with a multidrug-resistant "superbug" that poses a high risk of an untreatable infection in the setting of neutropenia. * Uncontrolled seizure disorder. * If a potential subject has received radiation, then any of the following: 1. A volume ≥ 700 ml of normal liver received a dose ≥ 10 Gy. 2. The mean dose to normal liver (i.e., liver minus gross tumor volume) was ≥ 10 Gy. 3. The mean dose to normal lung (i.e., lung minus gross tumor volume) was ≥ 4 Gy. * History of significant allergy or other contraindication to BCNU, melphalan, vitamin B12b, vitamin C, pegfilgrastim, or Neupogen, or to any excipient in those drugs. * Use of any of the following cytochrome P450 2b6 (CYP2b6) inducers within 21 days of the planned date of BCNU treatment: phenobarbital, carbamazepam, rifampicin, phenytoin, sulfinpyrazone, or verapamil. * Disulfiram (Antabuse) use within 30 days of the planned ethanol administration. * Current chronic use of immunosuppressive agents (e.g., methotrexate, cyclosporine, corticosteroids). * Prior bone marrow stem cell transplant. * Except for adjuvant therapy for breast cancer or pancreatic cancer, prior radiation therapy to the brain, kidneys, pelvis, or GI tract or treatment with yttrium-90. * Prior treatment with bleomycin or BCNU. * Prior treatment, within 30 days of enrollment, with a drug that has not been FDA-approved for any indication (cancer or otherwise). * Subject has not fully recovered (i.e., there remain toxicities \> Grade 1) from the reversible effects of prior chemotherapy, with the exception of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and grade 2 peripheral neuropathy, unless in the opinion of the principal investigator the effects are not of clinical significance. * Any concurrent anticancer treatment. * Serious underlying medical or psychiatric illness or another condition that in the clinical judgment of the principal investigator is likely to interfere with the potential subject completing participation in the trial, based on safety concerns or otherwise. * Inability or unwillingness to adhere to the study protocol. * Unwillingness to receive ethanol.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Melphalan

Intravenous melphalan (to be given in conjunction with the other listed drugs).

DRUG

BCNU

Intravenous BCNU (to be given in conjunction with the other listed drugs).

DRUG

Vitamin B12B

Intravenous vitamin B12b (to be given in conjunction with the other listed drugs).

DRUG

Vitamin C

Intravenous vitamin C (to be given in conjunction with the other listed drugs).

DEVICE

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells

After each cycle of chemotherapy, participants will receive an autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion.

Locations (2)

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.

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04150042), the sponsor (General Oncology, Inc.), 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 NCT04150042 clinical trial studying?

The clinical trial is a phase 1, single-arm trial that will evaluate the safety of the investigational treatment on metastatic pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer. The investigational treatment will involve 2 cycles of a combination of intravenous melphalan, BCNU, vitamin B12b, and vitamin C with autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion. A dose-escalation schedule is being employed for the vitamin C. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT04150042?

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 NCT04150042?

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 NCT04150042. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04150042. 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.