Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Comparison of Oral Cyclophosphamide vs Doxorubicin in ≥65 Years Old Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients
Randomized Phase III Study of Oral Cyclophosphamide vs Doxorubicin in 65 Years or Older Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: a UNICANCER/GERICO Multicenter Program
Comparison of Oral Cyclophosphamide vs Doxorubicin in ≥65 Years Old Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients (NCT04757337) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Advanced Soft-tissue Sarcoma and Metastatic Soft-tissue Sarcoma, sponsored by UNICANCER. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Most advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are unfortunately incurable, making the preservation of the patient's quality of life a major goal, along with prolonging survival. Age is not a criterion for not providing effective treatment, but the goals of treatment change with age and must be integrated into the treatment decision. Elderly patients prioritise a life free of dependency, preservation of their cognitive functions and quality of life related to their state of health. They are therefore reluctant to receive a treatment that does little to improve life expectancy at the cost of significant functional losses. Patients aged 65 years and older account for one third of all patients with STS. In the absence of dedicated recommendations, these elderly patients are currently receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment (as recommended for younger patients), with a substantial risk of toxicity (especially cardiac). In this specific population, previous studies have shown that oral cyclophosphamide seems to have a promising activity, but also a very acceptable toxicity. Thus, the GERICO study aims to compare standard doxorubicin chemotherapy with oral cyclophosphamide for the treatment of elderly patients with STS.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Advanced Soft-tissue Sarcoma, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.
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 214 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)
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
Treatments Being Tested
Doxorubicin
6 x 3-week cycles corresponding to a maximal duration of 18 weeks
Cyclophosphamide
Until progression up to 24 months
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.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04757337), the sponsor (UNICANCER), 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 NCT04757337 clinical trial studying?
Most advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are unfortunately incurable, making the preservation of the patient's quality of life a major goal, along with prolonging survival. Age is not a criterion for not providing effective treatment, but the goals of treatment change with age and must be integrated into the treatment decision. Elderly patients prioritise a life free of dependency, preservation of their cognitive functions and quality of life related to their state of health. They are therefore reluctant to receive a treatment that does little to improve life expectancy at the co… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT04757337?
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 NCT04757337?
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 NCT04757337. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04757337. 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 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.