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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Abemaciclib in Patients With HIV-associated and HIV-negative Kaposi Sarcoma

A Phase I/II Study of Abemaciclib in Patients With HIV-associated and HIV-negative Kaposi Sarcoma

Abemaciclib in Patients With HIV-associated and HIV-negative Kaposi Sarcoma (NCT04941274) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Kaposi Sarcoma, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (nci). 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

Background: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but can also occur in people who do not have HIV. KS tumors usually involve the skin, but may also involve lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and gastrointestinal tract. Researchers want to see if a drug that is currently used to treat a type of breast cancer can help. Objective: To find a safe dose of abemaciclib to treat KS and to see if it can shrink lesions or tumors. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with KS. Design: Participants will be screened with some or all of the following: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray and/or computed tomography scans Lung or gastrointestinal tract exam with an endoscope (a flexible instrument to examine the interior of the organ) Medicine review Heart function tests KS lesion assessment Skin sample from a KS lesion Treatment will be given in 28-day cycles. Participants will take the study drug tablets by mouth everyday. They will keep a medicine diary. They will get the study drug until their cancer gets worse or they have unacceptable side effects. Participants will have a study visit at the beginning of each cycle. At these visits, they will repeat some screening tests. They may have medical photographs taken of body surfaces. They may complete questionnaires about their quality of life. They may give skin and saliva samples. For skin samples, an area of skin will be numbed. A small circle of skin over an area affected by KS will be removed. Participants will have follow-up visits for up to 2 years after treatment ends.

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 Kaposi 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 86 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Kaposi 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: - Participants must have Kaposi sarcoma confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI - Measurable disease as follows: - All participants in Groups 1, 2a, or 2b should have at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee (ACTG) criteria with no previous local radiation, surgical or intralesional cytotoxic therapy that would prevent response assessment for that lesion. - Measurable disease by the criteria proposed by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee. - Participants in Group 3 must have Stage T1 KS with at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per ACTG criteria and/or evaluable disease per RECIST criteria. - Participants may be HIV positive or negative. - Participants must be able to swallow oral medications - For all groups, participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below: - Absolute neutrophil count \>1,000/mcL - Platelets \>75,000/mcL - Hemoglobin \>= 8gm/dL - Total bilirubin \<= 1.5 upper limit of normal unless the participant is receiving a protease inhibitor known to be associated with increased bilirubin (e.g. atazanavir), in which case total bilirubin \<= 7.5 mg/dL with direct fraction \<= 0.7 - AST/ALT \<3 X institutional upper limit of normal - Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR - Creatinine clearance \>45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 as estimated by either Cockroft-Gault or 24-hour urine collection for participants with creatinine levels above institutional normal - Cardiac ejection fraction \> 45% by echocardiogram - Prior Treatment as follows: - For Phase I: Participants must have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy for KS with either plateau in response, progressive disease, or inadequate response to treatment. Previous local therapy or radiation is not considered systemic therapy. ...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: * Participants must have Kaposi sarcoma confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI * Measurable disease as follows: * All participants in Groups 1, 2a, or 2b should have at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee (ACTG) criteria with no previous local radiation, surgical or intralesional cytotoxic therapy that would prevent response assessment for that lesion. * Measurable disease by the criteria proposed by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee. * Participants in Group 3 must have Stage T1 KS with at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per ACTG criteria and/or evaluable disease per RECIST criteria. * Participants may be HIV positive or negative. * Participants must be able to swallow oral medications * For all groups, participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below: * Absolute neutrophil count \>1,000/mcL * Platelets \>75,000/mcL * Hemoglobin \>= 8gm/dL * Total bilirubin \<= 1.5 upper limit of normal unless the participant is receiving a protease inhibitor known to be associated with increased bilirubin (e.g. atazanavir), in which case total bilirubin \<= 7.5 mg/dL with direct fraction \<= 0.7 * AST/ALT \<3 X institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR * Creatinine clearance \>45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 as estimated by either Cockroft-Gault or 24-hour urine collection for participants with creatinine levels above institutional normal * Cardiac ejection fraction \> 45% by echocardiogram * Prior Treatment as follows: * For Phase I: Participants must have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy for KS with either plateau in response, progressive disease, or inadequate response to treatment. Previous local therapy or radiation is not considered systemic therapy. * For Phase II: Group 2a: Individuals must have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy for KS with either plateau in response, relapsed disease, progressive disease, or inadequate response to treatment * For Phase II: Group 2b: Individuals have not received prior systemic therapy for KS. Previous local therapy or radiation is not considered systemic therapy. * For Phase II: Group 3: Evidence of Stage T1 KS with either a) edema or ulcerated KS and/or b) extensive oral KS and/or c) visceral KS involvement * Age \>18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) \<= 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%. * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals on effective anti-retroviral therapy are eligible for this trial. * Willingness to adhere to ART * All participants must have received ART for 8 weeks prior to enrollment, with no evidence of KS improvement over the most recent 4 weeks * For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated. * Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants with HCV infection who are currently on treatment are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load. * No uncontrolled severe concurrent bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. * Participants with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, participants should be class 2B or better. * Contraception requirements as follows: * Participants of child-bearing potential (IOCBP) must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception (e.g., intrauterine device \[IUD\], hormonal, surgical sterilization, abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for up to 4 months after completion of abemaciclib administration * Participants able to father a child must with partners of childbearing potential agree to use an effective method of contraception (barrier, surgical sterilization, abstinence) for the duration of the study treatment for up to 4 months after completion of abemaciclib administration. Individuals with partners of childbearing potential should ask their partners to be on an effective birth control (hormonal, IUD, surgical sterilization). * Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the nursing person with abemaciclib, nursing should be discontinued if the nursing person is treated with abemaciclib. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants who have had chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 3 weeks prior to entering the study. * Participants who received radiotherapy must have completed and fully recovered from the acute effects of radiotherapy. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between end of radiotherapy and enrollment. * Participants who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities \> Grade 1) with the exception of alopecia or neuropathy. * Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents. * History of severe allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to CDK inhibitor. * Participants receiving any medications or substances that are strong/moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 are ineligible. Because the lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated medical reference. As part of the enrollment/informed consent procedures, the participant will be counseled on the risk of interactions with other agents, and what to do if new medications need to be prescribed or if the participant is considering a new over-the-counter medicine or herbal product. * Serious and/or uncontrolled severe intercurrent illness that in the judgement of the investigator would preclude participation in the study. * No active KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease, KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome or primary effusion lymphoma. * Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit adherence with study requirements. * Pregnancy * Prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the regimen are eligible for this trial * Participants with interstitial lung disease

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Abemaciclib

An initial dose of 200 mg twice daily and at an MTD dose will be administered orally every day of each 28-day cycle.

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.

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04941274), the sponsor (National Cancer Institute (nci)), 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 NCT04941274 clinical trial studying?

Background: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but can also occur in people who do not have HIV. KS tumors usually involve the skin, but may also involve lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and gastrointestinal tract. Researchers want to see if a drug that is currently used to treat a type of breast cancer can help. Objective: To find a safe dose of abemaciclib to treat KS and to see if it can shrink lesions or tumors. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with KS. Design: Participants will be screened with some or all of the following: Medical histor… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT04941274?

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 NCT04941274?

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 NCT04941274. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04941274. 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.