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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Naltrexone and Propranolol Combined With Immunotherapy

A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety of Naltrexone and Propranolol in Combination With Standard of Care Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

Naltrexone and Propranolol Combined With Immunotherapy (NCT05968690) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Advanced Melanoma, sponsored by Sarah Weiss. 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

Various forms of stress can promote cancer development and growth and negatively impact the immune system's response to tumors. Beta-adrenergic and opioid receptors co-exist in many cells including immune cells and are integral components of the body's response to stress. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that dual blockade of these receptors can decrease tumor growth and modulate the anti-tumor immune response. This clinical trial investigates the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of combining a beta-adrenergic blocker (propranolol) and an opioid receptor antagonist (naltrexone) with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced melanoma.

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 Melanoma, 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 12 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)

Who May Qualify: - Age of 18 years or older and able to understand and sign the willing to sign a consent form form. - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) diagnosis of unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma. - Candidate for standard of care therapy with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg + nivolumab 1 mg/kg. - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1. - Treatment-naïve or has received any number of prior lines of therapy. Prior targeted therapy is allowed, but small molecule inhibitors must be discontinued within two weeks before starting the study. - expected to live at least 6 months. - Presence of at least one accessible site of disease to provide an on-study biopsy for tumor tissue. The biopsy may be waived after discussion with the Principal Investigator (PI) if it is deemed unfeasible. The site may be a target lesion as long as it will not be rendered unmeasurable by the biopsy procedure. - Willingness to undergo tumor biopsy (if archival tumor is not available) prior to initiation of therapy and while on the study. - Willingness to provide an archival specimen block, if available, for research purposes. - Normal organ function, defined as: 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>1500/mcL 2. Platelets \>100,000/mcL 3. Hemoglobin (Hb) \>9 g/dL 4. Albumin \>2.5 mg/dL 5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) 6. Serum total bilirubin \<1.5 times ULN or direct bilirubin \< ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \>1.5 times ULN. - Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. ...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 of 18 years or older and able to understand and sign the informed consent form. * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma. * Candidate for standard of care therapy with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg + nivolumab 1 mg/kg. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1. * Treatment-naïve or has received any number of prior lines of therapy. Prior targeted therapy is allowed, but small molecule inhibitors must be discontinued within two weeks before starting the study. * Life expectancy of at least 6 months. * Presence of at least one accessible site of disease to provide an on-study biopsy for tumor tissue. The biopsy may be waived after discussion with the Principal Investigator (PI) if it is deemed unfeasible. The site may be a target lesion as long as it will not be rendered unmeasurable by the biopsy procedure. * Willingness to undergo tumor biopsy (if archival tumor is not available) prior to initiation of therapy and while on the study. * Willingness to provide an archival specimen block, if available, for research purposes. * Normal organ function, defined as: 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>1500/mcL 2. Platelets \>100,000/mcL 3. Hemoglobin (Hb) \>9 g/dL 4. Albumin \>2.5 mg/dL 5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) 6. Serum total bilirubin \<1.5 times ULN or direct bilirubin \< ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \>1.5 times ULN. * Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. * Female participants of childbearing potential should be willing to use a highly effective form of contraception (hormonal or intrauterine device) along with a condom in their male partner, or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for a period of at least six months after the last dose of study medication. * Male participants should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through at least six months after the last dose of study drug. * Participants must have at least one measurable lesion at baseline by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 criteria. Tumor sites situated in a previously irradiated area or in an area subjected to other loco-regional therapy are not considered measurable unless there has been demonstrated progression in the lesion. * Prior focal radiotherapy is allowed. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of untreated brain metastases, unless discussed with the Principal Investigator (PI) and meet specific criteria for inclusion (treatment-naïve patients with brain metastases \<10 mm, asymptomatic, without significant edema, hemorrhage, shift, or requirement for steroids or anti-seizure medications, and not in eloquent areas). These patients may potentially forego initial local treatment of the brain metastases and have them reassessed after consultation with the Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology teams. * Use of corticosteroids to control immune-related adverse events at enrollment. Participants who previously required corticosteroids for symptom control must be off steroids for at least two weeks. Low-dose steroid use (=10 mg of prednisone or equivalent) as corticosteroid replacement therapy for primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency is allowed. * Failure to recover (i.e., Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to prior treatment. * History of grade 3-4 neurologic or cardiac toxicity or life-threatening liver toxicity poorly responsive to steroids with prior anti-PD-1 therapy. * Presence of leptomeningeal disease. * Active autoimmune disease unrelated to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors that has required systemic treatment in the past year (e.g., use of disease-modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. * Contraindications to the use of propranolol, including: 1. Cardiogenic shock. 2. Sinus bradycardia greater than first-degree block. 3. Severe bronchial asthma. 4. Known hypersensitivity to propranolol. 5. Requirement for current use of an alternative beta-blocker. 6. Uncontrolled diabetes. 7. Uncontrolled depression. 8. Unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 3 months of Day 1 Cycle 1. * For enrollment into Cohort 2-4 ONLY: Contraindications to the use of naltrexone, including: 1. Participants currently receiving opioid analgesics or anticipated to require opioid analgesics in the near future. 2. Participants currently dependent on opioids, including those currently maintained on opiate agonists (e.g., methadone) or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). 3. Participants in acute opioid withdrawal. 4. Individuals with a history of sensitivity to naltrexone. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If a woman becomes pregnant or suspects she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is enrolled in this trial due to the potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants. * Receipt of any other investigational agents or participation in a study of an investigational agent or use of an investigational device within four weeks of the first dose of treatment. * Concurrent condition (including medical illness, active infection requiring treatment with intravenous antibiotics, or presence of laboratory abnormalities) or history of a prior condition that places the patient at unacceptable risk if treated with the study drug or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study. * Concurrent, active malignancies in addition to those being studied, except for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma. * Active (non-infectious) pneumonitis. * Hepatitis B (HBV) or Hepatitis C (HCV) acute or chronic infection. * Receipt of a live vaccine

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Propranolol

Propranolol will be administered to patients in all cohorts.

DRUG

Naltrexone

Naltrexone will be administered to patients in cohorts 2, 3, and 4.

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.

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05968690), the sponsor (Sarah Weiss), 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 NCT05968690 clinical trial studying?

Various forms of stress can promote cancer development and growth and negatively impact the immune system's response to tumors. Beta-adrenergic and opioid receptors co-exist in many cells including immune cells and are integral components of the body's response to stress. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that dual blockade of these receptors can decrease tumor growth and modulate the anti-tumor immune response. This clinical trial investigates the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of combining a beta-adrenergic blocker (propranolol) and an opioid receptor antagonist (naltrexone) … The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05968690?

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 NCT05968690?

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 NCT05968690. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05968690. 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.