Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
ATRA and Carfilzomib in Plasma Cell Myeloma Patients
Phase IB/II Study Combining All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) With Carfilzomib Based Therapy in Plasma Cell Myeloma Patients Refractory to Carfilzomib
ATRA and Carfilzomib in Plasma Cell Myeloma Patients (NCT06536413) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Multiple Myeloma, sponsored by The Methodist Hospital Research Institute. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
This is a Phase IB/II trial that will investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of combination therapy using All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) with Carfilzomib based therapies in plasma cell myeloma also commonly referred as Multiple Myeloma (MM), in patients considered refractory to proteasome inhibitors (PIs). Multiple myeloma is an incurable clonal plasma cell disorder that comprises 10% of all hematologic malignancies. Over the past 30 years the global prevalence of multiple myeloma has risen to 126%, with 85% of diagnoses occurring in patients \>55 years of age. In the past 15 years, survival has improved considerably, which is attributed to the development of multiple different classes of medications, including proteasome inhibitors. Proteasome inhibitors are the foundation of many multiple myeloma treatments in both transplant eligible and ineligible patients for the past 2 decades. While proteasome inhibitors have improved both progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), many patients eventually develop disease progression arising from resistance to therapies. As a result, there is an unmet need to overcome resistance and find ways to enhance multiple myeloma sensitivity to proteasome inhibitor toxicity. Carfilzomib, a modified peptide epoxyketone that selectively targets intracellular proteasome enzymes, is approved in combination with dexamethasone in patients that have received ≥1 line of therapy or in combination. There are few studies assessing ways to enhance carfilzomib-mediated multiple myeloma toxicity. All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) is an oxidative metabolite of retinol (vitamin A) and plays an important role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation. In a recent pre-clinical study, ATRA was found to enhance sensitivity of carfilzomib-mediated apoptosis in vitro via an interferon beta (IFN-β) response pathway. In the clinical setting, ATRA is a well-tolerated drug that has shown little change in the rate of adverse events in early clinical trials with multiple myeloma. The investigators hypothesize that ATRA enhances sensitivity of multiple myeloma to carfilzomib therapy.
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 Multiple Myeloma, 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 42 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)
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
All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) Dose 0
Patients will receive oral ATRA 25 mg/m2 per day in two divided doses with carfilzomib-based regimens. Eligible patients will enter the study in cohorts of two with the first cohort treated at Dose 0. To assign a dose to the next cohort of patients, dose escalation/de-escalation according to the the trials Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) Design is conducted. In patients who respond and do not have any dose limiting toxicity (DLT), treatment will continue for a total of 6 cycles in the phase II expansion cohort and subsequently transitioned to standard -of-care options. Each cycle will be 28 days. In phase 1b, a minimum of 16 evaluable patients will be recruited and in the second phase a minimum of 26 evaluable patients will be recruited. A minimum of 42 evaluable patients will be recruited in the study. If a dose limiting toxicity occurs at 25 mg/m2, then the dose will be reduced by 50% to 15 mg/sq m daily in two divided doses.
All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) Dose -1
Patients will receive oral ATRA 15 mg/m2 per day in two divided doses with carfilzomib-based regimens. Eligible patients will enter the study in cohorts of two with the first cohort treated at Dose 0. To assign a dose to the next cohort of patients, dose escalation/de-escalation according to the trials Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) Design is conducted. In patients who respond and do not have any dose limiting toxicity (DLT), treatment will continue for a total of 6 cycles in the phase II expansion cohort and subsequently transitioned to standard -of-care options. Each cycle will be 28 days. In phase 1b, a minimum of 16 evaluable patients will be recruited and in the second phase a minimum of 26 evaluable patients will be recruited. A minimum of 42 evaluable patients will be recruited in the study.
All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) Dose 1
Patients will receive oral ATRA 45 mg/m2 per day in two divided doses with carfilzomib-based regimens. Eligible patients will enter the study in cohorts of two with the first cohort treated at Dose 0. To assign a dose to the next cohort of patients, dose escalation/de-escalation according to the trials Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) Design is conducted. In patients who respond and do not have any dose limiting toxicity (DLT), treatment will continue for a total of 6 cycles in the phase II expansion cohort and subsequently transitioned to standard -of-care options. Each cycle will be 28 days. In phase 1b, a minimum of 16 evaluable patients will be recruited and in the second phase a minimum of 26 evaluable patients will be recruited. A minimum of 42 evaluable patients will be recruited in the study.
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 (NCT06536413), the sponsor (The Methodist Hospital Research Institute), 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 NCT06536413 clinical trial studying?
This is a Phase IB/II trial that will investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of combination therapy using All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) with Carfilzomib based therapies in plasma cell myeloma also commonly referred as Multiple Myeloma (MM), in patients considered refractory to proteasome inhibitors (PIs). Multiple myeloma is an incurable clonal plasma cell disorder that comprises 10% of all hematologic malignancies. Over the past 30 years the global prevalence of multiple myeloma has risen to 126%, with 85% of diagnoses occurring in patients \>55 years of age. In the past 15 years,… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06536413?
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 NCT06536413?
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 NCT06536413. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06536413. 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.