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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Zanzalintinib for the Treatment of Advanced Thyroid Cancer Before Surgery

Neoadjuvant Treatment With Zanzalintinib for Advanced Thyroid Cancer

Zanzalintinib for the Treatment of Advanced Thyroid Cancer Before Surgery (NCT06959511) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Neoadjuvant Treatment and Thyroid Cancer, sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. 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

To look at the effectiveness of zanzalintinib, followed by surgery, in treating advanced thyroid cancer. The safety of this treatment will also be studied.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Neoadjuvant Treatment and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA 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.

With a target enrollment of 45 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)

Eligibility Criteria 1. Participants with differentiated thyroid cancer, non-RET-mutated medullary thyroid cancer, or poorly differentiated thyroid cancer who present with locoregionally advanced disease, as defined by extrathyroidal and/or extra nodal extension, or with advanced recurrent/residual invasive/bulky nodal disease will be enrolled in this trial, regardless of whether distant metastases are present or not. 2. At least 18 years of age on the day of signing willing to sign a consent form. 3. Pathologic findings supporting the clinical impression of papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, oncocytic thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and/or poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. 4. Surgical morbidity/complexity score of 1 to 4 (moderate, severe, very severe, or unresectable). 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 with no known sudden deterioration 2 weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment. 6. Recovery to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 severity (CTCAE v5) from adverse events (AEs), including immune-related adverse events (irAEs), related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy (e.g., physiological replacement of mineral corticosteroid). Low-grade or controlled toxicities such as alopecia, ≤ Grade 2 hypomagnesemia, ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are permitted. 7. Adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all the following laboratory criteria within 28 days before first dose of study treatment: 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)≥ 1500/mm3 (≥1.5 GI/L) without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection. 2. platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 (≥100 GI/L) without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection. 3. blood count (hemoglobin) at least 9 g/dL (≥90 g/L) without transfusion within 2 weeks prior to screening laboratory sample collection. ...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
Eligibility Criteria 1. Participants with differentiated thyroid cancer, non-RET-mutated medullary thyroid cancer, or poorly differentiated thyroid cancer who present with locoregionally advanced disease, as defined by extrathyroidal and/or extra nodal extension, or with advanced recurrent/residual invasive/bulky nodal disease will be enrolled in this trial, regardless of whether distant metastases are present or not. 2. At least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent. 3. Pathologic findings supporting the clinical impression of papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, oncocytic thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and/or poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. 4. Surgical morbidity/complexity score of 1 to 4 (moderate, severe, very severe, or unresectable). 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 with no known sudden deterioration 2 weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment. 6. Recovery to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 severity (CTCAE v5) from adverse events (AEs), including immune-related adverse events (irAEs), related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy (e.g., physiological replacement of mineral corticosteroid). Low-grade or controlled toxicities such as alopecia, ≤ Grade 2 hypomagnesemia, ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are permitted. 7. Adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all the following laboratory criteria within 28 days before first dose of study treatment: 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)≥ 1500/mm3 (≥1.5 GI/L) without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection. 2. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 (≥100 GI/L) without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection. 3. Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL (≥90 g/L) without transfusion within 2 weeks prior to screening laboratory sample collection. 4. International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). 5. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 3 x ULN. For subjects with documented bone metastasis ALP ≤5 x ULN. 6. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (for subjects with Gilbert fs disease ≤ 3 x ULN). 7. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min ( ≥0.67 mL/sec) using the Cockcroft Gault equation. 8. Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≤1 mg/mg ( ≤113.2 mg/mmol) creatinine. 8. Capable of understanding and complying with the protocol requirements and must have signed the informed consent document. 9. For MD Anderson site only, subjects must be willing to undergo tumor biopsy prior to trial treatment, unless in the opinion of the treating physician, a biopsy is not feasible or safe. For all sites, subjects must be willing to ultimately undergo surgery if their tumor becomes surgically resectable. Subjects retain the right to refuse any research interventions. 10. Sexually active fertile subjects and their partners must agree to use highly effective method of contraception (defined in Appendix A) during the course of the study and for the following durations after the last dose of treatment (whichever is later). An additional contraceptive method, such as a barrier method (e.g., condom), is required. In addition, men must agree not to donate sperm and women must agree not to donate eggs (ova, oocyte) for the purpose of reproduction during these same periods. (1) through 186 days after the last dose of zanzalintinib for women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or through 96 days after the last dose of zanzalintinib for men. 11. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant at screening. Female subjects are considered to be of childbearing potential unless one of the following criteria is met: permanent sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or documented postmenopausal status (defined as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman \> 45 years-of-age in the absence of other biological or physiological causes. In addition, females \< 55 years-of-age must have a serum follicle stimulating hormone \[FSH\] level \> 40 mIU/mL to confirm menopause). Note: Documentation may include review of medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview by study site staff. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Medullary thyroid cancer participants with germline RET or known somatic RET mutations. 2. Prior treatment with zanzalintinib. 3. Prior treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 4. Receipt of any type of cytotoxic, biologic or other systemic anticancer therapy (including investigational) within 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 5. Radiation therapy for bone metastasis within 2 weeks, any other radiation therapy within 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Systemic treatment with radionuclides within 6 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Participants with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior radiation therapy are not eligible. 6. Known brain metastases or cranial epidural disease unless adequately treated with radiotherapy and/or surgery (including radiosurgery) and stable for at least 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Note: Eligible subjects must be neurologically asymptomatic and without corticosteroid treatment at the time of enrollment. Note: Base of skull lesions without definitive evidence of dural or brain parenchymal involvement are allowed. 7. Concomitant anticoagulation with oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitors) and platelet inhibitors (e.g., clopidogrel). Allowed anticoagulants are the following: 1. Prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin for cardio-protection (per local applicable guidelines) and low-dose low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). 2. Therapeutic doses of LMWH or anticoagulation with direct factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, edoxaban, or apixaban in subjects without known brain metastases who are on a stable dose of the anticoagulant for at least 1 week before first dose of study treatment without clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen. Note: Subjects must have discontinued oral anticoagulants within 3 days or 5 half-lives prior to first dose of study treatment, whichever is longer. 8. Any complementary medications (e.g., herbal supplements or traditional Chinese medicines) to treat the disease under study within 2 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 9. The participant has uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions: a. Unstable or deteriorating cardiovascular disorders: i. Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class 2 or higher, unstable angina pectoris, new-onset angina, serious cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, Torsades de pointes). ii. Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained blood pressure (BP) \> 140 mm Hg systolic or \> 90 mm Hg diastolic despite optimal antihypertensive treatment. iii. Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction, or other clinically significant arterial thrombotic and/or ischemic event within 6 months before first dose of study treatment. iv. Pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or prior clinically significant venous events within 3 months before to first dose of study treatment. Note: Subjects with a diagnosis of DVT within 6 months are allowed if asymptomatic and stable at screening and are on a stable dose of the anticoagulant for at least 1 week before first dose of study treatment without clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen. Note: Participants who don't require prior anticoagulation therapy may be eligible but must be discussed and approved by the Principal Investigator. 10. Clinically significant hematuria, hematemesis, or hemoptysis of \> 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of red blood, or other history of significant bleeding (e.g., pulmonary hemorrhage) within 12 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 11. Symptomatic cavitating pulmonary lesion(s) or endobronchial disease (asymptomatic or radiated lesions allowed. Intratracheal disease is allowed, as long as the endotracheal disease is not associated with major bleeding episodes. 12. Lesions invading major blood vessel including, but are not limited to, inferior vena cava, pulmonary artery, or aorta. Note: Subjects with internal jugular vein involvement or tumor thrombus in the neck are eligible. Additionally, subjects with intravascular tumor extension (e.g., tumor thrombus in renal vein or inferior V. cava) may be eligiblefollowing Principal Investigator approval. 13. Other clinically significant disorders that would preclude safe study participation. 1. Active infection requiring systemic treatment. Note: Prophylactic antimicrobial treatments (antibiotics, antimycotic, antiviral) are allowed. 2. Known infection with acute or chronic hepatitis B or C, known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)- related illness except for subjects meeting all of the following criteria: (1) on stable anti-retroviral therapy; (2) CD4+ T cell count ≥ 200/μL; and (3) an undetectable viral load. Note: HIV testing will be performed at screening if and as required by local regulation. Note: To be eligible, participants taking CYP inhibitors (e.g., zidovudine, ritonavir, cobicistat, didanosine) or CYP3 inducers (efavirenz) must change to a different regimen not including these drugs 7 days prior to initiation of study treatment. Anti-retroviral therapies (ART) must have been received for at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose. Note: CD4+ T cell counts and viral load are monitored per standard of care by the local health care provider. 3. Serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture. Note: non-healing wounds or ulcers are permitted if due to tumor-associated skin lesions. 4. Malabsorption syndrome. 5. Uncontrolled symptomatic hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. 6. Uncontrolled symptomatic hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia. 7. Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C). 8. Requirement for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. 9. History of solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant. 14. Major surgery (as defined in Appendix B; e.g., GI surgery, removal or biopsy of brain metastasis) within 8 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment. Minor surgery (e.g., simple excision, tooth extraction) within 5 days before first dose of study treatment. Fine needle aspiration and core biopsies are allowed on study drug without drug hold.Complete wound healing from major or minor surgery must have occurred at least prior to first dose of study treatment. Note: Participants with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior surgical procedures, including biopsies, are not eligible. 15. Corrected QT interval calculated by the Fridericia formula (QTcF) \> 480 ms within 14 days per electrocardiogram (ECG) before first dose of study treatment. Note: Triplicate ECG evaluations will be performed and the average of these 3 consecutive results for QTcF will be used to determine eligibility. 16. History of psychiatric illness likely to interfere with ability to comply with protocol requirements or give informed consent. 17. Pregnant or lactating females. 18. Inability to swallow tablets or ingest a suspension either orally or by nasogastric (NG) or gastrostomy (PEG) tube. 19. Previously identified allergy or hypersensitivity to components of the study treatment formulations. 20. Another malignancy that requires active therapy and in the opinion of the Investigator would interfere with monitoring of radiologic assessments of response to Investigational Product, within 2 years before first dose of study treatment, except for superficial skin cancers, or localized, low grade tumors deemed cured and not treated with systemic therapy. 21. Other conditions, which in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the safety of the participant or the participants ability to complete the study.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Zanzalintinib

Given by po

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.

MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06959511), the sponsor (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), 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 NCT06959511 clinical trial studying?

To look at the effectiveness of zanzalintinib, followed by surgery, in treating advanced thyroid cancer. The safety of this treatment will also be studied. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06959511?

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 NCT06959511?

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 NCT06959511. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06959511. 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.