Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

DOC1021 Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy for Refractory Melanoma

Clinical Study of DOC1021 Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy for Refractory Melanoma

DOC1021 Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy for Refractory Melanoma (NCT07288112) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Refractory Melanoma, sponsored by Diakonos Oncology Corporation. 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

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if DOC1021 + pIFN will be safe and will lead to tumor responses in patients with refractory melanoma. DOC1021 is a dendritic cell immunotherapy derived from a patient's own blood cells and loaded with antigens from the patient's tumor in the form of tumor lysate and mRNA. The goal is to stimulate a T cell immune response that eliminates tumor cells. The study consists of two components: an initial phase I safety study to confirm safety/tolerability of the treatment regimen, and, subsequently, a single-arm phase II cohort to assess efficacy of the treatment regimen. All participants will: * Take filgrastim subcutaneously x 5 doses and subsequently undergo a leukapheresis collection * Receive two doses of DOC1021 under image guidance 2 weeks apart * Receive subcutaneous pIFN injections weekly for a total of 4 doses in parallel with the DOC1021 injections * Undergo an optional image-guided perinodal DOC1021 booster injection approximately 6 months after the first DOC1021 dose along with additional subcutaneous pIFN injections at time of the booster and the subsequent week for a total of 2 pIFN doses * Visit the clinic regularly to assess quality of life, symptoms, medication use, imaging, bloodwork, and to receive optional treatment with anti-PD1 agents

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 Refractory 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 35 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: 1. Provision of signed and dated willing to sign a consent form form 2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and avail-ability for the duration of the study 3. Age 18 years or older 4. Patients diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and progressed following ≥1 previous cancer treatment that works throughout the body (like chemotherapy) including anti-PD-1 (i.e., refractory to anti-PD-1). Refractory defined as primary or secondary resistance as per SITC guidelines, except that confirmatory scan not required if clinical progression requiring surgery or radiation to relieve symptoms 5. Willing and able to withhold anti-PD-1 treatment from the time of enrollment through \~6 weeks after the first DOC1021 administration 6. One or more lesions available for biopsy or resection to yield at least 50 mg (e.g., 5 core biopsies) and preferably 100 mg of tumor for generating DOC1021 and at least 1 measurable target tumor lesion evaluable after DOC1021 by RECIST version 1.1. 7. Brain metastases allowed if stable after prior treatment 8. Ability to receive filgrastim (e.g. Neupogen), leukapheresis and perinodal injections of DOC1021 near regional nodes + weekly pIFN x 4 weeks. 9. Females of reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception (as deter-mined appropriate for the patient by the investigator) during study treatment. 10. Adequate kidney, liver, bone marrow function, and immune function, as follows: 1. blood count (hemoglobin) at least 8.0 gm/dL (use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve is acceptable) 2. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm3 3. Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm3 4. Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) \> 30 mL/min using Cockcroft and Gault formula: ...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: 1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form 2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and avail-ability for the duration of the study 3. Age 18 years or older 4. Patients diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and progressed following ≥1 prior systemic therapy including anti-PD-1 (i.e., refractory to anti-PD-1). Refractory defined as primary or secondary resistance as per SITC guidelines, except that confirmatory scan not required if clinical progression requiring surgery or radiation to relieve symptoms 5. Willing and able to withhold anti-PD-1 treatment from the time of enrollment through \~6 weeks after the first DOC1021 administration 6. One or more lesions available for biopsy or resection to yield at least 50 mg (e.g., 5 core biopsies) and preferably 100 mg of tumor for generating DOC1021 and at least 1 measurable target tumor lesion evaluable after DOC1021 by RECIST version 1.1. 7. Brain metastases allowed if stable after prior treatment 8. Ability to receive filgrastim (e.g. Neupogen), leukapheresis and perinodal injections of DOC1021 near regional nodes + weekly pIFN x 4 weeks. 9. Females of reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception (as deter-mined appropriate for the patient by the investigator) during study treatment. 10. Adequate kidney, liver, bone marrow function, and immune function, as follows: 1. Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 gm/dL (use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve is acceptable) 2. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm3 3. Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm3 4. Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) \> 30 mL/min using Cockcroft and Gault formula: i. For males = (140 - age\[years\]) x (body weight \[kg\]) / (72 x serum creatinine \[mg/dL\]) ii. For females = 0.85 x value from male formula e. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) except in patients with Gilbert's disease for which total bilirubin must be ≤ 3 times ULN f. Aspartate transaminase AST (SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase ALT (SGPT) ≤ 3 times the ULN (or ≤ 5.0 × ULN if liver metastases) 11. Eastern Cooperative Group (ECOG) Performance Score 0 or 1 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 2. Known active HIV or hepatitis infection. Patients with HIV that is well-controlled and have undetectable viral titers remain eligible. Patients with history of HCV adequately treated such that RNA viral load is negative also remain eligible. 3. Any severe or uncontrolled medical condition or other condition that could affect participation in this study as determined by the investigator, including but not limited to uncontrolled or severe cardiac dis-ease, systemic autoimmune disorders requiring immunosuppression\*, autoimmune hyper/hypothyroidism, untreated viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis (\*autoimmune disorders include but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease and immunosuppressive medications include DMARDs like methotrexate, TNF inhibitors, IL-6 receptor blockers, CD80/86 inhibitors, anti-CD20 and JAK inhibitors) 4. Residual immune-related toxicities from prior immunotherapy \> Grade 1 severity. However, patients who experienced prior endocrine toxicity are eligible if well-controlled on replacement therapy. 5. Treatment with another investigational drug or other experimental intervention within the last 30 days.

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

DOC1021

Double-loaded dendritic cell vaccine, loaded with tumor lysate and mRNA using proprietary method

PROCEDURE

Tumor resection

Tumor resection or biopsy

DRUG

pIFN (peginterferon alfa-2a)

pIFN 180 mcg subcutaneously every week for 4 total doses

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.

The University of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07288112), the sponsor (Diakonos Oncology Corporation), 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 NCT07288112 clinical trial studying?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if DOC1021 + pIFN will be safe and will lead to tumor responses in patients with refractory melanoma. DOC1021 is a dendritic cell immunotherapy derived from a patient's own blood cells and loaded with antigens from the patient's tumor in the form of tumor lysate and mRNA. The goal is to stimulate a T cell immune response that eliminates tumor cells. The study consists of two components: an initial phase I safety study to confirm safety/tolerability of the treatment regimen, and, subsequently, a single-arm phase II cohort to assess efficacy of the tr… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07288112?

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 NCT07288112?

Contact information for this trial may be available directly on the ClinicalTrials.gov record. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar for the official source. Always discuss any potential trial with your doctor before contacting the study site.

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 NCT07288112. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07288112. 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.