Phase 2 Study of Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib in Anal Squamous Cell Cancer

Starting soon · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to see the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in patients with anal squamous cell cancer that cannot be removed through surgery or is spread to other organs. Eligible participants should have also received some form of standard therapy previously for their advanced cancer. Participants will be required to come for a clinic visit and infusion of pembrolizumab. Lenvatinib will be taken by mouth at home based on direction provided by physicians and research team.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07680088

Run by

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

People needed

17

Starts

2026-09-30

Expected to finish

2030-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male/female participants who are at least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent with histologically confirmed diagnosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma.
• The participants should have inoperable local recurrence or advanced cancer (stage 4; any T, any N, M1).
• The participants should have received at least one prior line of cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen in palliative setting or have declined cytotoxic chemotherapy use or have a contraindication to receive chemotherapy. Prior use of PD-1 systemic therapy is allowed
• ECOG Performance status: 0, 1 or 2.
• Adequate organ and bone marrow function as outlined below:
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): ≥1500/µL
• Platelets: ≥100 000/µL
• Creatinine; creatinine clearance GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl): Creatinine ≤1.5 × ULN OR Creatinine Clearance ≥30 mL/min for participant with creatinine levels >1.5 × institutional ULN
• Total bilirubin: ≤1.5 ×ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ULN for participants with total bilirubin levels >1.5 × ULN
• aspartate aminotransferase (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) - AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT)=alanine aminotransferase (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) - ALT (SGPT): ≤2.5 × ULN (≤5 × ULN for participants with liver metastases) International normalized ratio (INR) OR prothrombin time (PT) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT): INR ≤1.5 × ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or aPTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
• A participant will be eligible for inclusion in the study if the participant:
• Female Participants
• Is not a Women Of Child Bearing Potential (WOCBP): OR
• Is a WOCBP and agrees to use a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of <1% per year), with low user dependency, or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis), as described in Appendix D during the intervention period and for at least 120 days post pembrolizumab or 30 days post lenvatinib, whichever date occurs last. The investigator should evaluate the potential for contraceptive method failure (i.e., noncompliance, recently initiated) in relationship to the first dose of study intervention.
• A WOCBP must have a negative highly sensitive pregnancy test (urine or serum as required by local regulations) during screening (for the purpose of confirming eligibility/enrollment).
• Note: If a urine test cannot be confirmed as negative (e.g., an ambiguous result), a serum pregnancy test is required. In such cases, the participant must be excluded from participation if the serum pregnancy result is positive. (WOCBP should also have a negative pregnancy test within 24 hours before the first dose of study intervention (cycle1 day 1) as described in schedule of Activities Table).
• Male Participants
• Male participants are eligible to participate if they agree to the following during the intervention period and for at least 7 days after the last dose of lenvatinib:
• Be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR
• Must agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause) as detailed below and in Appendix D:
• Agree to use a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a WOCBP who is not currently pregnant. Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner must agree to remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each episode of penile-vaginal penetration.
• Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. If the contraception requirements in the local label for any of the study interventions is more stringent than the requirements above, the local label requirements are to be followed.
• Please note that 7 days after lenvatinib is stopped, if the participant is on pembrolizumab only, no male contraception measures are needed.
• Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
• Archival tumor tissue sample or fresh core biopsy of a tumor lesion is available. In a situation where a safe and suitable site for a fresh biopsy is not feasible and an archival tissue is not available; patients may still be eligible to enroll after discussing with UTSW PI.

You may not qualify if…

• Has received chemotherapy within 2 weeks prior to starting study treatment.
• Has received any investigational agents for the treatment of the cancer under study within 3 weeks of start of the study.
• Has received prior radiotherapy within 3 weeks of start of study intervention or suffers from radiation-related toxicities requiring corticosteroids.
• Had a major surgery within 3 weeks prior to first dose of study interventions or has not adequately recovered from a previous major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications, in the opinion of the investigator, that would limit participation in study. Note: Adequate wound healing after major surgery must be assessed clinically by investigator or qualified designee.
• Has an uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active bacterial infection requiring systemic antibiotic, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that, in the opinion of the investigator, would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Participants with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided participants are not on steroid treatment for the CNS metastasis at least 14 days prior to first dose of study intervention. An MRI assessment of the brain may be needed during Screening if clinically indicated as per investigator.
• Has preexisting ≥Grade 3 gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal fistula
• Has a left ventricle ejection fraction <45% as determined by multi-gated acquisition (MUGA) or 2D echocardiogram (ECHO). Among patients with a prior known history of congestive heart failure with a low ejection fraction, then ejection fraction assessment will be performed during screening to determine eligibility.
• Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease within 12 months from first dose of study intervention, including New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, or cardiac arrhythmia associated with hemodynamic instability. Note: Medically controlled arrhythmia would be permitted.
• Has radiographic evidence of encasement or invasion of a major blood vessel, or of intratumoral cavitation. NOTE: The degree of proximity to major blood vessels should be considered because of the potential risk of severe hemorrhage associated with tumor shrinkage/necrosis following lenvatinib therapy.
• Have prolongation of QTc interval to >480 ms.
• Has a history of gastrointestinal malabsorption or any other condition that might affect the absorption of lenvatinib in the opinion of the investigator.
• Has an active hemoptysis (bright red blood of at least 0.5 teaspoon) within 3 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug.
• Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention. Administration of killed vaccines is allowed.
• Has received chronic systemic steroid therapy (exceeding 10 mg daily dose of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
• Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years except replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid).
• Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active systemic treatment within the past 2 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ (excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded. Participants with low-risk early-stage prostate cancer (T1-T2a, Gleason score ≤6, and PSA <10 ng/mL) either treated with definitive intent or untreated in active surveillance with stable disease are not excluded.
• Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Lenvatinib or Pembrolizumab used in study.
• Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease.
• Has a concurrent active Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (defined as anti-HCV Ab positive and detectable HCV RNA) infection.
• Note: Hepatitis B and C screening tests are not required unless:
• Known history of HBV and HCV infection
• As mandated by local health authority or institution
• Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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