Rigosertib + Pembrolizumab for Skin Cancer

This trial aims to determine if combining rigosertib with pembrolizumab can more effectively treat skin cancer that cannot be surgically removed or has metastasized, particularly when previous treatments have failed. Rigosertib may inhibit tumor growth and enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer, while pembrolizumab (also known as KEYTRUDA) is designed to help the immune system attack cancer cells. Individuals with melanoma that has not responded to certain prior treatments and impacts their daily life may be suitable candidates for this study. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on assessing the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of participants.

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that you should not have received certain cancer treatments or vaccines recently, and you should not be on high-dose steroids or immunosuppressive therapy. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

Research has shown that rigosertib may effectively treat certain cancers. In studies involving other cancer types, most patients tolerated it well, experiencing no severe side effects. Common side effects included mild digestive issues and tiredness.

Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, has received FDA approval for treating various cancers. It is usually well-tolerated, though some patients have experienced immune-related side effects affecting the skin, liver, or lungs, which are generally manageable with treatment.

Researchers are excited about combining Rigosertib with Pembrolizumab for skin cancer because this duo targets the disease in a new way. Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, while Rigosertib disrupts the cancer cells' ability to divide and multiply. This combination could enhance effectiveness beyond current options, which typically involve surgery, radiation, or single-agent immunotherapies. By attacking the cancer on multiple fronts, this approach hopes to improve outcomes for patients with skin cancer.

Studies have shown that combining rigosertib with pembrolizumab might effectively treat melanoma that cannot be removed or has spread. Research suggests this combination could significantly improve survival rates in patients with high-risk melanoma. In this trial, participants will receive both rigosertib and pembrolizumab. Pembrolizumab alone has produced positive results in about 34% of patients with metastatic melanoma, and its effects might strengthen when combined with rigosertib. Rigosertib blocks certain proteins that aid cancer cell growth and might enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The goal of combining these treatments is to increase the chances of stopping the cancer from growing and spreading.¹⁶⁷⁸⁹