Itraconazole with endoscopic ablation to prevent esophageal cancer in high‑risk Barrett's esophagus
Official title: Repurposing Itraconazole for Secondary Prevention of Metaplasia and Primary Prevention of Cancer in Patients With High-risk Barrett's Esophagus in Combination With Ablation
Run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NCT06732388 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests if adding itraconazole to the standard endoscopic ablation can better prevent esophageal cancer in people with high-risk Barrett's esophagus.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Cancer Institute (NCI) NIH |
| Locations | 6 sites (Kansas City, Kansas and 5 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 23, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 1, 2030 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | September 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06732388 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with Barrett's esophagus ≥2 cm with low- or high-grade dysplasia or T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma, naïve to treatment, and being considered for ablation.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without progression or those intolerant to itraconazole or ablation may not experience additional benefit over standard care.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This phase 2 trial randomizes participants with Barrett's esophagus at high risk for cancer to receive itraconazole around ablation plus the standard endoscopic ablation, or standard care alone. The goal is to see if itraconazole speeds complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia and reduces dysplasia recurrence, while monitoring safety and tolerability. Researchers will also explore how itraconazole levels in blood and esophageal tissue relate to response and whether hedgehog, PI3K-AKT, and VEGFR2 signaling changes associate with outcomes. Optional biospecimens are banked for future analyses to understand predictors of response. The study is conducted at multiple cancer centers in the United States and is sponsored by the NCI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve the elimination of abnormal esophageal tissue and reduce cancer risk for people with high-risk Barrett's esophagus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have explored similar targeted approaches in esophageal disease, but this specific itraconazole plus ablation strategy is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Participants with history of prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with an established diagnosis of BE ≥ 2 cm with either low-grade dysplasia (LGD) or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), naïve to treatment, and being considered for ablation.
* Note: An eligible diagnosis from an EGD outside of the enrollment sites is allowed for inclusion as long as the biopsies have been reviewed by two pathologists. The two pathologists could include a pathologist from the referring site and an institutional pathologist at the local enrolling site, two pathologists from the referring site, or two pathologists from the local enrolling site. The diagnosis between two pathologists has to be concordant regarding the presence of dysplasia or cancer. Discrepant diagnoses will be resolved by a third pathologist, if needed
* Participants older than 18 years will be enrolled. Because the incidence of BE and related cancer is very low in participants \< 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
* Clinically eligible for EGD and endoscopic treatment of BE
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/microliter
* Platelets ≥ 100,000/microliter
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Note: Higher total bilirubin levels (≤ 3 mg/dL) can be allowed if due to known benign liver condition, i.e. Gilbert's
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase \[SGPT\]) ≤ 1.5 × institutional upper limit of normal
* Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
* For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
* Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
* Participants on chronic suppressive antiviral therapy for herpes simplex virus (HSV) are eligible
* There are no controlled data on the effects of itraconazole on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose. For this reason and because azoles are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use one or more methods of highly effective contraception that do not contain estrogen (e.g. progestin only oral contraceptive, non-hormonal intrauterine device, bilateral tubal ligation) two months prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation and two months after completing the study drug. Women should not donate eggs or participate in in vitro fertilization for the duration of study participation, and two months after completing the study drug. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her study physician immediately. Male subjects should avoid donating sperm, and if engaged in intercourse with women of child-bearing potential use a method of highly effective contraception.
* Activities of Reproductive Potential: In addition to heterosexual intercourse, activities that could lead to pregnancy (e.g. sperm or egg donation, participation in in vitro fertilization) should be considered when evaluating the reproductive potential of clinical trial subjects.
* Females of Reproductive Potential: A non-post-menopausal female who has not had a bilateral oophorectomy or medically documented ovarian failure. A female who has had a tubal ligation sterilization, or hysterectomy would not be considered to be of reproductive potential unless participating in activities of reproductive potential other than heterosexual intercourse (e.g. egg donation, participation in in vitro fertilization).
* Menopause:
* Twelve (12) months of spontaneous amenorrhea or;
* Spontaneous amenorrhea with serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels \> 40 mIU/mL or;
* Subject is post-bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
Exclusion Criteria:
* Current New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV congestive heart failure
* Prolonged corrected QT (QTc) (\> 450 ms for men and \> 470 ms for women)
* Participants may not be receiving any other investigational agents
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to itraconazole
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness., or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study because itraconazole is a class C agent with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events (AEs) in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with itraconazole, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with itraconazole
* Critical drug interactions (grades D or higher) with other medications metabolized by cytochrome P450(CYP)3A4 (if the medication cannot be discontinued or switched or dose modified); these decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the site investigators in consultation with the treating provider. Drug interactions can be assessed using one of the available on-line resources, for instance, UpToDate or Clinical Formulary and/or in collaboration with a clinical pharmacist.
* Note: If there are potential drug interactions that do not exclude the participant from the study, a brief research note summarizing the decision-making process about potential drug interactions and their management will be required before the participants are enrolled in the trial
* History of eosinophilic esophagitis
* History of strictures not allowing passage of the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) assembly
* Participants must not have evidence of active/recurrent invasive cancer of a non-esophageal organ
* Participants with EAC greater than stage T1a
* Persistent (\> 24 hour \[h\]) systolic blood pressure (BP) greater than or equal to 160 mmHg (to avoid reaching hypertensive crisis defined as systolic BP \> 180 mmHg)
* Patients taking eliglustat. Co-administration of itraconazole and eliglustat is contraindicated in subjects that are poor or intermediate metabolizers of CYP2D6
Where it's running
-
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States Not yet recruiting -
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ajay Bansal, MD — University of Kansas Medical Center
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Detecting Barrett's Esophagus in Patients Without GERD Symptoms
This study is testing a new way to find Barrett's esophagus in people who don’t have GERD symptoms by using a simple capsule test instead of the usual endoscopy.
-
Assessing Barrett's Esophagus in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa and Purging Behaviors
This study is trying to see if people with anorexia nervosa who purge have Barrett's esophagus, using non-invasive tests to check for this condition in patients aged 18-65.
-
Using a swallowable sponge to collect esophageal samples for Barrett's esophagus detection
This study is testing a swallowable sponge to see if it can safely collect samples from the esophagus to help detect Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer in patients who may have these conditions.
-
Registry for patients undergoing esophageal cancer screening
This study is collecting information from patients getting screened for Barrett Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma using a new test to see how well it works and how patients feel about the process.
-
Comparing surveillance and therapy for Barrett's esophagus with low-grade dysplasia
This study is testing whether regular check-ups or a treatment to remove precancerous cells is better for people with Barrett's esophagus and low-grade dysplasia.
-
Comparing biopsy methods for monitoring Barrett's Esophagus
This study is testing whether a new biopsy method called WATS is better than the usual random biopsies for monitoring patients with Barrett's Esophagus who are at high risk for serious complications.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.