Clinical trial Recruiting at 17 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

L19IL2/L19TNF therapy for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Official title: A Phase 2 Study of Intratumoral Administration of L19IL2/L19TNF in Locally Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Progressing on or Intolerant to Systemic Treatment

Run by Philogen S.p.A. · NCT07228442 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests a combination treatment injected directly into skin tumors to see if it helps people whose locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma progressed after or couldn’t tolerate prior immune therapy.

More Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment92 (estimated)
SponsorPhilogen S.p.A.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy, Radiation, prednisone
Locations19 sites (Orange, California and 18 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 2026
Main results expectedFebruary 2031
Study endsFebruary 2031
Registry record updatedJuly 24, 2026
Trial IDNCT07228442 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (≥18) with histologically confirmed locally advanced cSCC, at least one injectable lesion, and progression on or intolerance to prior immune therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients with non-injectable disease, no measurable lesions, or progression despite treatment might not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is an open-label, single-arm, multicenter Phase 2 trial evaluating intratumoral L19IL2/L19TNF in patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that is injectable and has progressed on or is intolerant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Participants receive weekly injections into measurable skin lesions for up to 4 weeks, with a possible second 4-week course based on response. Tumor responses are confirmed by biopsy and reviewed centrally, and patients are followed for overall survival and long-term safety for up to several years. Assessments include scheduled tumor assessments, safety monitoring, and documentation of subsequent treatments. Eligible patients must have measurable injectable lesions and adequate organ function, with informed consent provided.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience tumor shrinkage and potential disease control from a localized, injectable therapy.

How similar studies have gone: Prior approaches using intratumoral cytokine therapies have shown activity in skin cancers, but this specific L19IL2/L19TNF combination is being evaluated for the first time in this setting.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically documented, locally advanced cSCC.
* Patients must have at least one injectable and measurable cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion.
* Patients must have locally advanced cSCC that has progressed on or cannot tolerate ICI treatment (adjuvant or first line) as assessed by a local multidisciplinary tumor board.
* Patients with nodal, regional or in transit injectable cSCC lesions.
* Patients must be willing to provide tissue from a core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion at screening and for confirmation of Objective Response or Stable Disease.
* Male or female patients, who are capable of giving consent, age ≥ 18 years.
* ECOG Performance Status/WHO Performance Status ≤ 2.
* Hemoglobin \> 10.0 g/dL.
* Platelets \> 100 x 109/L.
* ALT and AST, GGT and Lipase ≤ 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN).
* All acute toxic effects (excluding alopecia) of any prior therapy must have resolved to National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v. 5.0) Grade ≤ 1 unless otherwise specified.
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have negative pregnancy test results at screening. WOCBP must be using, from screening to three months following the last study drug administration, highly effective contraception methods, as defined by the "Recommendations for contraception and pregnancy testing in clinical trials" issued by the Head of Medicine Agencies' Clinical Trial Facilitation Group and which include, for instance, progesterone-only or combined (estrogen- and progesterone-containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine devices, intrauterine hormone-releasing systems, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner.
* Male patients with WOCBP partners must agree to use simultaneously two acceptable methods of contraception (i.e. spermicidal gel plus condom) from the screening to three months following the last study drug administration.
* Willingness and ability to comply with the scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of concomitant malignancies, with the exception of any cancer curatively treated more than 3 years prior to study entry and of tumors with a negligible risk for metastasis or death, such as adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin (surgically removed at least 4 weeks prior to study entry), ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix, early-stage asymptomatic CLL and not under active treatment (Rai 0, Binet A) will be eligible for the study.
* Radiation therapy on the tumor sites in the 4 weeks prior to study drug administration.
* Current topical or systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy.
* Presence of visceral metastasis.
* disease/infection requiring therapy, including positive tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 or HIV-2 serum antibody, hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV). For HBV serology, the determination of HBsAg and anti-HBcAg Ab is required. In patients with serology documenting previous exposure to HBV, negative serum HBV-DNA is required. For HCV, HCV-RNA or HCV antibody test is required. Subjects with a positive test for HCV antibody but no detection of HCV-RNA indicating no current infection are eligible.
* History within the last year of acute or subacute coronary syndromes including myocardial infarction, unstable or severe stable angina pectoris, inadequately treated cardiac arrhythmias and heart insufficiency (any grade, New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria).
* Any abnormalities observed during baseline ECG investigations that are considered clinically significant by the investigator.
* Known arterial aneurysms.
* Chronically impaired renal function as indicated by creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min/1.73m2 or for patients older than 65 years without albuminuria or proteinuria, creatinine clearance \< 45 mL/min/1.73m2.
* INR \> 3.
* Uncontrolled hypertension.
* Known uncontrolled coagulopathy or bleeding disorder.
* Known hepatic cirrhosis or severe pre-existing hepatic impairment.
* Moderate to severe respiratory failure.
* Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years.
* Patients have a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or are receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of study drug. Limited use of corticosteroids to treat or prevent acute hypersensitivity reactions and asthma/COPD is not considered an exclusion criterion.
* Known history of allergy to IL2, TNF, or other human proteins/peptides/antibodies.
* Pregnancy or breast-feeding.
* Ischemic peripheral vascular disease (Grade IIb-IV).
* Severe diabetic retinopathy.
* Recovery from major trauma including surgery within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
* Solid organ transplant recipient or patient with iatrogenic or pathologic severe immune suppression.
* Patients with a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
* Patients who have received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
* Any conditions that in the opinion of the investigator could hamper compliance with the study protocol.

Where it's running

  • UC Irvine Health- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Orange, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
    Houston, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Augsburg
    Augsburg, Germany
    Recruiting
Show 13 more locations
  • Charite Universitaetsmedizin Berlin KöR
    Berlin, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Essen AöR
    Essen, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Halle (Saale) AöR
    Halle, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Heidelberg AöR
    Heidelberg, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein AöR
    Kiel, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitaetsklinikum Tübingen AöR
    Tübingen, Germany
    Recruiting
  • IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Pascale
    Naples, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
    Roma, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Humanitas Mirasole S.p.A.
    Rozzano, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese
    Siena, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Clinic De Barcelona
    Barcelona, Spain
    Recruiting
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Clinical Laboratories
    Columbus, Ohio, United States
    Not yet recruiting
  • Andreas Syngros Hospital Of Venereal And Dermatological Diseases
    Athens, Greece
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.