Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 and up Men only

MRG003 plus HX008 for EGFR-positive advanced or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma

Official title: MRG003 Plus HX008 as First-Line Treatment for EGFR-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Phase I Clinical Trial

Run by West China Hospital · NCT07054307 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether combining the EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate MRG003 with the PD-1 inhibitor HX008 works as a first-line treatment for men with EGFR-positive advanced or metastatic penile cancer.

More Penile Cancer trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexMen only
Enrollment10 (estimated)
SponsorWest China Hospital
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Brentuximab, Nivolumab, Enfortumab, Pembrolizumab, methotrexate
Locations1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 12, 2026
Main results expectedJuly 30, 2026
Study endsJuly 30, 2030
Registry record updatedApril 7, 2026
Trial IDNCT07054307 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Men aged 18 or older with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR IHC-positive (1+ to 3+), no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease, measurable lesions, ECOG 0–1, and adequate organ and cardiac function are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients without EGFR expression, those who have already received systemic therapy for advanced disease, or those with poor performance status or significant organ or cardiac dysfunction are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this regimen.

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

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 interventional trial enrolls adult men with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma whose tumors express EGFR. Participants who have not received prior systemic therapy for advanced disease receive MRG003 (an EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate) together with the PD-1 inhibitor HX008 and are closely monitored for safety, tolerability, and tumor response. Key eligibility requirements include measurable disease by RECIST 1.1, ECOG performance status 0–1, and adequate organ and cardiac function. The study is conducted at West China Hospital with scheduled imaging and laboratory assessments to track adverse events and treatment effect.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this combination could provide a more effective and lower-toxicity first-line option than standard chemotherapy for EGFR-positive advanced penile cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Combinations of targeted agents, antibody-drug conjugates, and PD-1 inhibitors have shown promise in other squamous cell cancers, but clinical evidence in penile squamous cell carcinoma is very limited, making this approach relatively novel for PSCC.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma.
2. EGFR expression (defined as IHC 1+, 2+, or 3+) confirmed by the institutional pathology department using primary or metastatic tumor tissue samples.
3. No prior systemic therapy for advanced disease.
4. Male, aged ≥18 years.
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 with a life expectancy ≥3 months.
6. At least one measurable lesion per RECIST 1.1 criteria.
7. Adequate organ function (based on institutional laboratory reference ranges):

   Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%.

   Hematology:

   Hemoglobin (HGB) ≥90 g/L, White blood cell count (WBC) ≥3.0×10⁹/L, Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5×10⁹/L, Platelet count (PLT) ≥80×10⁹/L.

   Biochemistry:

   Total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN), AST/ALT ≤2.5×ULN (≤5×ULN if liver metastases present), Serum creatinine (Cr) ≤1.5×ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥50 mL/min.
8. Willing to provide written informed consent, with full understanding of the study requirements and commitment to comply with trial procedures and follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have received prior systemic therapy before enrollment.
2. History of other malignancies, except for cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or other malignancies that have been disease-free for at least 5 years.
3. Presence of central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Patients with previously treated brain metastases may be eligible if they have been stable for at least 6 months, show no disease progression on imaging within 4 weeks before treatment, have no neurological symptoms, demonstrate no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and have discontinued radiation, surgery, or steroid therapy for brain metastases at least 28 days prior to the first dose. Carcinomatous meningitis is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
4. Severe or uncontrolled concurrent diseases, including uncontrolled infections, active tuberculosis, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (such as NYHA Class III or IV heart failure, second-degree or higher heart block, myocardial infarction within the past 12 months, unstable arrhythmia or angina, or cerebral infarction within the past 6 months), pulmonary diseases (such as interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or a history of symptomatic bronchospasm), deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within the past 12 months, or decompensated cirrhosis.
5. Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment (e.g., disease-modifying drugs, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants) within the past 2 years. Replacement therapies (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) are permitted.
6. Positive serological virology test results, including HIV positivity, HBsAg positivity with detectable HBV DNA (≥2000 copies/mL), or HCV antibody positivity (eligible only if HCV RNA PCR-negative).
7. Major surgery within 4 weeks before enrollment, or prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation.
8. Administration of or plans to receive anti-cancer vaccines within 4 weeks before enrollment or during the study.
9. Clinically significant pleural effusion or ascites, as determined by the investigator to be unsuitable for enrollment.
10. Any other condition considered by the investigator to make the patient ineligible for the clinical study.

Where it's running

  • West China Hospital of Sichuan University
    Chengdu, Sichuan, China
    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.
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.