Clinical trial Recruiting at 7 sites Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Ages 1 Year to 30

Using PEEL-224 with Vincristine and Temozolomide for Pediatric Solid Tumors

Official title: A Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of the Novel Topoisomerase I Inhibitor PEEL-224 as a Single Agent and in Combination With Vincristine and Temozolomide in Children With Refractory, Progressive or Relapsed Solid Tumors

Run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · NCT06721689 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new treatment called PEEL-224, alone and with other drugs, to see if it can help children with tough-to-treat solid tumors like neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Ages1 Year to 30 Years
SexAll
Enrollment59 (estimated)
SponsorChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations7 sites (Los Angeles, California and 6 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 23, 2025
Main results expectedApril 2030
Study endsApril 2031
Registry record updatedOctober 6, 2026
Trial IDNCT06721689 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are children aged 1 to 18 years with refractory or relapsed solid tumors who have received prior therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients with non-solid tumors or those who have not received any prior treatment may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PEEL-224, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with vincristine and temozolomide, for children with refractory or relapsed solid tumors. The study is divided into two phases: Phase 1 focuses on determining the recommended dose of PEEL-224, while Phase 2 assesses the overall response rate in children with neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Participants will undergo treatment cycles and be monitored for disease response and side effects throughout the study duration.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for children with difficult-to-treat solid tumors.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using combination therapies for similar pediatric solid tumors, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age:

   * Phase 1: Age greater than or equal to 1 year and less than or equal to18 years
   * Phase 2 Neuroblastoma (NBL) cohort: Age greater than or equal to 1 year and less than or equal to 30 years
   * Phase 2 Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cohort: Age greater than or equal to 1 year and less than or equal to18 years
2. Diagnosis of:

   * Phase 1: Refractory, progressive or relapsed non-central nervous system (CNS) solid tumors who have received at least 1 line of upfront therapy. Patients must have had histologic verification of their malignancy at original diagnosis or relapse
   * Phase 2: Refractory, progressive or relapsed neuroblastoma (NBL) or rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) who have received at least 1 line of upfront therapy. Patients must have had histologic verification of their malignancy at original diagnosis or relapse.
3. Disease status:

   * Phase 1: evaluable or measurable disease
   * Phase 2, subjects with Neuroblastoma (NBL): evaluable or measurable disease by International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria (INRC); subjects with only bone marrow disease are not eligible
   * Phase 2, subjects with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS): measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)1.1.
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0-2 (age greater than 16 years) or Lansky Performance Status of at least 60 (age less than 16 years).
5. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine/serum pregnancy test.
6. Adequate bone marrow function

   Hematologic requirements for all subjects on phase 1 and subjects on phase 2 without malignant infiltration of the bone marrow:
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 750/mm3 (greater than or equal to 7 days since last dose of short acting myeloid growth factor medications (e.g. filgrastim) and greater than or equal to 14 days since last dose of long-acting myeloid medications (e.g. peg-filgrastim)
   * Platelet count ≥ 75,000 mm3 (greater than or equal to 14 days since last dose of thrombopoietin receptor agonist such as romiplostim and without platelet transfusion within previous 7 days)
   * Not refractory to packed red blood cell transfusions

   Hematologic requirements for subjects on phase 2 with malignant infiltration of the bone marrow:
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 500/mm3 (greater than or equal to 7 days since last dose of short acting myeloid growth factor medications (e.g. filgrastim) and greater than or equal to 14 days since last dose of long-acting myeloid medications (e.g. peg-filgrastim))
   * Platelet count greater than or equal to 50,000/mm3 (greater than or equal to 14 days since last dose of thrombopoietin receptor agonist such as romiplostim and without platelet transfusion within previous 7 days)
   * Not refractory to packed red blood cell transfusions
   * Patients on phase 2 with malignant infiltration of the bone marrow will not be evaluable for hematologic toxicity.
7. Adequate renal function as evidenced by creatinine clearance as calculated by the Schwartz equation (see below), radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) greater than or equal to 70 mL/min/1.73 m2, or maximum serum creatinine as below:

   Age Maximum Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)

   Male Female 1 to less than 2 years 0.6 0.6 2 to less than 6 years 0.8 0.8 6 to less than 10 years 1 1 10 to less than 13 years 1.2 1.2 13 to less than 16 years 1.5 1.4 greater than 16 years 1.7 1.4 Threshold derived from the Schwartz formula for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (Schwartz et al., J.Peds, 106:522,1985) utilizing child length and stature data published by the CDC The Schwartz equation for subjects less than 18 years of age: eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) = 0.413 x \[height (cm)/serum creatinine (mg/dL)\]
8. Adequate liver function

   * Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST/SGOT): less than or equal to 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) or less than or equal to 5 the upper limit of normal if attributable to disease involvement. For the purpose of this study, the upper limit of normal (ULN) for Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) is 50 U/L.
   * Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT): less than or equal to 3 times the ULN or less than or equal to 5 the upper limit of normal if attributable to disease involvement. For the purpose of this study, the upper limit of normal (ULN) for Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is 45 U/L.
   * Total bilirubin: less than or equal to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal with the exception of patients with Gilbert's syndrome who must have bilirubin less than 3X institutional upper limit of normal (ULN).
9. Prior Therapy: Patients must have had resolution of acute toxic effects of prior therapy to grade less than or equal to 1 according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) v 5.0 except organ function as noted above, adverse events (AE) that are considered clinically non-significant (i.e. alopecia), or controlled on supportive care (i.e. nausea/vomiting, hypothyroidism). Patients must meet the following minimum washout periods prior to enrollment:

   * Myelosuppressive chemotherapy: At least 14 days after the last dose of myelosuppressive chemotherapy
   * Small molecule targeted therapy: At least 7 days following the last dose of a small molecule targeted agent.
   * Antibody therapy: At least 21 days following the last dose of antibody including anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody.
   * Cellular therapy: At least 42 days following completion of a cellular therapy agent (e.g. modified T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells)
   * Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant and stem cell boost: Subjects must be at least 60 days from day 0 of an autologous stem cell transplant or stem cell boost.
   * Myeloid growth factors: At least 7 days following short-acting myeloid growth factor (e.g. filgrastim) and at least 14 days following the last dose of long-acting myeloid growth factor (e.g. peg-filgrastim)
   * Thrombopoietin receptor agonists: At least 14 days following last dose of thrombopoietin receptor agonist such as romiplostim
   * Interleukins, interferons, and cytokines (other than hematopoietic growth factors): At least 21 days following the completion of interleukins, interferon, or cytokines, including IL-2
   * Radiotherapy:

     * At least 14 days after limited field radiation therapy;
     * At least 90 days after total body irradiation, craniospinal radiotherapy; or radiation to greater than 50% of pelvis;
     * At least 42 days must have elapsed if other substantial BM radiation.
   * Radiopharmaceutical therapy (e.g. radiolabeled antibody, 131I- MIBG): At least 42 days after radiopharmaceutical therapy
   * Major Surgery: At least 2 weeks from prior major surgical procedure. Note: Biopsy, CNS shunt placement/revision, and central line placement/removal are not considered major.
   * Strong CYP1A2 and/or CYP3A4 inhibitors and/or inducers: At least 14 days following use of a strong CYP1A2 and/or CYP3A4 inhibitor and/or inducer. See Appendix 1 for examples. (Note that levofloxacin is permitted when clinically indicated)
10. Prior treatment with irinotecan and/or temozolomide is permitted.
11. Female patients of reproductive potential must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method for the duration of study therapy and for at least six months after the final dose of PEEL-224. Males of reproductive potential with a female partner of child-bearing potential must use a highly effective for the duration of the study and for at least six months after the final dose of PEEL-224.
12. Subjects must agree to use sun protective measures while receiving treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose of PEEL-224
13. Parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate, child assent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior treatment with PEEL-224.
2. Subjects receiving any other anti-cancer agents.
3. Subjects with primary central nervous system (CNS) solid tumors or central nervous system (CNS) metastatic disease.
4. Subjects with prior allogeneic stem cell or solid organ transplantation.
5. Pregnant or lactating females.
6. Subjects with a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and/or hepatitis C (testing not required as part of screening).
7. Subjects with symptomatic congestive heart failure.

Where it's running

  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Los Angeles, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Boston Children's Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Texas Children's Hospital
    Houston, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
Show 1 more location
  • University of Utah Hospital
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Jacquelyn Crane, MD — Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Study coordinator: Meghan Donnelly, MPH
  • Email: donnellymt@chop.edu
  • Phone: 267-426-9343

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.