Clinical trials · Massachusetts
Cancer clinical trials in Massachusetts
We’re tracking 758 recruiting cancer studies with a site in Massachusetts — including Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2 and Phase 2/Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in Massachusetts
- NCT04802759RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing drug combinations for recurrent or advanced ER-positive breast cancer
This early-phase trial tests several combinations of cancer medicines to slow or control ER-positive breast cancer that has returned or progressed. It also checks safety and whether tumor or blood biomarkers can help match the right treatment to the right person.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04628767RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Durvalumab plus chemo before surgery for upper tract cancer
This trial tests whether adding an immunotherapy drug (durvalumab) to chemotherapy before surgery can improve outcomes for people with high-grade upper tract urothelial cancer. It compares different treatment approaches based on whether a patient can receive cisplatin chemotherapy.
Worcester, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04634357RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing donor-like immune T cells for children with liver cancer
This Phase 1/2 trial tests an immune-cell treatment (ET140203 T cells) in children and teens with certain liver cancers that have come back or did not respond to standard treatment. It aims to see whether these T cells can shrink tumors and is mainly focused on safety and early effectiveness.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 1–21 - NCT04613596RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Adagrasib for KRAS G12C lung cancer, alone or with pembrolizumab
This trial studies adagrasib (an anti-cancer drug) either alone or with pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy) in people with advanced lung cancer that has a KRAS G12C mutation. It aims to shrink tumors and improve outcomes, including for people without urgent brain treatment needs.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04620187RecruitingPhase 2
Study medicine T-DM1 after surgery for HER2-positive salivary cancer
This Phase 2 trial studies T-DM1 given after surgery for salivary gland cancer that is HER2-positive. The goal is to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back by targeting HER2-positive tumor cells.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04541654Recruiting
Study of families with TP53 gene changes in Li-Fraumeni syndrome
This study is looking at how people in families with certain TP53 gene changes (including Li-Fraumeni syndrome) develop health problems over time. It may help doctors better understand risk and improve care for affected families.
Boston, MassachusettsAges Any age - NCT04485286RecruitingPhase 2
PET scan tracer to find lung or pancreas radiation injury
This Phase 2 study tests a special PET scan tracer to help doctors spot tissue damage after radiation treatment in people with certain lung or pancreatic cancers. The goal is to improve detection and planning around chemoradiation and surgery.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18–80 - NCT04399876Enrolling by invitationPhase 1
Testing an implantable device to study drug response in prostate cancer
This early-phase study uses a tiny implant placed during prostate cancer surgery planning to help researchers measure how tumors respond to treatment while still in the body. The results may help improve future treatment choices for men with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 22 years+ - NCT04486352RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Targeted therapy trial for recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer
This Phase 1/2 study tests targeted drug(s) for endometrial cancer that has come back or never fully went away after prior treatments. You may be eligible if your tumor can be tested for specific biomarkers and your health allows treatment safely.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04302025RecruitingPhase 2
Testing targeted and immunotherapy before lung cancer surgery
This trial studies whether giving different cancer medicines before (and sometimes after) surgery improves outcomes for people with early-stage, operable lung cancer that has certain tumor markers. It may help by trying to shrink or control the cancer early and lower the chance it comes back.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04363164RecruitingPhase 2
Testosterone then enzalutamide to stop prostate cancer spread
This Phase 2 trial tests whether giving testosterone first, then enzalutamide (a prostate cancer hormone-blocking pill), can slow or prevent worsening metastatic prostate cancer. It is designed for men whose cancer progressed despite ongoing hormone-suppression treatment.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18–90 - NCT04205968RecruitingPhase 2
Testing ramucirumab with chemo for advanced small bowel cancer
This trial studies whether adding ramucirumab to chemotherapy (either paclitaxel or FOLFIRI) works better for advanced small bowel adenocarcinoma that has already been treated with certain prior medicines. It may help shrink tumors or slow cancer growth in people whose cancer has progressed.
Springfield, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04104776RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Test drug tulmimetostat for advanced cancers and lymphomas
This early-phase study tests tulmimetostat (DZR123) to shrink or control advanced solid tumors and certain lymphomas, and it may also test a combination in some prostate cancer groups. If you qualify, you’ll receive the study drug and be monitored closely, including blood tests and a request for tumor tissue to look for biomarkers.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT04134559RecruitingPhase 2
Pembrolizumab for kids with liver cancer that came back
This trial studies pembrolizumab (an immune therapy) in children and young people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that has returned or did not respond to earlier treatment. The goal is to see whether it can shrink tumors and help control the cancer.
Boston, MassachusettsAges birth–30 years - NCT03972657RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing a new prostate and kidney cancer drug with immunotherapy
This early trial tests whether REGN5678 (nezastomig) is safe and how well it works, either by itself or with an immunotherapy drug (cemiplimab). It targets adults with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and certain metastatic kidney cancers that have already been treated.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT03990896RecruitingPhase 2
Talazoparib for metastatic breast cancer with BRCA body DNA changes
This Phase 2 trial tests talazoparib, a targeted cancer medicine, in people with metastatic breast cancer that has a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation found in tumor DNA circulating in the blood. If you qualify, the goal is to see how well this treatment works when the mutation is detected this specific way.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT03875716Recruiting
De-intensified radiation after surgery for HPV throat cancer
This trial studies a lower-intensity (less aggressive) course of radiation therapy after curative surgery for HPV-related tonsil or base-of-tongue cancer. The goal is to see if patients can still be treated successfully while reducing side effects from radiation.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT03535545RecruitingPhase 1
PET-MRI imaging test in lung cancer and lung disease
This Phase 1 study tests a radioactive imaging agent to help doctors see disease activity in the lungs using PET/MRI scans. It includes healthy volunteers and people with lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung transplant–related lung problems, or certain medication-related lung inflammation.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18–80 - NCT03516708RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Epacadostat with pre-op radiation for locally advanced rectal cancer
This trial studies whether adding epacadostat (a cancer drug) to standard pre-operative chemoradiation can improve outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer. It’s designed to see if the added treatment is safe and potentially more effective before surgery.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT03396341Recruiting
Surveys after genetic risk results for certain breast cancer genes
This study asks women to complete surveys after learning their genetic risk results for certain breast cancer–related gene changes. It helps researchers understand how people respond and what they think or feel after getting these results.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 25 years+ - NCT03310879RecruitingPhase 2
Abemaciclib for advanced tumors with cyclin or CDK4/6 gene changes
This Phase 2 study tests abemaciclib, a targeted cancer medicine, in people with advanced solid tumors that have specific gene changes related to cyclin D or CDK4/6. The goal is to see how well it controls tumors when standard treatments don’t work or aren’t available.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT03219450RecruitingPhase 1
Personalized vaccine for early-stage, treatment-free CLL
This Phase 1 study tests a personalized cancer vaccine made from each patient’s CLL (“neoantigens”) plus a medicine called poly-ICLC to help the immune system learn to recognize the cancer. It is designed for people who have CLL but are currently not needing treatment, to see if it’s safe and may help keep the disease under control.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 18 years+ - NCT02474160Recruiting
Banking cancer tissue and blood for future research
This study collects and stores leftover or newly taken samples of tissue and blood from people with cancer. The goal is to build a research library that can help investigators study cancer and develop better tests or treatments.
Boston, MassachusettsAges 2 months+ - NCT02610413Recruiting
DNA testing to explain who gets severe blood pressure with bevacizumab
This study uses whole exome DNA testing to look for inherited genetic differences that may explain why some people develop very high blood pressure from bevacizumab during breast cancer treatment. It compares people who did vs. did not develop severe bevacizumab-related hypertension.
Boston, MassachusettsAges Any age
Cancer trials by city in Massachusetts
Where these studies are running in Massachusetts
Institutions with a site for the recruiting cancer studies listed above.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · 12 studies
- Massachusetts General Hospital · 5 studies
- Brigham and Women's Hospital · 3 studies
- Boston Children's Hospital
- Boston Medical Center
- Brigham and Women's-Mass General Health Care Center
- Children's Hospital Boston
- Dana-Faber Cancer Institute
What taking part in a cancer study involves
A screening visit first
Before anything else, the study team checks whether you fit — usually a visit with some tests. You can stop at any point, and screening is typically free.
Care at a nearby site
Study visits happen at a clinic or hospital taking part. Many studies cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits, and some reimburse travel.
You stay in control
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your regular care.
The team decides eligibility
Our fit check is a helpful first read, not a decision. The study team makes the final call after reviewing your health history.
Cancer trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there cancer clinical trials in Massachusetts?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 758 recruiting cancer studies with a site in Massachusetts, each rewritten in plain language so you can see what it's testing and who it's for.
- How do I find out if I qualify for a cancer study in Massachusetts?
- Each study lists its eligibility rules — age, diagnosis, prior treatments. On every trial page we explain these in plain language and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Do I have to live in Massachusetts to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in Massachusetts, but eligibility is about your health, not your address — some people travel to take part, and a few studies reimburse travel. The study team can tell you what's required.
- Does it cost anything to join a cancer trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what's covered before you decide.
Not the right time?
New cancer studies open in Massachusetts regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.