Clinical trials · California
Refractory Cancer clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 46 recruiting refractory cancer studies with a site in California — including Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2, Phase 2/Phase 3 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT07306559RecruitingPhase 1
Testing a new drug for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests different doses of a new drug (BI 3820768) in people with advanced solid tumors, specifically germ cell tumors, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer. The goal is to see if the drug is safe and how well it works.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT03686124RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Tested immune therapy for certain HLA-A2 positive solid tumors
This trial studies an immune-based cancer treatment (IMA203/IMA203CD8) either alone or with nivolumab in people whose solid tumors have come back or will not respond to standard care. It may help by training the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells that match the trial’s test requirements.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05579366RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of rinatabart sesutecan for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests an investigational drug called rinatabart sesutecan (also known as Rina-S) for people with advanced solid tumors, including ovarian, endometrial, lung, breast, and other cancers. The drug is designed to target and kill cancer cells, and the study aims to see if it is safe and effective.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05281471RecruitingPhase 3
Tested drug for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with bevacizumab
This Phase 3 trial tests a treatment made of an investigational gene-based drug plus standard “platinum” chemotherapy and bevacizumab, compared with standard chemotherapy and bevacizumab. It’s for ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancers that have not responded to platinum chemotherapy or came back quickly.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06634589RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Combination therapy for relapsed B-cell blood cancers
This study tests new drug combinations for people with B-cell blood cancers (like lymphoma or leukemia) that have come back or stopped responding to treatment. It aims to see if these combos are safe and can help fight the cancer.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05997615RecruitingPhase 1
Study of VIR-5500 for advanced prostate cancer
This trial tests VIR-5500 (AMX-500), a new targeted treatment, in men with prostate cancer that has spread and stopped responding to standard therapies. The goal is to see if it is safe and if it may help shrink or slow the cancer.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06654037RecruitingPhase 1
Testing abemaciclib plus 5-FU for advanced colorectal cancer
This trial is testing whether adding a targeted drug called abemaciclib to the standard chemotherapy 5-FU can help people with a specific type of advanced colorectal cancer (MSS) that has stopped responding to other treatments. The goal is to see if this combination is safe and effective.
Irvine, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06119685RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
IDP-023 alone or with other antibodies for blood cancers
This trial tests an experimental drug, IDP-023, given alone or with antibody therapies for people with advanced blood cancers like multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma that have not responded to previous treatments. The goal is to see if it can shrink tumors or slow the disease.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06607458RecruitingPhase 2
Liver-focused chemo for metastatic colorectal cancer
This trial tests giving high-dose melphalan directly into the liver's blood supply, followed by standard cancer therapy, for people whose colorectal cancer has spread mainly to the liver. The goal is to see if this approach is safer and works better than standard treatment alone.
Santa Monica, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07525206RecruitingPhase 3
Combination treatment for advanced colorectal cancer
This trial tests a new drug combination for colorectal cancer that has not responded to other treatments. It compares the new drug with a standard treatment to see which is more effective.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06475989RecruitingPhase 3
Targeted therapy vs. chemotherapy for thyroid cancer
This trial compares a targeted therapy pill combination (dabrafenib and trametinib) with cabozantinib or chemotherapy for people with a specific type of advanced thyroid cancer (differentiated thyroid cancer) that has a BRAF V600E mutation. It aims to find which treatment works better after previous treatments have stopped working.
Napa, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05669430RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing an anti-cancer drug alone and with pembrolizumab
This early-phase study tests GV20-0251 (an anti-cancer treatment) by itself and combined with pembrolizumab, to see how well it works and how safe it is. It is for adults with advanced solid tumors that have grown despite standard treatments, or where standard treatments aren’t an option.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06533826RecruitingPhase 2
Testing two antibody drugs for HER2-low breast cancer
This trial tests two antibody-drug conjugates (Enhertu and Datroway) for breast cancer that is HER2-low or HER2-0. It aims to find the best treatment sequence for people whose cancer has stopped responding to prior therapy.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07145255RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of MBRC-201 for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests a new drug, MBRC-201, for people with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments. The goal is to find the best dose and see if it helps shrink tumors or slow their growth.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06922539RecruitingPhase 1
Experimental drug ST-001 nanoFenretinide for small cell lung cancer
This phase 1 trial tests an experimental drug called ST-001 nanoFenretinide for people with small cell lung cancer that has returned or not responded to standard chemotherapy. The drug is a newer form of fenretinide, which is related to vitamin A, and may work differently to attack cancer cells.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06586957RecruitingPhase 1
Study of NKT3964 for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests an experimental drug called NKT3964 for people with certain advanced cancers that have stopped responding to standard treatments. It aims to see if the drug can shrink tumors or slow their growth.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 19 years+ - NCT06959641RecruitingPhase 2
XL092 for advanced thyroid cancer that no longer responds to radioactive iodine
This trial is testing a new oral medication, XL092, for people with advanced thyroid cancer that has stopped responding to radioactive iodine therapy. The goal is to see if XL092 can slow or stop the cancer from growing.
Torrance, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06014658RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of MBRC-101 for advanced solid tumors
This trial tests a new drug, MBRC-101, that targets a protein called EphA5 found on some cancer cells. It is for people with advanced solid tumors (like lung, breast, or pancreatic cancer) that have stopped responding to other treatments. The study aims to find a safe dose and see if the drug can shrink tumors.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05319314RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study drug for advanced colon cancer that has come back or failed
This Phase 1/2 trial tests LYL273, a new targeted treatment, for people with metastatic colorectal (colon) cancer that has returned or not responded to standard chemo. It’s designed to see how well the drug can control the cancer and what side effects it causes.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06102902RecruitingPhase 1
New drug added to chemotherapy for BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer
This trial combines a new drug called ZEN003694 with two standard chemotherapy drugs (cetuximab and encorafenib) to see if it can help people with a specific type of colorectal cancer that has the BRAF V600E mutation. This mutation makes the cancer grow, and the new drug targets it, potentially making the treatment more effective.
Costa Mesa, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06624644RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
LNS8801 with or without pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma
This trial tests a new drug called LNS8801, alone or with pembrolizumab, for people with advanced melanoma that has stopped responding to prior treatments, especially anti-PD-1 therapy.
Newport Beach, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06810778RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Duvelisib plus venetoclax for relapsed PTCL
This study tests two oral drugs—duvelisib and venetoclax—to see if together they can help people with a type of lymphoma called peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) that has not responded to at least two prior treatments.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07189195RecruitingPhase 1
TR-002 for advanced solid tumors and pancreatic cancer
This trial tests a new drug called TR-002 in people with advanced solid tumors (cancer that has spread) who have run out of standard treatment options. It includes a specific group for people with pancreatic cancer that is no longer responding to chemotherapy.
Sacramento, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07061951RecruitingPhase 2
Mirdametinib for relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL
This trial tests a drug called mirdametinib for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that has come back or not responded to at least two prior treatments, including a BTK inhibitor and a BCL2 inhibitor. The goal is to see if mirdametinib can help shrink the cancer or slow its growth.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+
Where these studies are running in California
Institutions with a site for the recruiting refractory cancer studies listed above.
- City of Hope · 5 studies
- UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center · 3 studies
- UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care · 3 studies
- Providence Medical Foundation - Santa Rosa · 2 studies
- Stanford University · 2 studies
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center · 2 studies
- UCSF Medical Center · 2 studies
- University of California, Davis · 2 studies
What taking part in a refractory 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.
Refractory Cancer trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there refractory cancer clinical trials in California?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 46 recruiting refractory cancer studies with a site in California, 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 refractory cancer study in California?
- 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 California to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in California, 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 refractory 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 refractory cancer studies open in California 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.