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 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT05766748RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Azeliragon trial for pancreatic cancer after prior treatments failed
This trial tests azeliragon in people whose pancreatic cancer has spread or grown locally and who did not respond well to earlier chemotherapy. It aims to see whether the drug can help control the cancer and be tolerated after prior treatment.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–80 - NCT05227326RecruitingPhase 1
A new drug for solid cancers that did not respond to usual care
This early-stage (Phase 1) trial tests AOH1996 in adults with solid tumors that have stopped responding to standard treatments. It’s meant to find a safe dose and see if the drug can help, especially in cancers with limited options.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04928677RecruitingPhase 1
Codrituzumab for children and young adults with GPC3-positive solid tumors
This Phase 1 study tests codrituzumab, an antibody medicine, in children and young adults whose solid tumor has come back or did not respond to standard treatment. It’s designed to see how the treatment works and how safe it is, especially for tumors that test positive for GPC3.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 1–21 - NCT04920032RecruitingPhase 1
Blood test–guided extra treatment for colon cancer recurrence risk
This Phase 1 study uses a blood test called ctDNA to decide whether and how to adjust treatment in people with colon cancer who still have a small amount of disease left after surgery. If your blood test remains positive, the trial aims to reduce recurrence risk by guiding treatment changes.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06620302RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Adding DT2216 to chemo for relapsed solid tumors and FLC
This trial is testing whether adding a new drug, DT2216, to standard chemotherapy can help treat solid tumors (not starting in the brain) or fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) that have come back or not responded to treatment. It's for children, teens, and young adults (ages 1 to 39).
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 1–39 - NCT07332507RecruitingPhase 1
Testing teclistamab for recurrent plasmablastic lymphoma
This trial tests a new drug called teclistamab for people with plasmablastic lymphoma that has come back or not responded to standard treatments. The goal is to see if teclistamab can shrink tumors and control the disease.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07003295RecruitingPhase 2
Glofitamab for mantle cell lymphoma that returned after CAR-T
This trial tests a new drug, glofitamab, for mantle cell lymphoma that came back or didn’t respond after CAR-T cell therapy. It aims to see if glofitamab can shrink or control the lymphoma.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04049539RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Vyxeos for AML that stays after initial chemotherapy
This trial tests whether Vyxeos (a type of chemotherapy) can treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that did not fully go away after standard induction (“7+3”) chemotherapy. It targets people whose leukemia is still present in the bone marrow and need a stronger “re-induction” treatment.
Sacramento, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT05272384RecruitingPhase 1
Testing nivolumab plus ASTX727 for hard-to-treat lymphoma
This Phase 1 study tests whether adding ASTX727 to nivolumab can shrink relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas that have come back or did not respond to treatment. It also aims to find a safe dosing plan and see early signs of benefit in certain lymphoma types.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04119024RecruitingPhase 1
Gene-edited immune cells for advanced melanoma or solid tumors
This Phase 1 study tests a gene-modified immune cell treatment for advanced cancers that don’t have standard curative options. It may help by attacking cancer cells that show a specific marker called IL13Rα2 after patients receive “conditioning” chemotherapy to prepare the immune system.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT07356154RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of revumenib and mezigdomide for leukemia
This trial tests two experimental drugs, revumenib and mezigdomide, for people with acute leukemia that has certain genetic changes (NPM1, KMT2A, or NUP98) and has come back or not responded to prior treatment. The goal is to see if this combination can help control the leukemia.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 12 years+ - NCT04616560RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
New drug for recurrent Wilms tumor, osteosarcoma, and DSRCT
This trial tests a targeted drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan for children and young adults with certain cancers that have come back or not responded to treatment. It may help if your tumor has not responded to standard therapies.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 12–39 - NCT03739814RecruitingPhase 2
Test inotuzumab, blinatumomab, and possibly ponatinib for CD22 ALL
This Phase 2 study tests a combination of medicines (inotuzumab ozogamicin and blinatumomab), with or without ponatinib, for people with CD22-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It aims to improve remission and control leukemia cells, including in the bone marrow.
Arroyo Grande, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT03618550RecruitingPhase 2
Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma
This study tests a combination of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab with a chemotherapy regimen called GVD for patients whose Hodgkin's lymphoma has not responded or has returned after initial treatment. The goal is to see if this combination works better than standard approaches.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05333458RecruitingPhase 2
Atezolizumab plus selinexor for advanced alveolar soft tissue sarcoma
This Phase 2 trial tests whether combining atezolizumab with selinexor can slow or shrink advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) in people age 12 and older. It may help by improving the immune system’s ability to fight the cancer and stopping cancer cell growth signals.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 12 years+ - NCT04315324RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Test drug OBI-3424 for relapsed T-cell blood cancer
This trial tests OBI-3424, an investigational medicine, in adults and children with relapsed or hard-to-treat T-cell acute leukemia or certain T-cell lymphoma. It may help by shrinking cancer when standard treatments have not worked.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 12 years+ - NCT06589804RecruitingPhase 3
Testing cetuximab plus pembrolizumab for advanced head and neck cancer
This trial tests whether adding cetuximab to the standard drug pembrolizumab works better for head and neck cancer that has spread or come back after treatment. It is for people whose cancer did not respond to platinum chemotherapy and whose tumors have a certain immune marker (PD-L1).
Marysville, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05886036RecruitingPhase 2
Comparing rituximab vs mosunetuzumab for NLPHL
This trial compares two immunotherapy drugs, rituximab and mosunetuzumab, to see which works better for people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) who need treatment. It's for both newly diagnosed and previously treated patients.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05828069RecruitingPhase 2
Tovorafenib for young people with worsening Langerhans cell histiocytosis
This Phase 2 trial tests tovorafenib (DAY101) to treat children and young people whose Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is getting worse, came back, or did not respond to prior treatment. It may help by targeting certain gene changes found in the LCH.
Downey, CaliforniaAges 6 months–22 years - NCT06649812RecruitingPhase 2
Testing a combination targeted therapy (ViPOR) for aggressive B-cell lymphoma
This trial tests a new combination of targeted drugs called ViPOR for people with aggressive B-cell lymphoma that has come back or not responded to previous treatment. The goal is to see if this treatment can help when standard therapies haven't worked.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05890352RecruitingPhase 2
Add new medicines to standard treatment for returning lymphoma
This Phase 2 study tests whether adding tafasitamab, lenalidomide, tazemetostat, and zanubrutinib (along with standard lymphoma treatment) can improve outcomes in people whose large B-cell lymphoma has returned or not responded. It may help control disease more effectively and improve response duration for eligible patients.
Lancaster, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05633615RecruitingPhase 2
Testing new drug options after CAR T for aggressive lymphoma
This Phase 2 study tests whether adding or switching drug treatments after CAR T-cell therapy can improve outcomes for people with certain aggressive lymphomas that have come back or did not respond. It mainly looks at who remains disease-stable/partly improved after CAR T and what treatment approach works best next.
Irvine, 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 Comprehensive Cancer Center · 11 studies
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles · 4 studies
- Children's Hospital of Orange County · 4 studies
- University of California, Irvine Medical Center / UC Irvine Health · 4 studies
- University of California, San Francisco · 4 studies
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · 3 studies
- UC Irvine Health · 3 studies
- City of Hope National Medical Center · 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.