MRG003 Plus HX008 as First-Line Treatment for EGFR-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Penile… (NCT07054307) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 1
MRG003 Plus HX008 as First-Line Treatment for EGFR-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma
China10 participantsStarted 2026-02-12
Plain-language summary
Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare malignancy, with stage IV patients exhibiting a 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of 21% and a 5-year survival rate of 0%. Both the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend chemotherapy as the first-line treatment. However, the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in PSCC remains suboptimal, and options after chemotherapy failure are extremely limited. In recent years, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have demonstrated potential in treating this disease. Combination therapies based on chemotherapy, particularly chemoimmunotherapy combined with targeted therapy, have shown promising antitumor effects. Nevertheless, these regimens are associated with significant adverse effects and impose high physical demands on patients.
Therefore, this study aims to explore a "highly effective and low-toxicity" first-line treatment regimen for advanced PSCC patients. The objective is to evaluate the combined therapeutic efficacy of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (MRG003) and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (HX008) through a single-arm, phase I, prospective clinical trial.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
. EGFR expression (defined as IHC 1+, 2+, or 3+) confirmed by the institutional pathology department using primary or metastatic tumor tissue samples.
. No prior systemic therapy for advanced disease.
. Male, aged ≥18 years.
. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 with a life expectancy ≥3 months.
. At least one measurable lesion per RECIST 1.1 criteria.
. Adequate organ function (based on institutional laboratory reference ranges):
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. 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
. Patients who have received prior systemic therapy before enrollment.
. 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.
. 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.
. 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.
. 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.
. 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).
. Major surgery within 4 weeks before enrollment, or prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation.
. Administration of or plans to receive anti-cancer vaccines within 4 weeks before enrollment or during the study.