Recruiting

Impact of Circadian Rhythm on Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy in Cancer Patients

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Study Aim

This study aims to evaluate how the timing of your body's natural sleep-wake cycle affects the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapy in patients receiving anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 treatments, focusing on how long you can live without the cancer getting worse.

What is being tested

Immunotherapy - PD-1 Blocker

Drug
Who is being recruted

Bronchial Neoplasms+7

+ Carcinoma, Bronchogenic

+ Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

Over 18 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 2
Interventional
Study Start: December 2025
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorLiza Villaruz, MD
Study ContactJennifer Ruth, RN
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: December 2, 2025

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

This clinical trial aims to explore how the timing of administering anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapies affects their effectiveness in treating cancer. These therapies, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, are commonly used for cancers like Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors. Understanding the best time of day to give these treatments could potentially improve outcomes for patients, including survival rates and quality of life. This study is particularly important as it is the first of its kind in the US and could lead to more precise and effective cancer care. Participants in this study will be divided into three groups based on their condition and treatment stage. Some will receive their first line of immunotherapy, others will continue their maintenance therapy, and a third group will include solid tumor patients starting their treatment. The study will measure how long patients live without their disease progressing, overall survival, and other factors like safety and quality of life. Researchers are interested in seeing if the time of day affects these outcomes, potentially leading to better treatment strategies.

Official TitleAssessing the Impact of Circadian Rhythm on Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy
Principal SponsorLiza Villaruz, MD
Study ContactJennifer Ruth, RN
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

350 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Bronchial NeoplasmsCarcinoma, BronchogenicCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungLung DiseasesLung NeoplasmsNeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteRespiratory Tract DiseasesRespiratory Tract NeoplasmsThoracic Neoplasms

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Cohort Specific Criteria * Cohort A: Advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients for which 1st line PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is on-label either alone or in combination. * Cohort B: Advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients who have completed up to 4 cycles of induction therapy who have stable disease or responsive disease and for which maintenance anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is on-label either alone or in combination. * Cohort C: Advanced/metastatic solid tumor malignancy for which first-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is on-label either alone or in combination. 2. Prior and concurrent therapy criteria o Patients should be ICI-naïve (this should be first-line therapy) (Cohorts A and C), or should have received ICI induction therapy and are now eligible for ICI maintenance therapy (Cohort B). 3. Must be willing to be randomized to complete therapy at assigned time of day, which may be early in the morning OR later in the day/into the evening. 4. Must be eligible to receive anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy singly or in combination with other FDA-approved agents according to standard of care practices, as determined by the clinical judgment of the investigator but according to approved label indications 5. Must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. 6. Able to read and write in English. Exclusion Criteria: 1\. Participant unable to receive anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy due to prior allergic reactions to therapy or any therapy ingredients.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
NSCLC and solid tumor patients who receive first-line or ICI therapy early in the day (prior to 11AM) versus late in the day (after 12PM) and NSCLC patients with stable or response disease after induction therapy receiving maintenance ICI therapy early in the day (prior to 11AM) versus late in the day (after 12PM)

Group II

Active Comparator
NSCLC and solid tumor patients who receive first-line or ICI therapy late in the day (started after 12 PM) and NSCLC patients with stable or response disease after induction therapy receiving maintenance ICI therapy late in the day (started after 12PM)

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Pittsburgh, United StatesOpen UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center