Testing two drug combinations before ovarian cancer surgery

Plain-English translation of NCT04644289 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether —a medication that blocks a protein that helps cancer cells repair themselves—works better alone or combined with (an immunotherapy drug that helps your immune system fight cancer) when given before surgery for advanced ovarian cancer. The goal is to see if either approach can shrink the tumor and make surgery safer and more effective.

Advanced ovarian cancer is hard to treat, and surgery doesn't always remove all the cancer. Researchers want to know if giving these medications before surgery can shrink tumors first, making surgery work better and potentially improving your chances of recovery.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been newly diagnosed with advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (confirmed by biopsy)
you are at least 18 years old and in good enough health to receive treatment
you are able to take pills by mouth and attend all study visits
you are either postmenopausal or willing to use two forms of birth control throughout the study and for 6 months after treatment ends
you have normal blood counts and organ function based on recent blood tests
you are willing to provide tissue samples and blood samples during the trial

You likely don't qualify if…

you have received any prior chemotherapy or cancer treatment for this diagnosis
you have a different type of ovarian cancer (mucinous or clear cell types) unless you have a known BRCA mutation
you are pregnant or breastfeeding
you have serious heart, kidney, or liver problems that would make treatment unsafe
you cannot take oral medications or attend scheduled study visits and follow-up appointments

What participation looks like

After your cancer diagnosis is confirmed, you will take the study medication(s) by mouth twice daily for up to 3-4 weeks before your scheduled surgery. If you are in the combination group, you will also receive one intravenous infusion of the second medication. Throughout this time, you will have regular check-ins, blood tests, and scans to monitor how the treatment is working. After surgery, you may continue with standard chemotherapy and maintenance treatments as recommended by your doctor. The study will follow you for up to 24 months total.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(6 sites)

Germany

Universitätsklinikum Mannheim GmbH, Frauenklinik, Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg

Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde, München, Bavaria

Mammazentrum HH am Krankenhaus Jerusalem, Gynäkologisches Operationszentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

KEM Essen | Evang. Kliniken Essen Mitte, Essen, North Rine-Westphalia

Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden an der technischen Universität Dresden, Gynäkologisches Krebszentrum und Regionales Brustzentrum Dresden am Universitäts-KrebsCentrum, Dresden, Saxony