Nanoparticles combined with radiation therapy for lung and pancreatic cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT04789486 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a new medication called (a tiny nanoparticle containing gadolinium) can help radiation therapy work better against lung and pancreatic cancer. The medication is injected into your body before and during radiation treatment, and it may help make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation while also helping doctors see the tumor more clearly on imaging scans. This medication has been tested in a small number of people before, but the FDA has not approved it yet.

Currently, radiation therapy for tumors located in sensitive areas near the lungs' main airways or advanced pancreatic cancer has limited success. This trial exists to see whether adding this new medication can boost how well radiation therapy works and whether it does so safely.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in a central location (near the main airways) that cannot be surgically removed, or advanced pancreatic cancer that is unresectable
your tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller
you have measurable disease visible on imaging scans
you are 18 years or older and in reasonably good health (ECOG performance status of 2 or better)
if you have pancreatic cancer, you have completed at least 3 months of standard chemotherapy within the past 10 weeks
you have no evidence of cancer spread to distant parts of your body

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or unwilling to use contraception during the study
you have severely low blood cell counts or abnormal liver or kidney function
you have nodal involvement (for lung cancer patients)
you are unable to follow breathing instructions needed for the radiation procedure

What participation looks like

If you enroll, you will receive five days of specialized radiation therapy guided by MRI imaging, with injections of the medication given one to two weeks before treatment starts and again during your first radiation session (and possibly a fourth session for lung cancer patients). Your treatment will take place over about two weeks, and you will have regular follow-up visits and scans for one year after your treatment ends to monitor how well it worked and check for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 4, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts