A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Everolimus in Patients With Teratment-refractory Vascular Anomalies

March 12, 2026 updated by: Yonsei University

Non-randomized, Phase II, Open-label Study for Efficacy and Safety of Everolimus in Relapsed or Refractory Hemangioendothelioma and Other ISSVA Group I or II Vascular Malformation and Neoplasms

Background and Objectives Vascular anomalies are a heterogeneous group of disorders classified into vascular tumors and vascular malformations according to the ISSVA classification. Although most follow a benign course, a subset causes serious complications including organ dysfunction, chronic pain, thrombocytopenia, and hemorrhage. Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) complicated by Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon (KMP) carries a mortality rate of 14-24%. Surgical resection is the primary treatment when organ damage is not anticipated; however, when surgery is not feasible, pharmacologic therapy is considered. Agents such as interferon, corticosteroids, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and propranolol have been used with variable efficacy, and no established therapy exists for patients refractory to these treatments.

The PI3K-Akt-mTOR and RAS-MEK-ERK pathways have been identified as key molecular mechanisms underlying vascular anomalies. Targeted therapies against these pathways are emerging, including anti-VEGF antibodies, PI3K/Akt inhibitors (e.g., alpelisib, miransertib), and mTOR inhibitors. Sirolimus has demonstrated clinical benefit in 50-80% of patients with vascular anomalies, with a 96% symptom response rate in KMP-associated vascular tumors. Everolimus, another mTOR inhibitor, is already approved and established for tuberous sclerosis-associated angiomyolipoma and SEGA in pediatric patients, with a well-characterized safety profile. Given its shared mechanism with sirolimus and emerging case reports supporting efficacy in KHE with KMP, this phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of everolimus in patients with treatment-refractory vascular anomalies.

Study Design This is a single-center, open-label, uncontrolled phase 2 clinical trial enrolling 67 patients over 60 months from IRB approval, stratified into two cohorts: Cohort 1 (sirolimus-naïve, n=39) and Cohort 2 (prior sirolimus failure, n=28). Everolimus is administered orally at age- and CYP3A4/P-gp inducer-adjusted doses, with maintenance dosing titrated to a target trough level of 5-15 ng/mL. The primary endpoint is overall response rate (ORR) at 6 months. Secondary endpoints include toxicity per NCI CTCAE v4.0, ORR at 12 months, platelet recovery rate at 4 weeks (KMP patients), 1-year overall survival, and 3-year progression-free survival.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

  1. Study Design This is a single-center, open-label, uncontrolled phase 2 clinical trial. The study period is 60 months from IRB approval; patients may not be enrolled within 1 year of the planned study end date. A total of 67 patients will be enrolled and stratified into two cohorts based on prior sirolimus exposure: Cohort 1 (sirolimus-naïve, n=39) and Cohort 2 (prior sirolimus failure, n=28).
  2. Eligibility Criteria

    - Inclusion Criteria:

    ① Diagnosis per the 2014 ISSVA classification: Group 1 (hemangioendothelioma, tufted angioma): histologically confirmed tumor, OR Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome (histologically confirmed or histologic diagnosis not feasible) Group 2 (vascular tumors not in Group 1, or vascular malformations): histologically confirmed, OR radiologically diagnosed when biopsy is not feasible

    • Age ≥1 year

      ③ Failure of at least one prior therapy (e.g., vincristine, corticosteroids, interferon), stratified as: Cohort 1: sirolimus-naïve Cohort 2: prior sirolimus failure

      ④ At least one measurable target lesion ≥1 cm in longest diameter per RECIST 1.1 on CT or MRI

      • ECOG Performance Score 0, 1, or 2

        • WOCBP must have a negative pregnancy test prior to enrollment; adequate contraception required during the study and for 8 weeks after completion ⑦ Written informed consent obtained - Exclusion Criteria: ① Pregnancy or breastfeeding (WOCBP must use adequate contraception)
    • Documented allergy or hypersensitivity to everolimus

      ③ Inadequate organ function: Bone marrow: ANC <1,000/µL or platelets <75,000/µL Renal: serum creatinine >1.5×ULN; if >1.5×ULN, 24-hour creatinine clearance <60 mL/min Hepatic: total bilirubin >1.5×ULN or ALT >3.0×ULN

      • KMP associated with vascular tumors or malformations is not an exclusion criterion, including: thrombocytopenia (<100,000/µL), hypofibrinogenemia, anemia (Hb <8 g/dL), consumptive coagulopathy, or overlying skin changes (edema, warmth, erythema, purplish/dark discoloration)

        • Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia (fasting cholesterol >300 mg/dL or triglycerides >2.5×ULN)

          • Uncontrolled diabetes (fasting glucose >1.5×ULN)

            • Active uncontrolled infection

              • Hepatitis B (HBsAg positive) or hepatitis C (anti-HCV positive)

                • Known HIV infection (positive serology)

                  • Clinically significant symptomatic pulmonary dysfunction; PFTs and room air SpO₂ performed if clinically indicated; exclusion if FEV₁ ≤70% or DLCO ≤70% of predicted (assessed in patients ≥8 years) ⑪ Prior solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, or heart) ⑫ Concomitant investigational agents (e.g., mTOR inhibitors: sirolimus, temsirolimus)

                    ⑬ Concurrent chemotherapy (e.g., mTOR inhibitors: sirolimus, temsirolimus)

                    • Concurrent other malignancy not meeting eligibility criteria
  3. Treatment

    Everolimus is administered orally with doses adjusted by age and concomitant CYP3A4/P-gp inducer use:

    -Starting dose: Age <10 years: 6.0 mg/m²/day (9.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers) Age 10 to <18 years: 5.0 mg/m²/day (8.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers) Age ≥18 years: 3.0 mg/m²/day (5.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers)

    -Maintenance dose: Adjusted to achieve a target trough level of 5-15 ng/mL

  4. Endpoints

    - Primary endpoint: Overall response rate (ORR) at 6 months

    - Secondary endpoints: Toxicity assessment per NCI CTCAE v4.0 ORR at 12 months Rate of platelet recovery at 4 weeks (KMP patients)

1-year overall survival (OS) 3-year progression-free survival (PFS)

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

67

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Jung Woo Han, Professor
  • Phone Number: +82-2-2228-2050
  • Email: JWHAN@yuhs.ac

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

① Diagnosis per the 2014 ISSVA classification: Group 1 (hemangioendothelioma, tufted angioma): histologically confirmed tumor, OR Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome (histologically confirmed or histologic diagnosis not feasible) Group 2 (vascular tumors not in Group 1, or vascular malformations): histologically confirmed, OR radiologically diagnosed when biopsy is not feasible

  • Age ≥1 year ③ Failure of at least one prior therapy (e.g., vincristine, corticosteroids, interferon), stratified as: Cohort 1: sirolimus-naïve Cohort 2: prior sirolimus failure

    • At least one measurable target lesion ≥1 cm in longest diameter per RECIST 1.1 on CT or MRI

      • ECOG Performance Score 0, 1, or 2 ⑥ WOCBP must have a negative pregnancy test prior to enrollment; adequate contraception required during the study and for 8 weeks after completion ⑦ Written informed consent obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding (WOCBP must use adequate contraception)

    • Documented allergy or hypersensitivity to everolimus

      ③ Inadequate organ function: Bone marrow: ANC <1,000/µL or platelets <75,000/µL Renal: serum creatinine >1.5×ULN; if >1.5×ULN, 24-hour creatinine clearance <60 mL/min Hepatic: total bilirubin >1.5×ULN or ALT >3.0×ULN

      • KMP associated with vascular tumors or malformations is not an exclusion criterion, including: thrombocytopenia (<100,000/µL), hypofibrinogenemia, anemia (Hb <8 g/dL), consumptive coagulopathy, or overlying skin changes (edema, warmth, erythema, purplish/dark discoloration)

        • Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia (fasting cholesterol >300 mg/dL or triglycerides >2.5×ULN)

          • Uncontrolled diabetes (fasting glucose >1.5×ULN)

            • Active uncontrolled infection

              • Hepatitis B (HBsAg positive) or hepatitis C (anti-HCV positive) ⑨ Known HIV infection (positive serology)

                • Clinically significant symptomatic pulmonary dysfunction; PFTs and room air SpO₂ performed if clinically indicated; exclusion if FEV₁ ≤70% or DLCO ≤70% of predicted (assessed in patients ≥8 years)

                  ⑪ Prior solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, or heart)

                  ⑫ Concomitant investigational agents (e.g., mTOR inhibitors: sirolimus, temsirolimus)

                  ⑬ Concurrent chemotherapy (e.g., mTOR inhibitors: sirolimus, temsirolimus)

                  ⑭ Concurrent other malignancy not meeting eligibility criteria

Study Plan

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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Everolimus
Everolimus administered orally, dose adjusted by age and concomitant CYP3A4/P-gp inducer use. Target trough level: 5-15 ng/mL.

Everolimus (dose varies by age and concomitant use of CYP3A4/P-gp inducers) -Starting dose: Age <10 years: 6.0 mg/m²/day (9.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers) Age 10 to <18 years: 5.0 mg/m²/day (8.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers) Age ≥18 years: 3.0 mg/m²/day (5.0 mg/m²/day with CYP3A4/P-gp inducers)

-Maintenance dose: Adjusted to achieve a target trough level of 5-15 ng/mL

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Response Rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 6 months from treatment initiation
ORR is defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1 criteria on CT or MRI at 6 months from treatment initiation.
6 months from treatment initiation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Response Rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 12 months from treatment initiation

ORR is defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1 criteria on CT or MRI at 6 months from treatment initiation.

ORR is defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1 criteria on CT or MRI at 6 months from treatment initiation.

ORR is defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1 criteria on CT or MRI at 6 months from treatment initiation.

12 months from treatment initiation
Overall Survival (OS)
Time Frame: 12 months from treatment initiation
Proportion of patients alive at 1 year from treatment initiation
12 months from treatment initiation
Overall Response Rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 12 months from treatment initiation
ORR is defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1 criteria on CT or MRI at 6 months from treatment initiation.
12 months from treatment initiation
Toxicity
Time Frame: Throughout treament period (every 4 weeks)
Incidence and severity of adverse events assessed per NCI CTCAE v4.0
Throughout treament period (every 4 weeks)
Platelet Recovery Rate at 4 weeks (KMP patients)
Time Frame: Rate of platelet recovery to ≥100,000/µL at 4 weeks from treatment initiation, assessed in patients with Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon at enrollment
4 weeks from treatment initiation
Rate of platelet recovery to ≥100,000/µL at 4 weeks from treatment initiation, assessed in patients with Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon at enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 12, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Hemangioma

Clinical Trials on Everolimus

Subscribe