New Phase 2 Trial to Test Disulfiram Plus Copper With Radiation in Thoracic Cancer
MD Anderson registered a Phase 2 trial of disulfiram plus copper gluconate with radiotherapy in thoracic cancer, aiming to trigger cuproptosis; not yet recruiting.
By Sanare Lab · September 29, 2026 · 2 min read
Key Takeaway
MD Anderson Cancer Center has registered a new Phase 2 trial — an early-stage study measuring safety and activity — of the anti-alcohol drug disulfiram combined with copper and radiation therapy in thoracic cancer (cancers of the chest, such as lung cancer). The goal is to trigger cuproptosis, a recently discovered form of cell death driven by copper. The trial is not yet recruiting, and there are no results.
The rationale: disulfiram, a decades-old drug for alcohol dependence, becomes a potential cancer treatment when paired with copper — inside cells the two form a substance that overloads the tumor's energy machinery with copper until the cells die by cuproptosis. The MINTER trial will test whether adding disulfiram 250 mg once daily plus copper gluconate 2 mg three times daily to standard radiotherapy (10–15 treatment sessions) can help overcome resistance to radiation. Related reading: a review of gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis and repurposed drugs.
Practical details: the study is open-label (no placebo — every participant receives the combination) and plans about 30 participants. The primary endpoint — the main thing the trial measures — is safety and side effects over one year, so it answers 'is this safe enough?' before any question of benefit. Enrollment is expected to start around March 2027.
Context: this is a trial registration, not a result — the first data are years away. For related reading, see recent disulfiram research in ovarian cancer and fenbendazole research in lung cancer; for dosing questions, our dosing calculator.
In plain words
What happened: A large US cancer hospital, MD Anderson, has registered a plan for a new study. Nothing has been tested yet: patients are expected to start joining around March 2027.
Why it matters: Disulfiram is an old, cheap pill for alcohol dependence. Together with copper inside cells, it can overload cancer cells with copper until they die. Doctors want to see if adding it to radiation helps radiation work better in chest cancers.
How strong is the evidence: There are no results. The study will involve about 30 people, and its first job is to check safety, not whether it helps. Any answer on benefit is years away.
What it means for you: Nothing changes for patients today, and this combination should not be tried on your own. If you have a chest cancer and are interested, ask your oncologist about trial NCT07843537.
References
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. MINTER Trial: Metal Intervention aNd ThErapy With Radiotherapy In Thoracic Cancer Using Copper Donor Therapy: A Phase 2, Open-Label Study. ClinicalTrials.gov, first posted 2026 Sep 28. NCT07843537.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It describes a trial that has not yet started enrolling patients — no treatment results exist. Never start, stop or change any medication without consulting a licensed healthcare provider.
Sanare Lab
Science-based health education team reviewing published research on repurposed drugs, integrative oncology, and evidence-based protocols.