CA-4948 in Combination With Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, and Durvalumab in Patients With Untreated Advanced or Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer; Metastatic Biliary Tract Carcinoma
• Interventions: Drug: CA-4948; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Cisplatin; Biological: Durvalumab

• Registration Number: NCT07107750
• Lead Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Brief Summary

Based on preclinical data from the Lim lab (WUSM), the investigators hypothesize that IRAK4 inhibition cripples tumor-intrinsic survival signaling and effectively overcomes the desmoplastic and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) to render chemo- and immunotherapies effective in GI malignancy. Therefore, this trial is designed to evaluate the combination of CA-4948 and standard chemoimmunotherapy in untreated advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer.

Detailed Description

The first part of the study will be dose escalation of CA-4948 in combination with standard of care (SOC) cisplatin, gemcitabine, and durvalumab. Once the expansion dose of CA-4948 is determined, the expansion part of the study will open. All patients will be treated with CA-4948 in combination with SOC cisplatin, gemcitabine, and durvalumab for up to 8 total cycles. Patients may receive no more than 8 total cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin for BTC. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore, some patients may only receive 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. After 8 cycles, patients will discontinue cisplatin and gemcitabine and continue maintenance CA-4948 and durvalumab.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-30
• Study First Posted: 2025-08-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-06
• Study Start: 2025-10-31
• Primary Completion: 2030-01-31
• Study Completion: 2031-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 48

Inclusion Criteria

• Advanced unresectable or metastatic histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the biliary tract, including cholangiocarcinoma (intrahepatic or extrahepatic) and gallbladder carcinoma. Patients whose tumor have mixed histology but predominantly (>50%) adenocarcinoma are allowed.

• Measurable or evaluable disease defined by RECIST v1.1.

• Dose Expansion ONLY: Lesions amenable to research biopsy. This criterion can be waived by the PI after documented discussion with the treating physician.

• No prior systemic treatment for unresectable/advanced BTC with the following exceptions:

  • Neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy completed > 6 months from planned C1D1.
  • Up to two prior cycles of gemcitabine/cisplatin/anti-PD1 with no evidence of disease progression is allowed

• At least 18 years of age.

• ECOG performance status 0 or 1.

• Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined below:

  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 K/cumm
  • Platelets ≥ 100 K/cumm
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN or ≤ 3 x IULN in patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome
  • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2 x IULN, unless there are liver metastases in which case AST and ALT ≤ 5.0 x IULN
  • Creatinine clearance ≥ 35 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault

• Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation at screening < Grade 2 (CPK < 2.5 x IULN).

• Patients on a cholesterol lowering statin must be on a stable dose with no dose changes within 3 weeks prior to study start.

• The effects of CA-4948 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of the study, and 90 days after completion of the study.

• Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants.

Exclusion Criteria

• Current use or anticipated need for alternative, holistic, naturopathic, or botanical formulations used for the purpose of cancer treatment. Use of medical marijuana is permitted.
• A history of other malignancy with the exception of 1) malignancies for which all treatment was completed at least 2 years before registration and the patient has no evidence of disease; 2) or known indolent malignancies that do not require treatment and will likely not alter the course of treatment of BTC.
• History of allogeneic organ or stem cell transplant.
• Currently receiving any other investigational therapeutic agents. Investigational tracers related to imaging studies are allowed with a 7 day-washout.
• Clinically active CNS metastasis; treated and asymptomatic metastasis allowed at the discretion of the PI. Radiotherapy to the brain must be completed > 10 days prior to planned C1D1.
• Definitive chemoradiation within 3 months prior to C1D1 of study therapy.
• Palliative radiation therapy within 10 days prior to C1D1 of study therapy.
• A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to CA-4948, gemcitabine, cisplatin, durvalumab, or other agents used in the study.
• Concomitant use of drugs with a known risk of causing prolonged QTc (with exception of Zofran if needed for supportive care) and/or Torsades de Pointes or a history of risk factors for Torsades de Pointes.
• Presence of interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis ≥ G2 at time of screening.
• Administration of a live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to enrollment.
• QTc (Bazett) >470ms on screening EKG.
• Gastrointestinal condition which could impair absorption of CA-4948 or inability to ingest CA-4948.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
• Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days of C1D1.
• Patients with HIV are eligible unless their CD4+ T-cell counts are < 350 cells/mcL or they have a history of AIDS-defining opportunistic infection within the 12 months prior to registration. Concurrent treatment with effective ART according to DHHS treatment guidelines is recommended.
• Participants with active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease. Participants with vitiligo, type I diabetes mellitus, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement, euthyroid participants with a history of Grave's disease (participants with suspected autoimmune thyroid disorders must be negative for thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin prior to first dose of study treatment), psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll after discussing with the PI.
• Participants with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10 mg daily prednisone or equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study treatment except for adrenal replacement steroid doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent in the absence of active autoimmune disease. Note: treatment with a short course of steroids (< 5 days) up to 7 days prior to initiating study treatment is permitted. Inhaled intranasal, intra-articular, and topical steroid uses are permitted.
• Patients are unwilling to adhere to the lifestyle guidance

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SEQUENTIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dose Escalation Dose Level 0 (starting dose): CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	CA-4948	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level 0 (starting dose): CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Gemcitabine	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level 0 (starting dose): CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Cisplatin	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level 0 (starting dose): CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Durvalumab	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level -1: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	CA-4948	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level -1: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Gemcitabine	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level -1: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Cisplatin	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Escalation Dose Level -1: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Durvalumab	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Expansion: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	CA-4948	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Expansion: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Gemcitabine	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Expansion: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Cisplatin	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).
Dose Expansion: CA-4948 + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin + Durvalumab	Durvalumab	* Treatment will be administered on a 21-day cycle. * CA-4948 will be self-administered at the assigned dose by mouth twice per day at approximately 12-hour intervals. * Cisplatin and gemcitabine will be administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 for up to 8 total cycles as per standard of care. Up to 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without durvalumab, may be given off protocol prior to enrollment; therefore some patients may receive only 6 or 7 cycles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in combination with CA-4948 on study. Durvalumab will be administered IV on Day 1 of each cycle. Durvalumab will continue in combination with CA-4948 as maintenance therapy starting with Cycle 9 (or earlier, if patient discontinues cisplatin and gemcitabine prior to Cycle 9).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
To determine the safety of CA-4948 in combination with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in patients with BTC as measured by incidences and types of adverse events	From start of treatment through 30 days after last dose of study treatment (estimated to be 15 months)	Graded using CTCAE version 5.0.
Dose escalation only: To determine an expansion dose for CA-4948 in combination with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab in patients with BTC.	Completion of cycle 1 (each cycle is 21 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Progression-free rate (PFR)	At 6 months from start of treatment	* Defined as the proportion of evaluable patients who are free of disease progression/recurrence at 6 months from the start of treatment, where the evaluable patients include both patients who progressed/relapsed prior to 6 months and patients who have not progressed/relapsed and have been followed up to 6 months from start of treatment.; * Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the revised international criteria (RECIST version 1.1) proposed by the RECIST committee as well as the modified iRECIST guidelines. Until radiographic progression based on RECIST 1.1, there is no distinct iRECIST assessment.
Disease control rate (DCR)	At 6 months from start of treatment	* DCR is the proportion of patients with either complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) (with a duration of SD for 6 month).; * Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Disappearance of all non-target lesions and normalization of tumor marker level. All lymph nodes must be non-pathological in size (\<10 mm short axis).; * Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.; * Stable Disease (SD): Neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD, taking as reference the smallest sum diameters while on study.
Overall response rate (ORR)	Through completion of treatment (estimated to be 14 months)	* ORR = number of patients with complete response or partial response; * Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Disappearance of all non-target lesions and normalization of tumor marker level. All lymph nodes must be non-pathological in size (\<10 mm short axis).; * Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.
Progression-free survival (PFS)	Through completion of follow-up (estimated to be 38 months)	* PFS is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of progression or death, whichever occurs first. The alive patients without progression are censored at the last follow-up.; * Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the revised international criteria (RECIST version 1.1) proposed by the RECIST committee as well as the modified iRECIST guidelines. Until radiographic progression based on RECIST 1.1, there is no distinct iRECIST assessment.
Overall survival (OS)	Through completion of follow-up (estimated to be 38 months)	OS is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of death from any cause. The alive patients are censored at the last follow-up.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Washington University School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Saint Louis, Missouri, United States