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Pembrolizumab + Poly-ICLC in MRP Colon Cancer

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Metastatic Colon Cancer
Solid Tumor
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02834052
Lead Sponsor
Asha Nayak
Brief Summary

The main purpose of this study is to determine the dose of poly-ICLC that is safe and tolerable when it is combined with pembrolizumab in patients with colon cancer. This study will also evaluate how the combination of pembrolizumab and poly-ICLC activates the immune system in the patient's blood and inside the tumor; how it affects the size and number of tumor(s) in each patient; and how effective the combination is in patients with colon cancer that is unlikely to respond to pembrolizumab alone.

Detailed Description

Mismatch repair genes normally serve to fix the small glitches that occur when DNA is copied as cells divide. In 1993, researchers discovered that mutations in human mismatch repair genes play a key role in the development of certain forms of colorectal cancer; individuals who are deficient in these mismatch repair genes are at high risk for colorectal cancer. Accumulating evidence has shown that immunotherapy may be most effective against these cancers.

Programmed cell death protein 1, also known as PD-1, functions as an immune checkpoint, down-regulating the immune system by preventing the activation of T-cells, which in turn reduces autoimmunity and promotes self-tolerance. A new class of immunotherapy drugs that block PD-1, the PD-1 inhibitors, activate the immune system to attack tumors and are therefore used with varying success to treat some types of cancer.

Current clinical trials are showing that patients whose tumors are mismatch repair deficient are more likely to respond to immune-boosting anti-PD-1 drugs-such as pembrolizumab-than those with tumors proficient in mismatch repair. The idea is that the greater the number of DNA glitches in a tumor cell, the more abnormal proteins it will produce-and the more abnormal proteins that are generated, the greater the odds that the body's immune cells will regard the tumor cells as "foreign" and target them for destruction. Thus far, PD-1 inhibitors have shown great promise for mismatch repair deficient cancer patients, but not for mismatch repair proficient (MRP) cancer patients.

In this clinical trial, the investigators hypothesize that treating MRP colon cancer patients with immunostimulating agent poly-ICLC will generate an inflammatory response, increasing epitope recognition and development of tumor reactive T-cells at the tumor site. However, interferon alpha and gamma produced by the poly-ICLC will increase PD-L1 expression and limit new T-cell development. Thus, PD1 blockade will increase the effectiveness of treatment with pembrolizumab.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
42
Inclusion Criteria
  • Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial
  • Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 (Phase 2)
  • Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion
  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale
  • Have adequate organ function, according to screening labs performed within 10 days of treatment initiation
  • Subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently participating/previously participated in a therapeutic study and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies), active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Phase 2pembrolizumabIn Phase 2, all participants will receive the standard pembrolizumab dose (200 mg IV q3w) in addition to the maximum tolerated dose of poly-ICLC (either 1 mg or 2 mg), as determined by the Phase 1 arm. Up to 30 participants will be treated in Phase 2. Participants may receive treatment for 1 year (\~17 cycles).
Phase 1pembrolizumabThis "Run In" phase is aimed to determine if poly-ICLC can be safely combined with standard dosages of pembrolizumab: i. Pembrolizumab will be administered 200 mg intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks (q3w) ii. Poly-ICLC will be administered intramuscularly (IM) twice weekly at one of two dose levels: 1 mg or 2 mg Each dose level will enroll 3-6 participants, up to 12 participants total, depending on the occurrence of dose limiting toxicities (DLT) at each dosing level. Participants may receive treatment for 1 year (\~17 cycles).
Phase 2Poly-ICLCIn Phase 2, all participants will receive the standard pembrolizumab dose (200 mg IV q3w) in addition to the maximum tolerated dose of poly-ICLC (either 1 mg or 2 mg), as determined by the Phase 1 arm. Up to 30 participants will be treated in Phase 2. Participants may receive treatment for 1 year (\~17 cycles).
Phase 1Poly-ICLCThis "Run In" phase is aimed to determine if poly-ICLC can be safely combined with standard dosages of pembrolizumab: i. Pembrolizumab will be administered 200 mg intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks (q3w) ii. Poly-ICLC will be administered intramuscularly (IM) twice weekly at one of two dose levels: 1 mg or 2 mg Each dose level will enroll 3-6 participants, up to 12 participants total, depending on the occurrence of dose limiting toxicities (DLT) at each dosing level. Participants may receive treatment for 1 year (\~17 cycles).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Phase 1 and 2: Determine the Response Rate of Metastatic MRP Colon Cancer (That Has Progressed Following Two Lines of Therapy in the Metastatic Setting) to the Combination of Pembrolizumab and Poly-ICLCFrom baseline to disease progression (Expected 12-24 months)

Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Overall Response (OR) = CR + PR.

Phase 1: Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose of Poly-ICLC That Can be Combined With Pembrolizumab12 months

A minimum of 3 participants will be treated at dose level 1 (1mg).

* If 0 out of 3 participants experience dose limiting toxicities (DLT), then dose escalation will proceed to dose level 2 (2mg).

* If 1 out of 3 participants experience DLT, a cohort of additional 3 participants will be assigned to the same dose level (1mg).

* If 2 or more participants of 3 (or 6) experience DLT at dose level 1, then enrollment of participants will be stopped.

Determine the Overall Survival Rate for Recurrent Metastatic MRP Colon Cancer Response to the Combination of Pembrolizumab and Poly-ICLCFrom baseline to disease progression (up to 24 months)

The overall survival rate of response to the combination of pembrolizumab and poly-ICLC administered at the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) will be estimated along with the correspondent 95% confidence interval.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Determine the Adverse Event Profile and Dose Limiting Toxicities of the Combination of Pembrolizumab and Poly-ICLC12 months

The adverse event profile will be presented by dose level of the combination treatment for the phase I portion

Determine the 20-week Progression Free Survival Rate of Recurrent Metastatic MRP Colon Cancer to the Combination of Pembrolizumab and Poly-ICLC20 weeks

The 20-week progression free survival rate for the combination of pembrolizumab and poly-ICLC administered at the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) will be estimated along with the correspondent 95% confidence interval.

Determine the Duration of Response of Recurrent Metastatic MRP Colon Cancer to the Combination of Pembrolizumab and Poly-ICLCFrom baseline to disease progression (up to 24 months)

The duration of response to the combination of pembrolizumab and poly-ICLC administered at the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) will be estimated along with the correspondent 95% confidence interval.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University

🇺🇸

Augusta, Georgia, United States

Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University
🇺🇸Augusta, Georgia, United States
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