MedPath

Platform Study of Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Patients With Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Pancreatic Cancer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02451982
Lead Sponsor
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Brief Summary

This platform trial will evaluate various immunotherapy combinations given in the neo-adjuvant and adjuvant setting in patients with surgically resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Detailed Description

Immunotherapy is an innovative approach being developed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a lethal and relatively chemotherapy-resistant disease. However, the tumor and its environment have developed a number of ways in which they inhibit the function of the immune system preventing it from recognizing and killing the cancer. In addition, the investigators still do not understand how T cells, the cells in the immune system that have the potential to recognize cancer as different and kill cancer cells, traffic into the tumor to accomplish their task. The investigators are currently testing an immune system activating pancreatic cancer vaccine (known as GVAX) in combination with immune boosting doses of the chemotherapy agent, cyclophosphamide, as preoperative and postoperative treatments for pancreatic cancer. The investigators have discovered tertiary lymphoid aggregates, a unique lymph node-like structure formed within resected tumors from the patients who received the vaccine two weeks prior to the surgery. This discovery demonstrates that the immune system can get into the tumor and provides the investigators with the opportunity to better understand how these immune cells traffic into the tumor and function once they arrive. The investigators also found that the vaccine causes an increase in signals that would suppress the immune system's ability to fight off cancer cells, including signals involving PD-1. In this novel study, the investigators will test the effects of blocking PD-1 in combination with the vaccine in patients with pancreatic cancer. The investigators will specifically isolate these immune cells and evaluate at both the genetic and protein level, the types of signals expressed by these aggregates. The investigators will compare aggregates from patients with long term survival versus patients who succumb to their cancer early. In this way, the investigators will be able to determine how safe this novel treatment is, how effective it is at changing the immune system in pancreatic cancer, and how it impacts the health and survival of pancreatic cancer patients who undergo surgery to remove the cancer.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
76
Inclusion Criteria
  • Newly diagnosed or clinically-suspected adenocarcinoma of the head, neck, or uncinate process of the pancreas
  • Tumor must be surgically resectable
  • ECOG Performance Status of 0 to 1
  • Adequate organ function as defined by study-specified laboratory tests
  • Must agree to use acceptable form of birth control
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Received any type of anti-cancer treatment or immunotherapy for pancreas cancer
  • History of autoimmune disease (Graves or Hashimoto's disease, vitiligo, and type I diabetes are allowed)
  • Systemically steroid use within 14 days
  • Evidence of active infection
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Diagnosed with another cancer or myeloproliferative disorder (some exceptions)
  • History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to any monoclonal antibody or known component of the study drugs
  • Known history of infection with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
  • Oxygen saturation of <92% on room air by pulse oximetry
  • On home oxygen
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm C: CY/GVAX with nivolumab and urelumabUrelumabPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 28 days after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, urelumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab and urelumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm D: BMS-986253 and NivolumabBMS-986253Patients receive BMS-986253 and nivolumab on day 0 (Cycle 1), 15 days prior to surgery. 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive Cycle 2, with nivolumab on day 0 and BMS-986253 on days 0 and 14. Patients then receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive 4 additional 28-day cycles of immunotherapy, with Nivolumab on Day 0 and BMS-986253 on Days 0 and 14. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab alone every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments.
Arm A: CY/GVAX aloneGVAX pancreatic cancerPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine ID on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 1 month after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm B: CY/GVAX with nivolumabGVAX pancreatic cancerPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine ID on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 1 month after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm C: CY/GVAX with nivolumab and urelumabGVAX pancreatic cancerPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 28 days after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, urelumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab and urelumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm B: CY/GVAX with nivolumabCyclophosphamidePatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine ID on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 1 month after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm A: CY/GVAX aloneCyclophosphamidePatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine ID on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 1 month after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm B: CY/GVAX with nivolumabNivolumabPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine ID on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 1 month after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide and nivolumab IV on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm C: CY/GVAX with nivolumab and urelumabCyclophosphamidePatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 28 days after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, urelumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab and urelumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm C: CY/GVAX with nivolumab and urelumabNivolumabPatients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX pancreatic cancer vaccine on day 1. Patients undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy on day 15. Approximately 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and the vaccine on day 1. Beginning approximately 28 days after vaccination, patients receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Beginning approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive low-dose cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, and urelumab on day 0 and GVAX on day 1. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, nivolumab, urelumab, and the vaccine repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab and urelumab every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments as well as cyclophosphamide on day 0, and GVAX on day 1 every 12 weeks for another 2 treatments.
Arm D: BMS-986253 and NivolumabNivolumabPatients receive BMS-986253 and nivolumab on day 0 (Cycle 1), 15 days prior to surgery. 6-10 weeks after surgery, patients receive Cycle 2, with nivolumab on day 0 and BMS-986253 on days 0 and 14. Patients then receive standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Approximately 4-8 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, patients receive 4 additional 28-day cycles of immunotherapy, with Nivolumab on Day 0 and BMS-986253 on Days 0 and 14. Patients will then enter the extended treatment phase where they will receive nivolumab alone every 4 weeks for another 6 treatments.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
IL17A expression4 years

median IL17A expression in lymphoid aggregates from resected tumor (Arms A and B only)

Intratumoral CD8+CD137+cells4 years

Fold change of intratumoral CD8+CD137+cells before and after neoadjuvant therapy (Arms B and C only)

Intratumoral granzyme B+PD-1+CD137+ cells4 years

Percent change of intratumoral granzyme B+PD-1+CD137+ cells in surgical (post-treatment) tissue compared to baseline (pre-treatment) biopsy (Arm D only)

Pathologic Response4 years

Percent of patients with a response grade of 0-2 (0=complete response 1=marked response, 2=moderate response) at time of surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Disease Free Survival4 years

Disease Free Survival is defined as the time from surgery until evidence of disease recurrence or death from any cause

Overall Survival4 years

Overall Survival is defined as the time from surgery to death from any cause

Drug-Related Adverse Events4 years

Number of participants experiencing study drug-related toxicities

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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