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Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) Plus Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Chemotherapy in Participants With Advanced/Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma (MK-7902-015/E7080-G000-321/LEAP-015)

Phase 3
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Advanced/Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04662710
Lead Sponsor
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) plus pembrolizumab (MK-3475) plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in participants with advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal cancer.

The primary study hypotheses are that lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone for both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR), in participants with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1 and in all participants.

Detailed Description

There will be 2 parts to the study: a Safety Run-in (Part 1) and the Main Study (Part 2). In Part 1 (Safety Run-in), approximately 12 participants will be treated with lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX), or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Participants will be closely followed for dose-limiting toxicities for 21 days after the first dose of study intervention.

In Part 2, up to 878 eligible participants (not including those participating in Part 1) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) or Chemotherapy alone (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6).

Participants can receive up to 18 infusions (up to 2 years) of pembrolizumab in the first course. Participants may be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab (approximately 1 year) at the investigator's discretion.

As of Amendment 8 (Effective 06/10/2025), Second Course will no longer be offered. Any participant currently receiving Second Course retreatment will be able to continue treatment as planned. Imaging will be performed per local standard of care.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
895
Inclusion Criteria
  • Has histologically and/or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of previously untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Is not expected to require tumor resection during the treatment course
  • Has gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma that is not HER-2/neu positive
  • Has measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1 by scan with IV contrast as determined by the local site investigator
  • Male participants agree to refrain from donating sperm and agree to either remain abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle OR agree to use contraception, during the intervention period and for ≥7 days after last dose of lenvatinib or 90 days after last dose of chemotherapy-whichever comes last
  • Female participants not pregnant or breastfeeding are eligible to participate if not a women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), or if a WOCBP they either use a contraceptive method that is highly effective OR remain abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle, and do not donate eggs (ova, oocytes) to others or freeze/store for their own use, and abstain from breastfeeding during the intervention period through 120 days after last dose of pembrolizumab, 30 days after last dose of lenvatinib, or 180 days after last dose of chemotherapy-whichever occurs last
  • Has a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale within 3 days prior to the first dose of study treatment
  • Has adequately controlled blood pressure with or without antihypertensive medications
  • Has adequate organ function
Exclusion Criteria
  • Has had previous therapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Has had major surgery within 28 days prior to first dose of study interventions
  • Has had radiotherapy within 14 days of randomization
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 5 years
  • Has known CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to treatment with an monoclonal antibody (mAb) or known sensitivity or intolerance to any component of lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, study chemotherapy agents and/or to any excipients, murine proteins, or platinum containing products
  • Has had an allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant
  • Has perforation risks or significant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
  • Has GI obstruction, poor oral intake (CAPOX participants), or difficulty in taking oral medication (CAPOX participants)
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or coinhibitory T-cell receptor
  • Has received prior therapy with anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor or anti-VEGF mAb
  • Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study drug
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs)
  • Has radiographic evidence of encasement or invasion of a major blood vessel, or of intratumoral cavitation
  • Has inadequate cardiac function
  • Has a history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease
  • Has poorly controlled diarrhea
  • Has accumulation of pleural, ascitic, or pericardial fluid requiring drainage or diuretic drugs within 2 weeks prior to enrollment.
  • Has peripheral neuropathy ≥Grade 2
  • Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or HIV 1/2 antibodies
  • Has a known history of hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg reactive) or known active hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection
  • Has weight loss of >20% within the last 3 months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ChemotherapyLeucovorin (or Levoleucovorin)Participants receive chemotherapy with either CAPOX Q3W or mFOLFOX6 Q2W. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + ChemotherapyLenvatinibParticipants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + ChemotherapyLeucovorin (or Levoleucovorin)Participants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
ChemotherapyCapecitabineParticipants receive chemotherapy with either CAPOX Q3W or mFOLFOX6 Q2W. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + ChemotherapyOxaliplatinParticipants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + ChemotherapyCapecitabineParticipants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy5-FUParticipants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
ChemotherapyOxaliplatinParticipants receive chemotherapy with either CAPOX Q3W or mFOLFOX6 Q2W. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Chemotherapy5-FUParticipants receive chemotherapy with either CAPOX Q3W or mFOLFOX6 Q2W. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab + ChemotherapyPembrolizumabParticipants receive lenvatinib administered orally (PO) every day (QD) in combination with pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Induction with lenvatinib 8 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) will be administered for 2 cycles (approximately 12 weeks), followed by consolidation with lenvatinib 20 mg QD plus pembrolizumab (400 mg Q6W) for 16 cycles. A cycle is 6 weeks (42 days).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part 1: Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs)Up to ~28 months

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 1 with AEs will be reported by treatment arm.

Part 1: Number of Participants who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AEUp to ~25 months

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 1 that discontinued study due to an AE will be reported by treatment arm.

Part 2: PFS Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All ParticipantsUp to ~31 months

PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented PD per RECIST 1.1 by BICR or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. PFS will be reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

Part 2: OS in All ParticipantsUp to ~41 months

OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. OS will be reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

Part 1: Number of Participants with Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs)Up to ~21 days

Hematologic DLTs were defined as Grade 4 neutropenia lasting for ≥7 days, Grade 3 or Grade 4 febrile neutropenia, Grade 3 thrombocytopenia with bleeding, Grade 4 thrombocytopenia, or Grade 4 anemia. Other nonhematologic toxicities considered a DLT included any other Grade 4 or Grade 5 toxicity, Grade 3 toxicities lasting \>3 days (excluding nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea controlled by medical intervention within 72 hours, and Grade 3 rash in the absence of desquamation with no mucosal involvement), Grade 3 hypertension not able to be controlled by medication, ≥Grade 3 gastrointestinal perforation, ≥Grade 3 wound dehiscence requiring medical or surgical intervention, or any grade thromboembolic event. The number of participants in Part 1 with DLTs will be reported by treatment arm.

Part 2: Overall Survival (OS) in Participants with Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1Up to ~41 months

OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. OS will be reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

Part 2: Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) in Participants with PD-L1 CPS ≥1Up to ~31 months

PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. PFS will be reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part 2: ORR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All ParticipantsUp to ~31 months

ORR is defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or a PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and assessed by BICR. ORR will be reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

Part 2: DOR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All ParticipantsUp to ~31 months

For participants who demonstrated confirmed CR or PR, DOR is defined as the time from the first CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) to subsequent PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. DOR will be reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

Part 2: Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants with PD-L1 CPS ≥1Up to ~31 months

ORR is defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and assessed by BICR. ORR will be reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

Part 2: Number of Participants with AEsUp to ~28 months

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 2 with AEs will be reported by treatment arm.

Part 2: Number of Participants who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AEUp to ~25 months

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 2 that discontinued study due to an AE will be reported by treatment arm.

Part 2: Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants with PD-L1 CPS ≥1Up to ~31 months

For participants who demonstrated confirmed CR or PR, DOR is defined as the time from the first CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) to subsequent PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. DOR will be reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

Trial Locations

Locations (177)

UCLA Hematology/Oncology - Santa Monica ( Site 0003)

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Georgetown University Medical Center ( Site 0009)

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

James Graham Brown Cancer Center ( Site 0017)

🇺🇸

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Johns Hopkins University ( Site 0052)

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Dana Farber Cancer Center ( Site 0019)

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

UMASS Memorial Medical Center ( Site 0020)

🇺🇸

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Henry Ford Health System ( Site 0023)

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan ( Site 0025)

🇺🇸

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Washington University School of Medicine ( Site 0027)

🇺🇸

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Mount Sinai Hospital ( Site 0051)

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Scroll for more (167 remaining)
UCLA Hematology/Oncology - Santa Monica ( Site 0003)
🇺🇸Los Angeles, California, United States

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