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Avelumab With Valproic Acid in Virus-associated Cancer (LATENT)

Primary Purpose

Cancer That is Associated With a Chronic Viral Infection, p16 Positive SCCHN, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Status
Active
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
Canada
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Valproic Acid
Avelumab
Sponsored by
AHS Cancer Control Alberta
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Cancer That is Associated With a Chronic Viral Infection

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Patients with the following histologically confirmed diagnoses will be eligible for enrolment: p16 positive SCCHN; squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina or vulva; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the anus or anal canal; EBER positive NPC; EBER positive Hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphoma.
  • Note: patients with p16 positive SCC of unknown primary origin meeting the minimum life expectancy and performance status requirements will also be eligible for enrollment, as the majority of these patients may be assumed to represent HPV-associated disease.
  • Patients must be capable of providing consent to enrolment and treatment.
  • Patients with a performance status of ECOG 0-1(51) will be eligible for enrolment (see appendix 1).
  • Measurable disease must be present according to irRECIST criteria(50).
  • Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum (or urine) pregnancy test at the time of screening.
  • Patients of childbearing / reproductive potential should use highly effective birth control methods, as defined by the investigator, during the study treatment period and for a period of 60 days after the last dose of study drug. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those that result in low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly.
  • Note: abstinence is acceptable if this is established and preferred contraception for the patient and is accepted as a local standard.
  • Female patients who are breast-feeding should discontinue nursing prior to the first dose of study treatment and until 120 days after the last dose of study drug.
  • Absence of any condition hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow- up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial.
  • The following adequate organ function laboratory values must be met:
  • Hematological:

    • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1.5 x109/L
    • Platelet count >100 x109/L
    • Hemoglobin >9 g/dL (may have been transfused)
  • Renal:

    o Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula (or local institutional standard method)

  • Hepatic:

    • Total serum bilirubin <1.5x ULN
    • AST and ALT <2.5x ULN (or ≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with documented metastatic disease to the liver)
    • Serum albumin > 25 g/L
  • Coagulation:

    • International Normalized Ratio (INR) <1.5x ULN (unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants)
    • Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) <1.5x ULN (unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of pneumonitis requiring treatment with steroids.
  • History of interstitial lung disease.
  • Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (< 6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (< 6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina, congestive heart failure (≥ New York Heart Association Classification Class II), or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.
  • History of another malignancy or a concurrent malignancy;
  • Exceptions include patients who have been disease-free for 5 years, or patients with a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer or successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible, for example cervical cancer in situ.
  • Active brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease.
  • Patients with treated brain metastases that are stable for 6 weeks will be eligible for enrolment.
  • Diagnosis of immunodeficiency.
  • Current use of immunosuppressive medication, EXCEPT for the following: a. intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injection (e.g., intra-articular injection); b. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses ≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent; c. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication).
  • Prior organ transplantation including allogenic stem-cell transplantation.
  • Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at screening (positive HBV surface antigen or HCV RNA if anti-HCV antibody screening test positive).
  • Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immuno-stimulatory agent. Patients with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, or hypo- or hyperthyroid diseases not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible.
  • Patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism but that are stable on hormone replacement will not be excluded.
  • Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of Avelumab and while on trials is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccines.
  • Patient will not be eligible if the patient is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling or child) who is investigational site or sponsor staff directly involved with this trial, unless prospective IRB approval (by chair or designee) is given allowing exception to this criterion for a specific subject.
  • Persisting toxicity related to prior therapy (NCI CTCAE v. 4.03 Grade > 1); however, alopecia, sensory neuropathy Grade ≤ 2, or other Grade ≤ 2 not constituting a safety risk based on investigator's judgment are acceptable.
  • Known prior severe hypersensitivity to investigational product or any component in its formulations, including known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (NCI CTCAE v4.03 Grade ≥ 3).
  • Other severe acute or chronic medical conditions including immune colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis or psychiatric conditions including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior; or laboratory abnormalities that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study treatment administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study.

Sites / Locations

  • Cross Cancer Institute

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm Type

Experimental

Arm Label

Avelumab with VPA

Arm Description

Valproic Acid (VPA, 12.5 mg/kg) once per day and Avelumab (10 mg/kg IV) every 2 weeks for up to 2 years.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Efficacy of Avelumab and VPA
• Assessment of the clinical response rate according to the immune-related RECIST criteria (iRECIST)
Proportion of subjects who complete 4 doses of Avelumab in combination with VPA
• Feasibility analysis, defined as the proportion of subjects who complete 4 doses of Avelumab in combination with VPA over the total duration of the study.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Overall survival
defined as the time from the date of enrollment to the date of death, whatever the cause.
Progression free survival
Progression free survival is defined as the time between the date of treatment initiation and the date of disease progression or death (whatever the cause), whichever occurs first.
Number of participants with adverse events
• Incidence of adverse events (assessed as the incidence and severity of adverse events, including immune-related adverse events, and the number of discontinuations due to adverse events).
Identify specific virus-associated cancers as candidates for subsequent study
Measurement of Immuno-score
AffymetriX Micro-array (Immuno-score)
Measurement of MHC expression
Measurement of cell-free tumoral DNA in blood
Phenotyping of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes
DNA viral load
DNA Quantitative PCR (viral load)
Expression of lytic viral genes
Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte immunophenotyping
T-cell receptor sequencing
Hsp90 concentration in serum

Full Information

First Posted
November 16, 2017
Last Updated
October 10, 2023
Sponsor
AHS Cancer Control Alberta
Collaborators
EMD Serono
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03357757
Brief Title
Avelumab With Valproic Acid in Virus-associated Cancer
Acronym
LATENT
Official Title
The LATENT Trial: Lytic Activation To Enhance Neoantigen-directed Therapy A Study to Evaluate the Feasibility and Efficacy of the Combined Use of Avelumab With Valproic Acid for the Treatment of Virus-associated Cancer
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Active, not recruiting
Study Start Date
February 7, 2018 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 30, 2022 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
February 26, 2027 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
AHS Cancer Control Alberta
Collaborators
EMD Serono

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
Yes
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Up to 20% of all cancers may be associated with a bacterial or viral infection. In some instances, the infection may be one of the reasons why the cancer developed in the first place. One such example is infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) and the development of cervical or oral cavity cancer. A viral infection that is chronic may not cause a person symptoms, and may be able to escape detection by a person's own immune system. One of the medications being studied in this clinical trial (Valproic acid) may be able to unmask a chronic viral infection from a person's own immune system, therefore making the virus susceptible to attack by the immune system. In this study Valproic acid is being combined with an immune therapy, Avelumab. Avelumab is an antibody that targets a person's own immune cells, or lymphocytes. Lymphocytes must be activated to fight infections or cancer, but after activation they are deactivated. Avelumab prevents the deactivation of a lymphocyte, in effect "turning off the off-switch." This leads to a re-energizing of a person's immune system, hopefully leading to an attack by the immune system on a person's cancer. Avelumab is known to be an effective treatment for a variety of cancers, although it has not yet been tested in all cancers. By combining Valproic acid, a treatment which targets the virus that contributed to the development of this type of cancer with Avelumab the investigators hope to enhance the ability of Avelumab to restore the body's own immune defense against the cancer.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Cancer That is Associated With a Chronic Viral Infection, p16 Positive SCCHN, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix, p16 Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina or Vulva, p16 Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis, p16 Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus or Anal Canal, EBER Positive NPC, EBER Positive Hodgkins and Non-hodgkins Lymphona

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
N/A
Enrollment
39 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Avelumab with VPA
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Valproic Acid (VPA, 12.5 mg/kg) once per day and Avelumab (10 mg/kg IV) every 2 weeks for up to 2 years.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Valproic Acid
Intervention Description
The target serum level for VPA will be between 75 and 100 mcg/mL checked every 2 weeks for the first 6 cycles.
Intervention Type
Biological
Intervention Name(s)
Avelumab
Intervention Description
10 mg/kg IV
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Efficacy of Avelumab and VPA
Description
• Assessment of the clinical response rate according to the immune-related RECIST criteria (iRECIST)
Time Frame
1 year after enrolment of last patient
Title
Proportion of subjects who complete 4 doses of Avelumab in combination with VPA
Description
• Feasibility analysis, defined as the proportion of subjects who complete 4 doses of Avelumab in combination with VPA over the total duration of the study.
Time Frame
1 year after enrolment of last patient
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Overall survival
Description
defined as the time from the date of enrollment to the date of death, whatever the cause.
Time Frame
5 years from final study drug dose
Title
Progression free survival
Description
Progression free survival is defined as the time between the date of treatment initiation and the date of disease progression or death (whatever the cause), whichever occurs first.
Time Frame
5 years from final study drug dose
Title
Number of participants with adverse events
Description
• Incidence of adverse events (assessed as the incidence and severity of adverse events, including immune-related adverse events, and the number of discontinuations due to adverse events).
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Identify specific virus-associated cancers as candidates for subsequent study
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Measurement of Immuno-score
Description
AffymetriX Micro-array (Immuno-score)
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Measurement of MHC expression
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Measurement of cell-free tumoral DNA in blood
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Phenotyping of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
DNA viral load
Description
DNA Quantitative PCR (viral load)
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Expression of lytic viral genes
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte immunophenotyping
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
T-cell receptor sequencing
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years
Title
Hsp90 concentration in serum
Time Frame
Through study completion, up to 2 years

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Patients must be 18 years of age or older. Patients with the following histologically confirmed diagnoses will be eligible for enrolment: p16 positive SCCHN; squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina or vulva; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the anus or anal canal; EBER positive NPC; EBER positive Hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphoma. Note: patients with p16 positive SCC of unknown primary origin meeting the minimum life expectancy and performance status requirements will also be eligible for enrollment, as the majority of these patients may be assumed to represent HPV-associated disease. Patients must be capable of providing consent to enrolment and treatment. Patients with a performance status of ECOG 0-1(51) will be eligible for enrolment (see appendix 1). Measurable disease must be present according to irRECIST criteria(50). Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum (or urine) pregnancy test at the time of screening. Patients of childbearing / reproductive potential should use highly effective birth control methods, as defined by the investigator, during the study treatment period and for a period of 60 days after the last dose of study drug. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those that result in low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly. Note: abstinence is acceptable if this is established and preferred contraception for the patient and is accepted as a local standard. Female patients who are breast-feeding should discontinue nursing prior to the first dose of study treatment and until 120 days after the last dose of study drug. Absence of any condition hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow- up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial. The following adequate organ function laboratory values must be met: Hematological: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1.5 x109/L Platelet count >100 x109/L Hemoglobin >9 g/dL (may have been transfused) Renal: o Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula (or local institutional standard method) Hepatic: Total serum bilirubin <1.5x ULN AST and ALT <2.5x ULN (or ≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with documented metastatic disease to the liver) Serum albumin > 25 g/L Coagulation: International Normalized Ratio (INR) <1.5x ULN (unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants) Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) <1.5x ULN (unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants) Exclusion Criteria: History of pneumonitis requiring treatment with steroids. History of interstitial lung disease. Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (< 6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (< 6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina, congestive heart failure (≥ New York Heart Association Classification Class II), or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication. History of another malignancy or a concurrent malignancy; Exceptions include patients who have been disease-free for 5 years, or patients with a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer or successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible, for example cervical cancer in situ. Active brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease. Patients with treated brain metastases that are stable for 6 weeks will be eligible for enrolment. Diagnosis of immunodeficiency. Current use of immunosuppressive medication, EXCEPT for the following: a. intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injection (e.g., intra-articular injection); b. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses ≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent; c. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication). Prior organ transplantation including allogenic stem-cell transplantation. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at screening (positive HBV surface antigen or HCV RNA if anti-HCV antibody screening test positive). Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immuno-stimulatory agent. Patients with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, or hypo- or hyperthyroid diseases not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible. Patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism but that are stable on hormone replacement will not be excluded. Active infection requiring systemic therapy. Vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of Avelumab and while on trials is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccines. Patient will not be eligible if the patient is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling or child) who is investigational site or sponsor staff directly involved with this trial, unless prospective IRB approval (by chair or designee) is given allowing exception to this criterion for a specific subject. Persisting toxicity related to prior therapy (NCI CTCAE v. 4.03 Grade > 1); however, alopecia, sensory neuropathy Grade ≤ 2, or other Grade ≤ 2 not constituting a safety risk based on investigator's judgment are acceptable. Known prior severe hypersensitivity to investigational product or any component in its formulations, including known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (NCI CTCAE v4.03 Grade ≥ 3). Other severe acute or chronic medical conditions including immune colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis or psychiatric conditions including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior; or laboratory abnormalities that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study treatment administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
John Walker, MD PhD FRCPC
Organizational Affiliation
Alberta Health services
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Cross Cancer Institute
City
Edmonton
State/Province
Alberta
ZIP/Postal Code
T6G 1Z2
Country
Canada

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

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Avelumab With Valproic Acid in Virus-associated Cancer

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