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Window of Opportunity Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab in Obesity-driven Endometrial Cancer

Primary Purpose

Endometrial Cancer, Uterine Cancer

Status
Active
Phase
Early Phase 1
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Pembrolizumab
Hysterectomy
Sponsored by
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Endometrial Cancer focused on measuring Endometrial Cancer, Uterus, Endometrioid

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information.
  • Female Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent.
  • ECOG Performance Status of ≤ 1 (See Appendix 11.4).
  • Diagnosis of advanced stage and histologically confirmed endometrioid, serous, clear cell, carcinosarcoma (including mixed) cancer of the uterus in which neoadjuvant chemotherapy is planned.
  • Has received no prior therapy for uterine cancer, including hysterectomy
  • Subjects with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial.
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in the table below; all screening labs to be obtained within 72 hours prior to initiating study treatment.
  • Have an available endometrial biopsy for correlative studies and willing to undergo a research biopsy prior to initiating study treatment. The research biopsy procedure must be deemed medically safe by the investigator.
  • Subjects is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgement of the investigator or protocol designee.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug.

Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.

  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
  • Subject is receiving prohibited medications or treatments that cannot be discontinued/replaced by an alternative therapy.
  • Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Note: No HIV testing is required unless mandated by local health authority.
  • Has a known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBsAg reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection. Note: no testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority.
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Has a history of symptomatic congestive heart failure (e.g. congestive heart failure defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV functional status), unstable angina pectoris or cardiac arrhythmia.

Sites / Locations

  • Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm Type

Experimental

Arm Label

Single Arm - Pembrolizumab

Arm Description

Single dose of Pembrolizumab 200mg IV administered prior to hysterectomy and surgical staging.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in the number of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Change in number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in response to single dose of pembrolizumab will be determined by performing histopathologic analysis of H&E-stained tumor sections collected at baseline and at the time of surgery.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Number of patients who experience Adverse Events after one dose of Pembrolizumab
The NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events is a descriptive terminology which can be utilized for Adverse Event (AE) reporting. A grading (severity) scale is provided for each AE term. Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age-appropriate instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care ADL. Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5 Death related to AE.
Change in number of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes by endometrial cancer sub-types
Count and compare associations of (1) pre-treatment Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) numbers (2) clonality of TILs and (3) change in number and phenotype of TILs with pembrolizumab treatment between Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and DNA Polymerase ε Endometrial Cancers (EC) versus MSI low/stable ECs versus Copy Number High ECs.
Correlation of Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) Expression with TILs
Compare possible associations of PD-1, Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and Programmed Death Ligand 2 (PD-L2) messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) expression with (1) pre-treatment TIL numbers (2) clonality of TILs and (3) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Correlation of Immune and Obesity/Inflammation EC Signatures with TILs
Compare possible associations of immune and obesity/inflammation EC signatures with (1) Body Mass Index (BMI) (2) pre-treatment TIL numbers (3) clonality of TILs and (4) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Correlation of Microbiota Profiles with TILs
Compare possible associations of gut, vaginal and uterine microbiota profiles with (1) BMI (2) pre-treatment TIL numbers (3) clonality of TILs and (4) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Overall Response Rate of Pembrolizumab with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin
Calculate the overall response rate of pembrolizumab in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin following hysterectomy and surgical staging in (1) stage I/II, serous/clear cell EC and (2) stage III, Grade 3 (serous, clear cell or endometrioid histologies) EC. Response is measured as: Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes (whether target or non-target) must have reduction in short axis <10mm. Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.

Full Information

First Posted
October 1, 2018
Last Updated
October 16, 2023
Sponsor
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03694834
Brief Title
Window of Opportunity Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab in Obesity-driven Endometrial Cancer
Official Title
Window of Opportunity Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab in Obesity-driven Endometrial Cancer
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Active, not recruiting
Study Start Date
March 29, 2019 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
October 23, 2023 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
October 23, 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor treatment may benefit patients with endometrial cancer (EC) based on the following observations: 1) an overwhelming presence of PD-1 in ECs; 2) the well-known effect of obesity which activates pro-inflammatory white blood cells and promotes the development of ECs; and 3) the high prevalence of a specific gene pattern (ie, microsatellite instability hypermutated [MSI high]) among ECs that may be particularly sensitive to this class of drugs. To identify potential biomarkers of response to PD-1 inhibitors in EC, we will conduct a window of opportunity study of pembrolizumab in 20 patients with clinical stage 1, grade 3 EC, encompassing endometrioid, serous and clear cell histologies. Eligible patients will undergo a research biopsy for collection of fresh tissue at the time of enrollment, in addition to the routinely performed endometrial biopsy that led to the diagnosis of their cancer. Patients will receive a single dose of pembrolizumab (200 mg IV) prior to undergoing their scheduled hysterectomy with surgical staging three weeks later. As per standard of care, adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin will be recommended after hysterectomy/surgical staging for women with endometrioid tumors and stage III disease or women with serous/clear cell tumors at all stages of disease. However, in this study pembrolizumab will be added to adjuvant paclitaxel and carboplatin for EC. Pre-treatment endometrial biopsy specimens (fresh frozen tissue and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE)) and a post-treatment hysterectomy specimen (fresh frozen tissue and FFPE) will be collected for translational studies. Blood, fecal and vaginal samples will be collected pre-treatment, at the time of surgery and following 3 cycles of adjuvant pembrolizumab/paclitaxel/carboplatin treatment.
Detailed Description
The primary objective of the trial is to measure the change in number and phenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, including delineation of effector and regulatory T cells, before and after one cycle of pembrolizumab treatment. Other correlative secondary objectives include investigation of associations among pre-treatment TIL numbers, clonality of TILs and change in number and phenotype of TILs with samples collected after pembrolizumab treatment between MSI and DNA polymerase (POLE) ultramutated ECs versus MSI low/stable ECs versus copy number high (CNH) ECs, among others. To assess the complex interplay between obesity, molecular subtype, the microbiome and immune regulation, gut, vaginal and uterine microbiota profiles will be characterized and potential associations with body mass index (BMI), pre-treatment TIL numbers, clonality of TILs and change in the number and phenotype of TILs will be investigated. Secondary clinical objectives include (1) of the pathologic response rate after one cycle of pembrolizumab following hysterectomy and surgical staging in stage I/II, serous/clear cell EC and stage III, G3 (serous, clear cell or endometrioid histologies) EC and (2) characterization of the toxicity profile of pembrolizumab pre-hysterectomy and in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin as adjuvant therapy for EC.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Endometrial Cancer, Uterine Cancer
Keywords
Endometrial Cancer, Uterus, Endometrioid

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Early Phase 1
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
N/A
Enrollment
3 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Single Arm - Pembrolizumab
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Single dose of Pembrolizumab 200mg IV administered prior to hysterectomy and surgical staging.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Pembrolizumab
Other Intervention Name(s)
Keytruda
Intervention Description
A single dose of Pembrolizumab (200 mg) will be administered IV over 30 min (-5 /+10 min) approximately 3 weeks prior to the scheduled hysterectomy. Pembrolizumab (200 mg) will be administered IV over 30 min (-5/+10 min) every three weeks in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin as adjuvant therapy over 6 cycles. Pembrolizumab should be given on D1 of each cycle after the infusion of cytotoxics.
Intervention Type
Procedure
Intervention Name(s)
Hysterectomy
Intervention Description
Hysterectomy/Surgical Staging per institutional standard of care.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in the number of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Description
Change in number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in response to single dose of pembrolizumab will be determined by performing histopathologic analysis of H&E-stained tumor sections collected at baseline and at the time of surgery.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of patients who experience Adverse Events after one dose of Pembrolizumab
Description
The NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events is a descriptive terminology which can be utilized for Adverse Event (AE) reporting. A grading (severity) scale is provided for each AE term. Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age-appropriate instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care ADL. Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5 Death related to AE.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Title
Change in number of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes by endometrial cancer sub-types
Description
Count and compare associations of (1) pre-treatment Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) numbers (2) clonality of TILs and (3) change in number and phenotype of TILs with pembrolizumab treatment between Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and DNA Polymerase ε Endometrial Cancers (EC) versus MSI low/stable ECs versus Copy Number High ECs.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Title
Correlation of Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) Expression with TILs
Description
Compare possible associations of PD-1, Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and Programmed Death Ligand 2 (PD-L2) messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) expression with (1) pre-treatment TIL numbers (2) clonality of TILs and (3) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Title
Correlation of Immune and Obesity/Inflammation EC Signatures with TILs
Description
Compare possible associations of immune and obesity/inflammation EC signatures with (1) Body Mass Index (BMI) (2) pre-treatment TIL numbers (3) clonality of TILs and (4) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Title
Correlation of Microbiota Profiles with TILs
Description
Compare possible associations of gut, vaginal and uterine microbiota profiles with (1) BMI (2) pre-treatment TIL numbers (3) clonality of TILs and (4) change in number and phenotype of TILs.
Time Frame
3 weeks
Title
Overall Response Rate of Pembrolizumab with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin
Description
Calculate the overall response rate of pembrolizumab in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin following hysterectomy and surgical staging in (1) stage I/II, serous/clear cell EC and (2) stage III, Grade 3 (serous, clear cell or endometrioid histologies) EC. Response is measured as: Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes (whether target or non-target) must have reduction in short axis <10mm. Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.
Time Frame
3 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
Female
Gender Based
Yes
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. Female Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent. ECOG Performance Status of ≤ 1 (See Appendix 11.4). Diagnosis of advanced stage and histologically confirmed endometrioid, serous, clear cell, carcinosarcoma (including mixed) cancer of the uterus in which neoadjuvant chemotherapy is planned. Has received no prior therapy for uterine cancer, including hysterectomy Subjects with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in the table below; all screening labs to be obtained within 72 hours prior to initiating study treatment. Have an available endometrial biopsy for correlative studies and willing to undergo a research biopsy prior to initiating study treatment. The research biopsy procedure must be deemed medically safe by the investigator. Subjects is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgement of the investigator or protocol designee. Exclusion Criteria: Active infection requiring systemic therapy. Pregnant or breastfeeding Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Subject is receiving prohibited medications or treatments that cannot be discontinued/replaced by an alternative therapy. Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients. Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Note: No HIV testing is required unless mandated by local health authority. Has a known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBsAg reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection. Note: no testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority. Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis). Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. Has a history of symptomatic congestive heart failure (e.g. congestive heart failure defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV functional status), unstable angina pectoris or cardiac arrhythmia.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Victoria Bae-Jump, MD
Organizational Affiliation
UNC-Chapel Hill
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
City
Chapel Hill
State/Province
North Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
27599
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
Links:
URL
http://unclineberger.org/patientcare/clinical-trials/clinical-trials
Description
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Clinical Trials

Learn more about this trial

Window of Opportunity Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab in Obesity-driven Endometrial Cancer

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