Pembrolizumab With or Without Vismodegib in Treating Metastatic or Unresectable Basal Cell Skin Cancer

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02690948
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: February 24, 2016
• Results First Posted: March 8, 2019
• Last Update Posted: March 8, 2019
• Sponsor: Anne Chang
• Collaborators: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Anne Chang, Stanford University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This phase 1-2 trial studies how well pembrolizumab with or without vismodegib works in treating patients with skin basal cell cancer that has spread to other places in the body or cannot be removed by surgery. Monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, are checkpoint inhibitors that stimulate immune response. Vismodegib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking signals needed for cell growth.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Skin Basal Cell Carcinoma	Biological: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Vismodegib	Phase 1; Phase 2

Detailed Description:

This study is a non-randomized evaluation of pembrolizumab as a treatment for unresectable or metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Participants are assigned to treatment with pembrolizumab plus vismodegib or pembrolizumab monotherapy on the basis of suitability for treatment with smoothened (SMO) inhibitors such as vismodegib. Prospective participants who have progressed on vismodegib, are intolerant to or have a medical contra-indication to vismodegib may receive pembrolizumab monotherapy. Because treatment is non-randomized, no comparison between treatment groups is conducted.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To assess the overall response rate (ORR) of unresectable or metastatic BCC patients to pembrolizumab with or without vismodegib (all evaluable patients) at 18 weeks

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES

• To assess the ORR of unresectable or metastatic BCC patients to pembrolizumab monotherapy at 18 weeks
• To assess the ORR of unresectable or metastatic BCC patients to pembrolizumab monotherapy at 9 weeks
• To assess ORR of unresectable or metastatic BCC patients to pembrolizumab plus vismodegib at 18 weeks
• To assess ORR of unresectable or metastatic BCC patients to pembrolizumab plus vismodegib at 9 weeks
• To assess the safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab (either monotherapy or combination therapy) for unresectable or metastatic BCC.
• To assess the duration of response after pembrolizumab (either monotherapy or combination therapy)
• Incidence and severity of adverse events
• Correlative studies including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression pre-treatment, lymphocytic infiltrates pre- and post-treatment, mutational analysis pre- and post-treatment

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 16 participants
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Phase 1b Open Label Study of Pembrolizumab for Unresectable or Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Actual Study Start Date: February 1, 2016
• Actual Primary Completion Date: November 30, 2017
• Actual Study Completion Date: August 29, 2018

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Pembrolizumab Monotherapy; Participants who previously received vismodegib and subsequently progressed will receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles are every 21 days for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.	Biological: Pembrolizumab; Given IV; Other Names: Keytruda; Lambrolizumab; MK-3475; SCH 900475
Experimental: Pembrolizumab plus Vismodegib Combination Therapy; Participants who have not progressed while receiving vismodegib will receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 and take vismodegib 150 mg by mouth daily. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.	Biological: Pembrolizumab; Given IV; Other Names: Keytruda; Lambrolizumab; MK-3475; SCH 900475; Drug: Vismodegib; Given PO; Other Names: Erivedge; GDC-0449; Hedgehog Antagonist GDC-0449

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Overall Response Rate (ORR) [ Time Frame: 18 weeks ]

   The overall response rate (ORR) of participants with unresectable or metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) after treatment with A) pembrolizumab monotherapy and B) pembrolizumab in combination with vismodegib, will be assessed as the percentage of participants with partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) as determined by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 criteria, after 9 and 18 weeks of treatment. ORR is calculated as the ratio of patients with CR or PR as a percentage of the participants evaluable for OR.

   RECIST criteria:

   • 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
   • Progressive disease (PD) = 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, and/or the appearance of one or more new lesion(s)
   • Stable disease (SD) = Small changes that do not meet any of the above criteria

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Percentage of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events [ Time Frame: up to 2 years ]
   Incidence of Adverse Events is assessed as the percentage of participants receiving treatment who experience adverse events of any grade, in participants receiving A) pembrolizumab monotherapy and B) pembrolizumab in combination with vismodegib. Enrolled participants receiving at least one dose of study agent and with at least one follow-up evaluation will be included.
2. Related Adverse Events [ Time Frame: up to 2 years ]
   Adverse events were assessed for relationship to pembrolizumab treatment. The outcome is reported as the number (without dispersion) of Grade 3 or higher adverse events considered possibly, probably, or definitely-related to pembrolizumab treatment,.
3. Duration of Response (DOR) [ Time Frame: up to 2 years ]

   The duration of response (DOR) as assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 criteria in participants receiving A) pembrolizumab monotherapy and B) pembrolizumab in combination with vismodegib, assessed as the median value for subjects who complete 9 and 18 weeks of treatment.

   RECIST criteria:

   • 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
   • Progressive disease (PD) = 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, and/or the appearance of one or more new lesion(s)
   • Stable disease (SD) = Small changes that do not meet any of the above criteria
4. Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
   The overall survival (OS) participants with unresectable or metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) after treatment with A) pembrolizumab monotherapy and B) pembrolizumab in combination with vismodegib, will be reported as the number and percentage of participants remaining alive 1 year after the start of treatment.
5. Progression-free Survival (PFS) [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
   The progression-free survival (PFS) will be participants with unresectable or metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) after treatment with A) pembrolizumab monotherapy and B) pembrolizumab in combination with vismodegib, will be reported as the percentage of participants without progression 1 year after the start of treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA

• Histologically-proven basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in which curative resection is unlikely without significant morbidity, or have nodal or distantly metastatic disease which has progressed on vismodegib (Arm 1) or has achieved partial response or stable disease on smoothened inhibitor (Arm 2). Individuals who are intolerant or have a medical contra-indication to smoothened inhibitor will be enrolled into Arm 1.
• Have measurable disease based on Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1
• ≥ 18 years of age on day of consent.
• Willing to provide tissue from a core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion up to 6 weeks (42 days) prior to initiation of treatment on Day 1, or availability of adequate archival specimens.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status = 0 or 1
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mcL
• Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL, or ≥ 5.6 mmol/L, without transfusion or EPO dependency (within 7 days of assessment)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR measured or calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min for subject(s) with creatinine levels > 1.5 x ULN
• Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 x ULN
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN, OR ≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with liver metastases
• alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN, OR ≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with liver metastases
• Albumin ≥ 2.5 mg/dL
• International normalized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy, in which case PT/INR must be within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy, in which case PTT must be within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
• Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
• Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or be willing to abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year.
• If female, is postmenopausal; is surgically sterile; or agrees to use 2 acceptable methods of birth control throughout the trial, until 120 days after the last dose of treatment
• If female, agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy
• Male with female partner of childbearing potential agrees to use adequate method of contraception throughout study, until 120 days after last dose of treatment or last blood draw.
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial. Consent may be obtained by legally-authorized representative (LAR).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

• Currently receiving investigational study therapy, or has received investigational study therapy, or used an investigational device, within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
• 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 (EXCEPTIONS: topical, intraarticular, intralesional, and inhaled steroids)
• Known history of active Bacillus Tuberculosis (TB) infection
• Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
• Has received an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1, or who has not recovered (ie, ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
• Has received chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1, or who has not recovered (ie, ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. (EXCEPTION: Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy may qualify for the study).
• If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
• Known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. (EXCEPTIONS: basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy, or in situ cervical cancer)
• Carcinomatous meningitis without consideration of clinical stability
• Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment.
• Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (ie, with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg, thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. Intraarticular, inhaled, and intralesional doses of steroids are allowed at screening and during the study.
• Known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
• Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
• History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, 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.
• Is pregnant or breastfeeding
• Expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
• 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).
• Has known active Hepatitis B (eg, HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (eg, HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
• Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, Flu-Mist) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Stanford University School of Medicine

Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304

Sponsors and Collaborators

Anne Chang

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Anne Lynn S Chang, MD; Stanford University

  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Anne Chang, Stanford University:

Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] April 26, 2018

More Information

• Responsible Party: Anne Chang, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Stanford University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02690948
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-34925; NCI-2015-01869 ( Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program) ); 350 ( Other Identifier: NCI ); P30CA124435 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); SKIN0031 ( Other Identifier: OnCore )
• First Posted: February 24, 2016
• Results First Posted: March 8, 2019
• Last Update Posted: March 8, 2019
• Last Verified: March 2019

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Basal Cell; Pembrolizumab; Carcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action