Pembrolizumab in Combination With Lenvatinib in Patients With Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04550624
• Recruitment Status: Recruiting
• First Posted: September 16, 2020
• Last Update Posted: August 20, 2021
• Sponsor: Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital
• Collaborator: Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The prognosis for unresectable and metastatic biliary tract cancers (BTCs) including cholangiocarcinoma is poor with first line gemcitabine and cisplatin offering a median overall survival of 11.7 months. There is no standard second- or third-line therapy for advanced BTC, and this represents an unmet medical need for novel therapies. The immune system plays a critical role in the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and chronic inflammation is a common underlying risk factor for CCA. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in CCA may lead to an immune suppression via inadequate tumor antigen presentation and an impaired T cell-mediated immune response directed against tumor antigens. Lenvatinib significantly decreased the population of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and increased interferon-γ-producing cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cells. Addition of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) inhibitors helps reverse VEGF-mediated immune suppression, restore T cell function, and promote T cell tumor infiltration. The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab has demonstrated promising activity with manageable adverse events in various solid tumor types.

The investigators will assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in patients with advanced CCA who failed standard therapy in this phase II study.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma	Drug: Pembrolizumab Injection [Keytruda]; Drug: Lenvatinib Mesylate	Phase 2

Detailed Description:

Title: A Single Arm Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab in combination with Lenvatinib in Patients with Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma after Progression on Standard Systemic Therapy Study Description: The prognosis for unresectable and metastatic biliary tract cancers (BTCs) including cholangiocarcinoma is poor with first line gemcitabine and cisplatin offering a median overall survival of 11.7 months. There is no standard second- or third-line therapy for advanced BTC, and this represents an unmet medical need for novel therapies. The immune system plays a critical role in the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and chronic inflammation is a common underlying risk factor for CCA. VEGF signaling in CCA may lead to an immune suppression via inadequate tumor antigen presentation and an impaired T cell-mediated immune response directed against tumor antigens. Lenvatinib significantly decreased the population of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and increased interferon-γ-producing CD8+ T cells. Addition of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors helps reverse VEGF-mediated immune suppression, restore T cell function, and promote T cell tumor infiltration. The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab has demonstrated promising activity with manageable adverse events in various solid tumor types.

The investigators will assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in patients with advanced CCA who failed standard therapy in this phase II study.

Objectives and Endpoints:

Primary Objective: Evaluate the objective response rate (ORR) (RECIST1.1) of lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced CCA after progression on standard systemic therapies Secondary Objective: Evaluate the safety and tolerability of lenvatinib+pembrolizumab in this population; Determine the duration of response (DOR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS); Determine the ORR, PFS and OS of subgroups stratified by molecular signatures (tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 expression, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) or FGFR mutation/fusion status) in a pre-planned post-hoc analysis; Define molecular correlates of response, including circulating biomarkers and tumor tissue biomarkers Study Population: The study will enroll 40 patients who have unresectable or metastatic, histologically-confirmed advanced CCA. Both male and female patients age of 18 years or older who have failed standard systemic therapy for advanced CCA with measurable disease, adequate bone marrow reserve and hepatic/renal function, and ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 could be eligible to participate in the study after completing the study enrollment screening tests and procedures.

Phase: II Description of Sites/Facilities Enrolling Participants: The study will be conducted at Jiahui International Cancer Center, Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, in collaboration with Zhongshan Hospital.

Study treatment/Intervention: Each cycle is defined as 21 days treatment of Pembrolizumab in combination with Lenvatinib. Treatment will be administered on an outpatient basis:

Pembrolizumab 200mg IV day 1 of every 21 day-cycles; Lenvatinib 20mg PO once daily for 21-day cycles Study Duration: 24-36 months Participant Duration: up to 24 months

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 40 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Single Arm Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Lenvatinib in Patients With Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma After Progression on Standard Systemic Therapy
• Actual Study Start Date: August 9, 2021
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 2023
• Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2025

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Interventional Arm; This is an open-label, multi-center, phase II trial of lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) who have progressed on standard systemic therapy. All participants will be administered Pembrolizumab 200mg IV on day 1 and Lenvatinib 20mg PO daily days 1-21 of each cycle (21 days).	Drug: Pembrolizumab Injection [Keytruda]; 200mg IV on day 1 of each cycle; Other Name: Keytruda; Drug: Lenvatinib Mesylate; 20mg PO daily days 1-21 of each cycle; Other Name: Lenvima

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Evaluation of ORR [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Evaluate the objective response rate (ORR) (RECIST1.1) of lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced CCA after progression on standard systemic therapies

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. All participants who receive at least one dose of study treatment will be evaluable for safety and tolerability through the monitoring of serious and non serious AEs, defined and graded according to NCI CTCAE v5.0. [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   All participants who receive at least one dose of study treatment will be evaluable for safety and tolerability in this study through the monitoring of all serious and non serious AEs, defined and graded according to NCI CTCAE v5.0 from the time of their first treatment.
2. Duration of Overall Response (DOR) [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   The duration of overall response is measured from the time measurement criteria are met for CR or PR (whichever is first recorded) until the first date that recurrence or PD is objectively documented, taking as reference for PD the smallest measurements recorded since the treatment started. Patients who do not relapse will be censored at the day of their last tumor assessment.
3. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Progression-Free Survival (PFS) is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of objective disease progression or death from any cause without evidence of disease progression, whichever comes first.
4. Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Overall Survival (OS) is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of death.
5. Objective Response Rate (ORR) of subgroups burden [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Determine the ORR of subgroups stratified by molecular signatures (tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 expression, MSI status, FGFR mutation/fusion status) in a pre-planned post-hoc analysis
6. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of subgroups burden [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Determine the PFS of subgroups stratified by molecular signatures (tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 expression, MSI status, FGFR mutation/fusion status) in a pre-planned post-hoc analysis
7. Overall Survival (OS) of subgroups burden [ Time Frame: up to 36 months ]
   Determine the OS of subgroups stratified by molecular signatures (tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 expression, MSI status, FGFR mutation/fusion status) in a pre-planned post-hoc analysis

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:

• Patients must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study:

  1. Unresectable or metastatic, histologically-confirmed advanced CCA
  2. Failed standard systemic therapy for advanced CCA due to progression of disease or toxicity
  3. Measurable disease
  4. Prior chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, or radiation to the liver is allowed as long as the patient has measurable disease outside the chemoembolization or radiation area or measurable progression at the site of chemoembolization or radiation
  5. ECOG Performance status ≤ 1
  6. Life expectancy > 3 months
  7. Adequate renal function as defined by Cr ≤ 1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN) or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2
  8. Adequate hepatic function as defined by bilirubin ≤ 2.5 x ULN and alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5x ULN
  9. Adequate bone marrow reserve as evidenced by ANC > 1500/mcl, Plts >75,000/mcl, Hgb ≥ 9.0g/dl
  10. Prothrombin time / Partial thromboplastin time (PT/PTT) <1.5x ULN
  11. Urine Protein: Creatinine ratio of <1, if protein is > 2+ on urinalysis
  12. Age ≥ 18 years
  13. Participants with past or ongoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are eligible for the study. Treated participants must have completed their treatment at least 1 month prior to starting study intervention. Untreated or incompletely treated HCV participants may initiate anti-viral therapy for HCV if liver function remains stable for at least 3 months on study intervention

  14. Participants with controlled hepatitis B are eligible for the study, as long as they meet the following criteria:

      Participants with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA, must be given antiviral therapy for HBV for at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention and HBV viral load must be less than 100 IU/ml. prior to the first dose of study treatment. Participants on active HBV therapy with viral loads under 100 IU/ml. should stay on the same therapy throughout study intervention. Antiviral therapy after completion of study intervention should follow local guidelines.

  15. Participants with clinically resolved HBV infection, defined as HBsAg negative and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) positive, and who have an undetectable HBV viral load at screening should be checked every 6 weeks for HBV viral load and treated for HBV if viral load is over 100 IU/ml. Antiviral therapy after completion of study intervention should follow local guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who exhibit any of the following conditions at screening will not be eligible to be enrolled to the study:

  1. Prior treatment with other VEGF-R directed therapies or checkpoint inhibitors
  2. Periampullary cancer or gallbladder cancer
  3. Major surgery or radiation within the 4 weeks prior to enrollment
  4. Uncontrolled hypertension defined by systolic blood pressure (SBP)>150 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP)>90 despite titration of anti-hypertensive medications
  5. Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease
  6. Congestive heart failure or symptomatic coronary artery disease within 3 months prior to enrollment
  7. Cerebrovascular accident within prior 6 months
  8. Clinically significant hemorrhage, bleeding event, or thromboembolic disease within six months
  9. History of bowel perforation
  10. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or currently has pneumonitis
  11. Known history of HIV infection
  12. Severely impaired lung function or history of interstitial lung disease
  13. Concurrent malignancy (other than adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and cervical CIS) diagnosed within the past 5 years or any currently active malignancy
  14. Positive serum pregnancy test within 72 hours of first dosing of study treatment
  15. 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

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Freya Gao; +86 (21) 5339 3382; freya.gao@jiahui.com

Contact: Flora Yan; +86 (21) 5339 3000 ext 6123; mengchen.yan@jiahui.com

Locations

China, Shanghai

Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital; Not yet recruiting

Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200233

Contact: Freya Gao 0086-2153393382 freya.gao@jiahui.com

Contact: Flora Yan 0086-2153393000 ext 6123 mengchen.yan@jiahui.com

Principal Investigator: Andrew X Zhu, Prof.

Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital; Recruiting

Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200233

Contact: Guoming Shi, Prof. 008613916969578 shi.guoming@zs-hospital.sh.cn

Principal Investigator: Jia Fan, Prof.

Sub-Investigator: Guoming Shi, Prof.

Sponsors and Collaborators

Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital

Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Andrew X Zhu, PhD; Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital

More Information

• Responsible Party: Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04550624
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-0001
• First Posted: September 16, 2020
• Last Update Posted: August 20, 2021
• Last Verified: August 2021

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
• Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: No

Keywords provided by Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital:

Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma; Pembrolizumab; Lenvatinib

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Cholangiocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Pembrolizumab; Lenvatinib; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action