Testing of Tazemetostat in Combination With Topotecan and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05353439
• Recruitment Status: Recruiting
• First Posted: April 29, 2022
• Last Update Posted: May 25, 2023
• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of tazemetostat in combination with topotecan and pembrolizumab in treating patients with small cell lung cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Tazemetostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Chemotherapy drugs, such as topotecan, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving tazemetostat in combination with topotecan and pembrolizumab may shrink or stabilize recurrent small cell lung cancer.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Extensive Stage Lung Small Cell Carcinoma; Limited Stage Lung Small Cell Carcinoma; Platinum-Resistant Lung Small Cell Carcinoma; Platinum-Sensitive Lung Small Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Lung Small Cell Carcinoma	Procedure: Biopsy; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Biological: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Tazemetostat Hydrobromide; Drug: Topotecan Hydrochloride	Phase 1

Detailed Description:

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of tazemetostat hydrobromide (tazemetostat) in combination with topotecan hydrochloride (topotecan) and pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent extensive stage-small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), by reviewing dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in cycle 1 (21 days). (Dose-Escalation Cohort) II. To select the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for a combination of tazemetostat, topotecan and pembrolizumab, based on pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters as well as overall efficacy and tolerability. (Dose-Escalation Cohort) III. To evaluate safety and tolerability of tazemetostat in combination with topotecan and pembrolizumab. (Expansion Cohort)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To observe and record anti-tumor activity. II. To determine in a very preliminary fashion, the efficacy of a combination of tazemetostat, topotecan and pembrolizumab in recurrent ES-SCLC by assessing overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR) and overall survival (OS).

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To perform molecular profiling assays on malignant and normal tissues, including, but not limited to ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing (RNA-Seq).

II. To assess modulation of EZH2 targets including SLFN11 and MHC among others. III. To identify potential predictive biomarkers of response. IV. To identify mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)- and RNA-based assessment platforms.

V. To contribute genetic analysis data from de-identified biospecimens to Genomic Data Commons (GDC), a well annotated cancer molecular and clinical data repository, for current and future research; specimens will be annotated with key clinical data, including presentation, diagnosis, staging, summary treatment, and if possible, outcome.

VI. To bank formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, blood (for cell-free DNA analysis), and nucleic acids obtained from patients at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early-Phase and Experimental Clinical Trials Biospecimen Bank (EET Biobank) at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

VII. Characterize circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of tazemetostat followed by a dose-expansion study.

Patients receive tazemetostat orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-21, pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1, and topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) scan throughout the study and may also undergo biopsy and collection of blood on study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months after removal from study treatment until study closure or death, whichever occurs first.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 60 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Phase I Dose Escalation and Expansion Study of Tazemetostat in Combination With Topotecan and Pembrolizumab in Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Actual Study Start Date: May 12, 2022
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: April 1, 2025
• Estimated Study Completion Date: April 1, 2025

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Experimental: Treatment (tazemetostat, pembrolizumab, topotecan); Patients receive tazemetostat PO BID on days 1-21, pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1, and topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan throughout the study and may also undergo biopsy and collection of blood on study.

Procedure: Biopsy; Undergo biopsy; Other Names: BIOPSY_TYPE; Bx; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo collection of blood; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Biospecimen Collected; Specimen Collection; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo CT scan; Other Names: CAT; CAT Scan; Computed Axial Tomography; Computerized Axial Tomography; Computerized axial tomography (procedure); Computerized Tomography; CT; CT Scan; tomography; Biological: Pembrolizumab; Given IV; Other Names: Keytruda; Lambrolizumab; MK-3475; SCH 900475; Drug: Tazemetostat Hydrobromide; Given PO; Other Names: EPZ-6438 Monohydrobromide; Tazemetostat Monohydrobromide; TAZVERIK; Drug: Topotecan Hydrochloride; Given IV; Other Names: Hycamptamine; Hycamtin; SKF S-104864-A; Topotecan HCl; topotecan hydrochloride (oral)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Maximum tolerated dose (dose-escalation cohort) [ Time Frame: Up to 21 days (cycle 1) ]
2. Incidence of adverse events (expansion cohort) [ Time Frame: Up to 3 years ]
   Will be evaluated in more detail by reporting the adverse events noted, by type and grade, for the patients in the expansion cohort.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Overall response rate [ Time Frame: Up to 3 years ]
   Will be estimated based on patients evaluable for response and will be presented along with a 95% confidence interval.
2. Progression-free survival [ Time Frame: From the on-study date until the date of progression or death without progression, assessed up to 3 years ]
   Will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, resulting in median survival times with 95% confidence interval.
3. Overall survival [ Time Frame: From the on-study date until the date of death or last follow-up, assessed up to 3 years ]
   Will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, resulting in median survival times with 95% confidence interval.
4. Duration of response [ Time Frame: From the first date of response to the date of progression, assessed up to 3 years ]
   Will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, resulting in median survival times with 95% confidence interval.

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 enrolled to the primary cohort must have limited- or extensive-disease SCLC at diagnosis, with relapse at study entry with measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, and with prior therapy with platinum doublet. Patients with extensive stage disease should have received chemo-immunotherapy. Both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant patients will be included.
• Age >= 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of pembrolizumab in combination with tazemetostat and topotecan in patients <18 years of age, children are excluded from this study.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2 (Karnofsky >= 70%)
• Leukocytes > 3000/mcL
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL
• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL
• Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL or > 5.6 mmol/L
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) OR direct bilirubin =< ULN for patients with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 × ULN
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 2.5 x institutional ULN

• Creatinine =< 1.5 institutional ULN OR glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >= 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 unless data exists supporting safe use at lower kidney function values, no lower than 30 mL/min/1.73 m^2

  • Note: Creatinine clearance (CrCl) should be calculated per institutional standard. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl
• International normalized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT) =< 1.5 × ULN unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
• Activated (a)PTT =< 1.5 × ULN unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load (CD4 count of greater than 250 cells/mcL) within 6 months are eligible for this trial. They must not be receiving prophylactic therapy for an opportunistic infection.
• For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated.
• Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load.
• Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if they are symptomatically stable while off steroid therapy for a minimum of 7 days.
• Patients should be class 2B or better on the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• The effects of pembrolizumab and tazemetostat on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because monoclonal antibodies, EZH2 inhibitors as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study treatment and for 6 months after the last dose of study treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 3 months after completion of study treatment administration.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have had chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, or radiotherapy within 2 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study. Note: Patients who have had palliative radiotherapy may be included as long as they have recovered from any radiotherapy related adverse events (allow at least 3 days between radiotherapy completion and study treatment)

• Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities > grade 1)

  • Note: Patients with =< grade 2 neuropathy or =< grade 2 alopecia are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study
  • Note: If patients received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy
• Untreated immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment. The use of physiologic doses of corticosteroids may be approved after consultation with the study principal investigator (PI)
• Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents
• Patients with symptomatic brain metastasis are not eligible due to their extremely poor prognosis and since it is unclear whether the investigational agent penetrates the blood-brain barrier. However, subjects who have had treatment for their brain metastasis and are symptomatically stable while off steroid therapy for a minimum of 7 days may be enrolled. The use of physiologic doses of corticosteroids may be approved after consultation with the study PI
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to pembrolizumab and tazemetostat or other agents used in study
• Has an 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 current pneumonitis
• Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Patients with psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because pembrolizumab as a monoclonal antibody, and tazemetostat as a EZH2 inhibitor may have the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with pembrolizumab or tazemetostat, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with these agents and for 1 week after the last dose of tazemetostat. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study
• Has known active hepatitis B (e.g., hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or hepatitis C
• Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned treatment start. Seasonal flu vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted
• Has thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, or anemia of Grade >= 3 (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] 5.0 criteria) or any prior history of myeloid malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Has abnormalities known to be associated with MDS (e.g. del 5q, chromosome [chr] 7 abnormality [abn]) and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) (e.g. JAK2 V617F) observed in cytogenetic testing and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing
• Has a prior history of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) or T-cell acute leukemia (T-ALL)

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Keck Medicine of USC Koreatown; Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90020

Contact: Site Public Contact 213-388-0908

Principal Investigator: Jorge J. Nieva

Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center; Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033

Contact: Site Public Contact 323-865-0451

Principal Investigator: Jorge J. Nieva

USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033

Contact: Site Public Contact 323-865-0451

Principal Investigator: Jorge J. Nieva

USC Norris Oncology/Hematology-Newport Beach; Recruiting

Newport Beach, California, United States, 92663

Contact: Site Public Contact 323-865-0451

Principal Investigator: Jorge J. Nieva

United States, District of Columbia

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital; Suspended

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20007

United States, Illinois

Northwestern University; Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

Contact: Site Public Contact 312-695-1301 cancer@northwestern.edu

Principal Investigator: Nisha A. Mohindra

United States, Kentucky

University of Kentucky/Markey Cancer Center; Recruiting

Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40536

Contact: Site Public Contact 859-257-3379

Principal Investigator: Zhonglin Hao

United States, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center; Recruiting

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287

Contact: Site Public Contact 410-955-8804 jhcccro@jhmi.edu

Principal Investigator: Christine L. Hann

NCI - Center for Cancer Research; Recruiting

Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892

Contact: Site Public Contact 800-411-1222

Principal Investigator: Anish Thomas

United States, New York

Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein Campus; Suspended

Bronx, New York, United States, 10461

Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus; Suspended

Bronx, New York, United States, 10467

United States, North Carolina

Wake Forest University Health Sciences; Recruiting

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157

Contact: Site Public Contact 336-713-6771

Principal Investigator: Jimmy Ruiz

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Anish Thomas; National Cancer Institute LAO

More Information

• Responsible Party: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05353439
• Other Study ID Numbers: NCI-2022-03215; NCI-2022-03215 ( Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program) ); 22-C-0005; 10445 ( Other Identifier: National Cancer Institute LAO ); 10445 ( Other Identifier: CTEP )
• First Posted: April 29, 2022
• Last Update Posted: May 25, 2023
• Last Verified: April 2023

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Yes
• Plan Description: NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.
• URL: https://grants.nih.gov/policy/sharing.htm

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

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Carcinoma; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Recurrence; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pembrolizumab; Topotecan; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; Topoisomerase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors