Study of Denileukin Diftitox in Participants With Stage IIIC and Stage IV Melanoma

A Phase II Open-Label, Multicenter Study of Denileukin Diftitox in Patients With Stage IIIC and Stage IV Melanoma

The purpose of this study is to determine whether participants with Stage IIIC and Stage IV Melanoma experience benefit when treated with Denileukin diftitox in two different dosing schedules.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stage IV Melanoma; Stage IIIC Melanoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Denileukin diftitox

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, open-label, dose/schedule and clinical efficacy study in participants with Stage IIIC and Stage IV melanoma.

Dose-Schedules: This is a schedule, dose, and pharmacodynamic study of Denileukin diftitox in participants with Stage IIIC and Stage IV melanoma. Two arms of 40 participants each were originally planned (see below) for a total of 80 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 arms: 1. 12 mcg/kg/day on Days 1 through 4 of each 21-day treatment cycle, for a total of 4 cycles (12 weeks); 2. 12 mcg/kg/day on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day treatment cycle, for a total of 4 cycles (12 weeks). Participants will be evaluated for (clinical response, safety and tolerability, and pharmacodynamic measures of ONTAK activity. An optional substudy will be conducted that will involve collection of serial tumor biopsies at study entry and Day 84 in order to assess tissue pharmacodynamic markers of ONTAK activity (Treg depletion in tumor, appearance of melanoma antigen-specific CD8+lymphocytes, and other markers of mucosal immunity and inflammatory response).

Following an amendment, participants will be enrolled in Arm 1 only (expanded to a total of 55 participants) and Arm 2 was closed. According to the original design, if two responses or less were observed among 22 participants on either arm, that arm would be discontinued.

Participants experiencing clinical benefit (immune-related stable disease [irSD], immune-related partial response [irPR], or immune-related complete response [irCR] per irRC) after 4 cycles of treatment, may continue their denileukin diftitox treatment for up to 8 cycles.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 75
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Encinitas, California, United States, 92008
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90025
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20010
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637
  • Kentucky
    • Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40202
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21237
  • Michigan
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
  • Nebraska
    • Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68510
  • Oregon
    • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97227
  • Texas
    • Amarillo, Texas, United States, 79106

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria Participants may be entered in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria.

1. Male or female participants greater than or equal to18 years of age;
2. Participants with histologically confirmed melanoma (Stage IIIC or Stage IV, American Joint Commission on Cancer);
3. Naive to prior systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy (eg, BRAF), or immunotherapy (eg, interleukin-2 [IL-2] or interferon) for the treatment of melanoma, including any cytotoxic agents or IL-2 used for adjuvant therapy (adjuvant interferon is allowed). Prior granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is allowed;
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 0 to 2;
5. Life expectancy greater than or equal to 3 months;
6. At least 1 site of radiographically measurable disease by immune-related response criteria (irRC);
7. Serum albumin greater than or equal to 3 g/dL;

8. Adequate hematologic, renal, and liver function as defined by laboratory values performed within 21 days prior to initiation of dosing:

   • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 x 109/L;
   • Platelet count greater than or equal to 100 x 10^9/L;
   • Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 9 g/dL;
   • Serum creatinine less than or equal 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 50 mL/min;
   • Total serum bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN;
   • Serum aspartate transaminase (AST/SGOT) or serum alanine transaminase (ALT/SGPT) less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN, and less than or equal to 5 x ULN if liver metastases are present.
9. Fertile males should use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 3 months after completion of treatment, as directed by their physician;
10. Pre-menopausal females and females less than 2 years after the onset of menopause should have a negative pregnancy test at Screening. Pre-menopausal females must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control from the time of the negative pregnancy test up to 90 days after the last dose of study drug. Females of non-childbearing potential may be included if they are either surgically sterile or have been postmenopausal for greater than or equal to 1 year; Before study entry, written informed consent must be obtained from the participants prior to performing any study-related procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will not be entered in the study for any of the following:

1. Known central nervous system (CNS) lesions, except for asymptomatic non-progressing, treated brain metastases.

   Treated brain metastases are defined as having no evidence of progression or hemorrhage for 2 months, as ascertained by clinical examination and brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] or computerized tomography [CT]) during the Screening period (using the pretreatment brain image as Baseline). Treatment for brain metastases must have been completed at least 2 months prior to Day 1 of the first treatment cycle and may include whole brain radiotherapy, radiosurgery (Gamma Knife, LINAC, or equivalent), or a combination as deemed appropriate by the treating physician. Dexamethasone must be discontinued at least 4 weeks prior to Day 1. Participants with CNS metastases treated by neurosurgical resection or brain biopsy performed within 2 months prior to Day 1 will be excluded;

2. Carcinomatous meningitis;
3. Prior treatment with denileukin diftitox;
4. Known hypersensitivity to denileukin diftitox or any of its components: diphtheria toxin, IL-2, or excipients;
5. Prior surgery for melanoma less than 4 weeks before enrollment;
6. Other malignancy within 3 years of randomization, with the exception of adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer, with no subsequent evidence of recurrence and/or malignancies diagnosed at a stage where definitive therapy results in near certain cures. The Medical Monitor must be consulted in such cases;
7. Currently receiving any other anticancer treatment for melanoma (including palliative radiotherapy);
8. Received treatment in another clinical study within the 4 weeks prior to commencing study treatment or participants who have not recovered from side effects of an investigational drug to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Grade less than or equal to 1, except for alopecia;
9. Received radiotherapy for non-CNS disease within the 2 weeks prior to commencing study treatment or have not recovered from side effects of all radiation-related toxicities to Grade less than or equal to 1, except for alopecia;
10. Significant cardiovascular impairment (history of congestive heart failure New York Heart Association [NYHA] Grade greater than 2 [see Appendix 5], unstable angina, or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or serious cardiac arrhythmia);
11. Use of chronic systemic steroids (>5 days) within 2 weeks of Day 1 of the first treatment cycle (replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency is allowed);
12. Participants with an allograft requiring immunosuppression;
13. Known positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), known hepatitis B surface antigen, or hepatitis C positive;
14. Pregnant, breast-feeding, or refusing double barrier contraception, oral contraceptives, or avoidance of pregnancy measures; Have any other uncontrolled infection or medical condition that could interfere with the conduct of the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Denileukin Diftitox on Days 1 to 4; Participants received Denileukin Diftitox 12 mcg/kg/day (microgram per kilogram) on Days 1 through 4 of each 21-day treatment cycle, for a total of 4 cycles (12 weeks).	Drug: Denileukin diftitox; Denileukin diftitox intravenous infusion over 30-60 minutes.
Experimental: Denileukin Diftitox on Days 1, 8, and 15; Participants received Denileukin Diftitox 12 mcg/kg/day on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day treatment cycle, for a total of 4 cycles (12 weeks). ARM 2 was closed. Participants experiencing clinical benefit (irSD, irPR, or irCR per irRC) after 4 cycles of treatment, may continue their denileukin diftitox treatment for up to 8 cycles.	Drug: Denileukin diftitox; Denileukin diftitox intravenous infusion over 30-60 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants With Immune-related Overall Response Rate (irORR)	irORR was defined as the percentage of participants with best confirmed response (immune-related complete response [irCR] or immune-related partial response [irPR]). irORR was assessed by immune-related response criteria (irRC). Per irRC criteria, irCR was defined as complete disappearance of all tumor lesions, whether measurable or not, and no new lesions. irPR was defined as decrease in tumor burden by 50 percent (%) or greater (confirmed in 2 observations at least 4 weeks apart).	From the start of treatment up to 1 year 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression Free Survival (PFS)	The PFS was defined as time from start of study treatment until immune-related progressive disease (irPD) or death. If the participant did not progress, the participant was censored at the date of last tumor assessment, known alive, or until starting a next line of therapy, whichever occurred first. PFS was assessed by irRC. irPD was defined as at least 25% increase in tumor burden relative to nadir (at any single time point) in 2 consecutive observations at least 4 weeks apart. The PFS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median time (weeks) and the corresponding 90% confidence interval were estimated for each treatment group are reported.	From the start of treatment to the date of first documentation of irPD, or date of death, whichever occurred first up to 1 year 6 months
Percentage of Participants With PFS at Month 6	The PFS was defined as time from start of study treatment until irPD or death. If the participant did not progress, the participant was censored at the date of last tumor assessment, known alive, or until starting a next line of therapy, whichever occurred first. PFS was assessed by irRC. irPD was defined as at least 25% increase in tumor burden relative to nadir (at any single time point) in 2 consecutive observations at least 4 weeks apart. Percentage of participants with PFS at month 6 are reported and was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.	Month 6
Duration of Response	Duration of response was defined as the time from date of the first assessment demonstrating an irCR or irPR to date of the first assessment demonstrating progressive disease (PD), death, or withdrawal from study. In the absence of confirmation of death or PD, duration of response was censored at the last date of follow-up when the participant was known to be alive and have maintained a response. Duration of response was assessed by irRC. Per irRC criteria, irCR was defined as complete disappearance of all tumor lesions, whether measurable or not, and no new lesions. irPR was defined as decrease in tumor burden by 50% or greater (confirmed in 2 observations at least 4 weeks apart). The duration of response was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.	From date of the first demonstration of irCR or irPR until the date of first demonstration of PD, date of death, or withdrawal from study up to 1 year 6 months
Overall Survival (OS)	The OS was defined as the time from the date of randomization until the date of death. OS was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. The median time (weeks) and the corresponding 90% confidence interval were estimated for each treatment group were reported.	From the date of randomization until the date of death up to 1 year 6 months
Percentage of Participants With OS at 1 Year	The OS was defined as the time from the date of randomization until the date of death. OS at 1 year was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. OS at 1 year was measured as the percentage of participants still alive at 1 year from the date of randomization.	From the date of randomization up to 1 year
Change From Baseline in CD4+CD127-/loCD25+CD152- Cells Expression Pattern at Weeks 12	Treg (regulatory T cells) from peripheral blood and tumor tissues were assessed for best immune-related response. Assessment of Treg cells was done by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Change from baseline in CD4+CD127-/loCD25+CD152- (surface marker expressed in Treg cells) expression pattern, by treatment and immune-related response are reported.	Baseline, Week 12
Change From Baseline in CD4+CD127-/loCD25hiCD152- Cells Expression Pattern at Weeks 12	Treg (regulatory T cells) from peripheral blood and tumor tissues were assessed for best immune-related response. Assessment of Treg cells was done by IHC analysis. Change from baseline in CD4+CD127-/loCD25hiCD152- (surface marker expressed in Treg cells) expression pattern, by treatment and immune-related response are reported.	Baseline, Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Eisai Inc.
• Collaborators: PharmaBio Development Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 22, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 7, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): April 7, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 19, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 19, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): May 20, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 13, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neoplasms
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Nevi and Melanomas; Melanoma; Antineoplastic Agents; Denileukin diftitox
• Other Study ID Numbers: E7272-701

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes