Immunotherapy Combination Study in Advanced Previously Treated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A Phase 1b/2 Study of Tergenpumatucel-L (HyperAcute Lung) Immunotherapy in Combination With the IDO Pathway Inhibitor Indoximod and Docetaxel in Patients With Advanced Previously Treated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLS)

This is a Phase 1/2 trial using indoximod, an inhibitor of the immune "checkpoint" pathway indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), in combination with Tergenpumatucel-L immunotherapy and Docetaxel to treat subjects with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). From a practical standpoint, a successful tumor immunotherapy will likely require a combination treatment with additional therapeutic interventions that both activate an immune response and remove redundant mechanisms of tolerance maintenance. This clinical trial utilizes the combination of the chemotherapeutic agent, docetaxel, plus two investigational methods of cancer immunotherapy: the first, tergenpumatucel-L, is intended to educate the human immune system to recognize the abnormal components found in lung cancer cells, resulting in an immune response intended to destroy or block the growth of the cancer; and the second, the IDO inhibitor Indoximod, will overcome tumor-induced immune suppression.

The goal of this study is to assess the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates in this patient population. This study will provide a foundation for future trials testing indoximod combined with tergenpumatucel-L.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Recurrent; Progression of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Docetaxel; Drug: Indoximod; Biological: Tergenpumatucel-L

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Missouri
    • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219
      • University of Cincinnati

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

• Histological/cytological diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Squamous cell (epidermoid), adenocarcinoma, bronchoalveolar carcinoma and large cell anaplastic lung carcinoma histologies are eligible. Mixed histologies of NSCLC (i.e., adenosquamous) are eligible. Mixed NSCLC/small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and variant large and small cell lung cancer are NOT eligible for this study.
• Measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1 Criteria.
• At least one but no more than three prior lines of therapy in the advanced stage are allowed. One prior line of therapy must be platinum doublet chemotherapy.
• At least 18 years of age.
• ECOG performance status ≤ 1

• Normal bone marrow and organ function as defined below:

  • Marrow: Hemoglobin ≥10.0 gm/dL, absolute granulocyte count (AGC) ≥1,000/mm3 platelets ≥100,000/mm3, absolute lymphocyte count ≥1000/mm3.
  • Hepatic: Serum/plasma total bilirubin ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) with the exception of <2.9 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's disease, ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) ≤2.5 x ULN.
  • Renal: Serum/plasma creatinine (sCr) ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal, or creatinine clearance (Ccr) ≥50 mL/min.
• Serum/plasma albumin > 3.0 gm/dL
• Sexually active women of child-bearing potential must agree to use two forms of contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. A pregnancy test is required prior to study enrollment and monthly while on treatment with indoximod for all women of child- bearing potential. Also men should be discouraged from fathering children while on treatment.
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria

• More than three lines of prior therapy.
• Previous use of indoximod or tergenpumatucel-L immunotherapy.
• A history of other malignancy, unless treated with curative intent, and no evidence of disease for at least 2 years.
• Current therapy with any other investigational agents.
• Untreated CNS disease, metastases or carcinomatous meningitis. Patients with CNS metastases must be at least 2 weeks status post prior therapy to the brain and be off all steroids without progressing CNS disease or symptoms.
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to indoximod, docetaxel, or other agents used in the study.
• Current use of immunosuppressive drugs or use of corticosteroids, except for inhaler, topical corticosteroids, or dexamethasone in the premedication for docetaxel.
• Other malignancy within three years, unless the probability of recurrence of the prior malignancy is <5%. Patient's curatively treated for squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix (CIN) or patients with a history of malignant tumor in the past that have been disease free for at least five years are also eligible for this study.
• History of organ transplant.

• Any of the following within 6 months prior to study drug administration:

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Severe/unstable angina
  • Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack
  • Pulmonary embolism
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of ≥ grade 2, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry.
• Known HIV-positivity on combination antiretroviral therapy because of the unknown potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with indoximod, or docetaxel. In addition, these patients are at increased risk of lethal infections when treated with marrow suppressive therapy.
• Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic therapy. Patients with a history of autoimmune disease must be counselled regarding the unknown potential of exacerbating or reactivating previous or dormant autoimmunity during the consent process.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: NA
• Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Phase 1: Dose Escalation; Up to 18 participants will be enrolled and treated at escalating doses of Indoximod with a fixed dose of tergenpumatucel-L and docetaxel. Treatment may continue until definitive disease progression or significant toxicology.	Drug: Docetaxel; Other Names: Taxotere®; Drug: Indoximod; Other Names: 1-methyl-D-tryptophan; D-1MT; Biological: Tergenpumatucel-L; Other Names: HyperAcute®-Lung Immunotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Regimen Limiting Toxicity	Phase 1 component: To identify the regimen limiting toxicity (RLT) for the combination of tergenpumatucel-L and indoximod.	Approximately 6 weeks
Progression Free Survival (PFS)		Approximately 18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency and grade of adverse events of tergenpumatuucel-L, indoximod and docetaxel		Approximately 18 months
Objective Response Rate	To assess preliminary evidence of efficacy of tergenpumatuucel-L, indoximod and docetaxel using RECIST 1.1 measurement criteria.	Approximately 18 months
Overall Survival		Approximately 30 months
Response rate to subsequent therapy	Assess evidence of delayed response of tergenpumatuucel-L, indoximod and docetaxel using RECIST 1.1 measurement criteria.	up to 36 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NewLink Genetics Corporation

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Click here for more information regarding NewLink Genetics.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 17, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): January 13, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 29, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): June 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Immunotherapy; Relapsed; Progressive; Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Vaccine Therapy; IDO; Second line therapy; IDO Inhibitor
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Antineoplastic Agents; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Psychotropic Drugs; Antidepressive Agents; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Docetaxel; Tryptophan
• Other Study ID Numbers: NLG0401; 1504-1393 (Other Identifier: Office of Biotechnology Activities)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO