Perioperative mFOLFOX Plus Pembrolizumab in Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) and Stomach Adenocarcinoma

A Phase II Study of Perioperative mFOLFOX (Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin) Chemotherapy Plus Pembrolizumab(MK-3475) Combination in Patients With Potentially Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) and Stomach (MISP #52216)

To evaluate the antitumor activity and safety/tolerability of the combination (mFOLFOX + Pembrolizumab) in patients with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) and stomach.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Adenocarcinoma; Stomach Cancer; Gastro Esophageal Junction Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Neoadjuvant Treatment - mFOLFOX6 & Pembrolizumab; Drug: Adjuvant Treatment - mFOLFOX & Pembrolizumab

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative mFOLFOX plus Pembrolizumab combination regimen in participants with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the GEJ and stomach.

• The study is a non-randomized, open-label, single-arm phase II study.
• The enrolled participants will receive neoadjuvant combination of mFOLFOX every 2 weeks for 4 doses (on Days 1, 15, 29, 43) and Pembrolizumab every 3 weeks for 3 doses (on Days 1, 22, 43).
• Serious adverse events (SAEs) will be assessed on an ongoing basis using CTCAE v4.0, and the Thall, Simon, and Estey's design to monitor the efficacy and toxicity continuously together.
• Repeat PET-CT will be obtained approximately 2-3 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant combination therapy.
• If no evidence of metastatic disease on PET-CT, participants will undergo potentially curative surgical resection 4-6 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant combination therapy. This will be followed by adjuvant combination therapy (to be started 6-8 weeks after surgery) consisting of mFOLFOX every 2 weeks for additional 4 doses (total 4 months of therapy) plus Pembrolizumab every 3 weeks for additional 12 doses (total 1 year of therapy). If there is evidence of metastatic disease on PET-CT, participant will come off the study (i.e., will not undergo surgical resection and adjuvant therapy).
• Participants will continue to receive treatment until either one of the following occurs: completion of adjuvant therapy, development of radiographically confirmed progression, participant withdraws consent, intercurrent illness that prevents further administration of treatment, or sponsor-investigator decides to withdraw the participant.
• Efficacy outcomes during the adjuvant chemotherapy phase will be determined by radiologic measurements by CT using RECIST v1.1. Assessment of response will be performed every 3 months for the first year and as per the standard institutional guidelines thereafter.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Kerry Hepler, RN; Phone Number: 913-945-7552; Email: ctnursenav@kumc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Kansas
    • Westwood, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • The University of Kansas Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male/female participants who are 18 - 75 years of age on the day of signing informed consent with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophegeal junction (GEJ) or stomach will be enrolled in this study.
2. Have newly diagnosed localized or locally advanced, potentially resectable disease without any prior systemic chemotherapy.
3. Have no evidence of distant metastases.

4. Be eligible and reasonably fit to undergo potentially curative resection

   Male participants:

5. A male participant must agree to use a contraception as detailed in Appendix 3 of this protocol during the treatment period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of study treatment and refrain from donating sperm during this period. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the participant.

   Female participants:

6. Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to enrollment.

7. A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies:

   1. Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) OR
   2. A WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance in Appendix 3 during the treatment period and for at 120 days after the last dose of study treatment. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the participant.
8. The participant (or legally authorized representative, if applicable) must be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial.
9. Have evaluable disease . Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
10. Have pre-resection tissue available.
11. Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion.
12. Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1.
13. Have adequate organ function.
14. Be willing to provide blood and tissue samples for research purposes.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:

1. A WOCBP who has a positive serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to enrollment on study.
2. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1 (Programmed death-1), anti-PD-L1 (programmed death ligand-1), or anti PD L2 (programmed death ligand-2) agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor.
3. Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 4 weeks prior to study enrollment.

4. Has received prior chemotherapy (including investigational agents) for any malignant disorder, thoracic radiation therapy or prior surgical resection of an esophagogastric tumor.

   a. Note: If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment.

5. Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
6. Has biopsy-proven invasion of tracheobronchial tree or tracheo-esophageal fistula.
7. Has distant metastatic disease on imaging or staging laparoscopy at the time of study entry.
8. Has a known history of active TB (tuberculosis)
9. Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
10. Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
11. Clinically significant peripheral neuropathy at the time of study entry.
12. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.

13. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.

    a. Note: Participants who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 4 weeks after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.

14. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
15. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ (e.g. breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
16. Has active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically serious autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. Participants with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Participants that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Participants with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjogren's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
17. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
18. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
19. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
20. Has a known history of Hepatitis B or known active Hepatitis C virus infection. Note: testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required only if mandated by local health authority.
21. Inoperable on the basis of co-existent medical problems.
22. Non-malignant systemic disease (cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, etc.) that would preclude any of the study drugs.
23. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
24. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
25. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: mFOLFOX6 (Leucovorin-Fluorouracil-Oxaliplatin) + Pembrolizumab; Drug: Pembrolizumab Dose: 200 mg Dose Frequency: Every three weeks (Q3W) Route: Intravenous (IV) infusion Drug: Oxaliplatin Dose: 85 milligrams per meter squared (mg/m2) Dose Frequency: Every 2 weeks (Q2W) Route: IV infusion Drug: Leucovorin Dose: 400 mg/m2 Dose Frequency: Q2W Route: IV infusion Drug: Fluorouracil Dose: 400 mg/m2 Dose Frequency: Q2W Route: IV bolus Drug: Fluorouracil Dose: 2,400 mg/m2 Dose Frequency: Q2W Route: IV continuous 46-hour infusion Pembrolizumab will be administered at a fixed dose of 200 mg IV over 30 minutes every 3 weeks. Participants will receive 3 doses of the drug on Days 1, 22, 43 during the neoadjuvant phase of the study, and 12 doses of the drug on Days 1, 22, 43 during the adjuvant phase of the study (total 15 doses). Participants will receive 4 doses of mFOLFOX6 regimen on Days 1, 15, 29, 43 during the neoadjuvant phase of the study, and 4 doses during the adjuvant phase of the study (total 8 doses).

Drug: Neoadjuvant Treatment - mFOLFOX6 & Pembrolizumab; Pembrolizumab, mFOLFOX Chemotherapy; Drug: Adjuvant Treatment - mFOLFOX & Pembrolizumab; Pembrolizumab, mFOLFOX Chemotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pathological response rate (ypRR)	Number of participants with ypRR after neoadjuvant therapy. Will be assessed on the surgical resection specimen after neoadjuvant therapy, using Haemotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and evaluated using Tumor Regression Score.	10-14 weeks
Number of Adverse Events related to toxicity.	Number of participants with adverse events related to toxicity. Evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03. Participants will be followed for adverse event monitoring through the final safety follow up visit or until study discontinuation/disease progression, whichever occurs first.	up to 14 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective response rate (ORR)	Number of participants with ORR (partial response and complete response) at 12 months. Evaluated using RECIST v1.1	12 months
Disease Free Survivial (DFS)	Number of participants with DFS. Evaluated using computed tomography (CT).	12 months
Overall Survival (OS)	Number of participants with OS.	12 months
PET response rate after completion of neo-adjuvant therapy.	Evaluated using Positron emission tomography scan & computed tomography (PET-CT)	10 weeks
Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells	Change in PD-L1 expression on the surface and in the nucleus of the tumor cells over treatment will be related to complete pathological response (ypCR) by means of logistic regression. Evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Participants will be evaluated at baseline and reevaluated 2-4 weeks after surgery (for those participants who develop complications from surgery, the revaluation time frame may be extended to 7 weeks).	baseline and between 16-21 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center
• Collaborators: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Weijing Sun, MD, FACP, The University of Kansas - Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chang X, Ge X, Zhang Y, Xue X. The current management and biomarkers of immunotherapy in advanced gastric cancer. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 May 27;101(21):e29304. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029304.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 27, 2018
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): April 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Anticipated): April 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 28, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): April 5, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: resectable adenocarcinoma of Gastroesophageal Junction; resectable adenocarcinoma of Stomach
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Stomach Diseases; Stomach Neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Pembrolizumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: IIT-2017-PeriopmFOLFOXPem

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No