Abemaciclib and Pembrolizumab in Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Clinical Trial of Abemaciclib in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

To assess the objective response rate of tumor lesions to abemaciclib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cohort 1 Not Previously Treated; Drug: Cohort 2 Treated Previously

Detailed Description

Immunotherapy has been recently approved for patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. However, only a small percentage of patients experience long-term control, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. Recently, it was shown preclinically and in breast tumors that abemaciclib stimulates production of type III interferons and hence enhances tumor antigen presentation. Abemaciclib also suppressed the proliferation of regulatory T cells. These events promote cytotoxic T-cell-mediated clearance of tumor cells, which is further enhanced by the addition of immune checkpoint blockade. Based on these data, a phase II trial in patients with metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer who are eligible for immunotherapy is proposed to investigate the combination of abemaciclib with pembrolizumab. Tumor & blood analysis for interferon gamma signature will be explored as possible biomarkers.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Alabama
    • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
      • University of Alabama at Birmingham

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:

• Histologically confirmed (core biopsy proven) metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck
• Adequate pulmonary and cardiac function
• Available archived tissue of primary tumor or resected tumor specimen with adequate samples
• Prior treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor is not allowed in cohort 1 patients. Patients in cohort 2 should have failed or progressed on prior immune checkpoint inhibitor
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status(ECOG PS) = 0 or 1
• Patients who received chemotherapy must have recovered (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse [CTCAE] Grade <= 1) from the acute effects of chemotherapy except for residual alopecia or Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy prior to randomization. A washout period of at lease 21 days is required between last chemotherapy dose and randomization (provided the patient did not receive radiotherapy)
• Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy must have completed and fully recovered from the acute effects of radiotherapy. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between end of radiotherapy and randomization
• The patient is able to swallow oral medications
• Adequate hematologic and end-organ function
• Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) >= 1500/mm3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 8g/dl (Patients may receive erythrocyte transfusions to achieve this hemoglobin level at the discretion of the investigator. Initial treatment must not begin earlier than the day after the erythrocyte transfusion)
• Creatinine (Cr) ≤ 1.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) or Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) ≥ 60 ml/min
• Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert syndrome, who can have total Bilirubin < 2.0 x ULN and direct bilirubin within normal limits are permitted.)
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase ≤ ULN
• Agreement to remain abstinent or use appropriate contraception, among women of childbearing potential
• Willingness and ability to consent for self to participate in study
• Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Autoimmune disease (Note: Vitiligo, type 1 diabetes mellitus, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis only requiring hormone replacement, and conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted.)
• Condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days prior to study treatment (Note: Inhaled and topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.)
• Preexisting medical condition(s) that would preclude participation in this study (for example, interstitial lung disease, severe dyspnea at rest or requiring oxygen therapy, history of major surgical resection involving the stomach or small bowel, or preexisting Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or a preexisting chronic condition resulting in baseline Grade 2 or higher diarrhea).
• Immunosuppression, of any kind
• Prior treatment with Cyclin-Dependent Kinase(CDK) 4/6 Inhibitor
• Major surgical procedure or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks prior to study treatment, and must have fully recovered from any such procedure
• Personal history of any of the following conditions: syncope of cardiovascular etiology, ventricular arrhythmia of pathological origin (including, but not limited to, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation), or sudden cardiac arrest
• Angina, myocardial infarction (MI), symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack TIA), arterial embolism, pulmonary embolism, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) within 6 months prior to study treatment
• Known active viral or non-viral hepatitis or cirrhosis
• Any active infection requiring systemic treatment, positive tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen or Hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA).
• History of gastrointestinal perforation or fistula in the 6 months prior to study treatment, unless underlying risk has been resolved (e.g., through surgical resection or repair)
• Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related illness
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding - Female patients must be surgically sterile (i.e., ≥6 weeks following surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy or tubal ligation) or be postmenopausal, or must agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 4 months following last dose of treatment. All female patients of reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to study treatment. Male patients must be surgically sterile or must agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 4 months following last dose of treatment.
• Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the Investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for this 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: Cohort 1 Not Previously Treated; Patients with metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer who have not been treated previously with immunotherapy.	Drug: Cohort 1 Not Previously Treated; Abemaciclib 150mg by mouth twice daily Pembrolizumab 200mg IV every 3 weeks; Other Names: CDK4:CDK6
Experimental: Cohort 2 Treated Previously; Patients with metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer who have been treated previously with immunotherapy.	Drug: Cohort 2 Treated Previously; Abemaciclib 150mg by mouth twice daily Pembrolizumab 200mg IV every 3 weeks; Other Names: CDK4:CDK6

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To Assess the Objective Response Rate of Tumor Lesions Using Scans	Patients will be evaluated for their tumor response to treatment using RECIST criteria on their scans	Baseline
To Assess the Objective Response Rate of Tumor Lesions Using Scans	Patients will be evaluated for their tumor response to treatment using RECIST criteria on their scans	Baseline to 5 months
To Assess the Objective Response Rate of Tumor Lesions Using Scans	Patients will be evaluated for their tumor response to treatment using RECIST criteria on their scans	Baseline to 8 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events Grade 3 or Greater	Measure adverse events grade 3 or greater to evaluate safety and tolerability	Baseline to 1 month
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events Grade 3 or Greater	Measure adverse events grade 3 or greater to evaluate safety and tolerability	Baseline to 6 months
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events Grade 3 or Greater	Measure adverse events grade 3 or greater to evaluate safety and tolerability	Baseline to 12 months
To Assess Progression Free Survival (PFS)	Using scan results to assess whether tumor has progressed and the time;	baseline to 6 months
To Assess Progression Free Survival (PFS)	Using scan results to assess whether tumor has progressed and the time;	baseline to 12 months
To Assess Overall Survival	time that the patient is experiencing survival	baseline to 6 months
To Assess Overall Survival	time that the patient is experiencing survival	baseline to 12 months
To Assess the Time to Tumor Response	using scan results to assess the time it takes for the tumor to respond to treatment	baseline to 6 months
To Assess the Time to Tumor Response	using scan results to assess the time it takes for the tumor to respond to treatment	baseline to 12 months
To Assess the Duration of Response	using scan results to measure the total amount of time that the tumor is responding to treatment	baseline to 6 months
To Assess the Duration of Response	using scan results to measure the total amount of time that the tumor is responding to treatment	baseline to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eddy Yang, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 8, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 3, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): April 3, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 9, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2021
• Last Verified: June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: immunotherapy; pembrolizumab; abemaciclib; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK): CDK4; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK): CDK6
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Head and Neck Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: UAB 1891

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: To Be Determined
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: As long as study record is posted on CT.gov
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: To Be Determined
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

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.: Yes