Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine in Combination With Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Phase II Study of a Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine in Combination With Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

The investigators hypothesize that a personalized neoantigen vaccine combined with durvalumab will improve the progression free survival of patients with extensive state small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: TDS-IM v2.0 Device; Biological: Neoantigen DNA vaccine; Drug: Durvalumab; Procedure: Peripheral blood draws

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jeffrey Ward, M.D., Ph.D.; Phone Number: 314-747-7409; Email: jward2@wustl.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Missouri
    • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Recruiting
      • Washington University School of Medicine
      • Contact: Jeffrey Ward, M.D., Ph.D.; Phone Number: 314-747-7409; Email: jward2@wustl.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Ward, M.D., Ph.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: Maria Baggstrom, M.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: Ramaswamy Govindan, M.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: Daniel Morgensztern, M.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: Saiama Waqar, M.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: William Gillanders, M.D.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)
• Considered suitable to receive a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen with durvalumab as 1st line treatment for ES-SCLC.
• Measurable disease defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 10 mm with CT scan, as ≥ 20 mm by chest x-ray, or ≥ 10 mm with calipers by clinical exam.
• At least one lesion must be able to be biopsied at the time of enrollment. The site utilized for biopsy cannot be utilized as a target lesion for efficacy measurement.
• At least 18 years of age.
• ECOG performance status ≤ 1
• Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
• Body weight > 30 kg.

• Adequate normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 K/cumm
  • Platelet count ≥ 75 K/cumm
  • Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (IULN)
  • AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x IULN unless liver metastases are present, in which case it must be ≤ 5 x IULN
  • Measured creatinine clearance > 40 mL/min or calculated creatinine clearance > 40 mL/min by the Cockcroft-Gault formula or by 24-hour urine collection for determination of creatinine clearance
• Adequate cardiac function defined as QTcF < 470 ms on 12-lead ECG.
• Baseline pulse oximetry must be > 92% on room air.

• Evidence of post-menopausal status or negative urinary or serum pregnancy test for female pre-menopausal patients. Women will be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. The following age-specific requirements apply:

  • Women < 50 years of age would be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatments and if they have luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the post-menopausal range for the institution or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy).
  • Women ≥ 50 years of age would be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments, had radiation-induced menopause with last menses > 1 year ago, had chemotherapy-induced menopause with last menses > 1 year ago, or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or hysterectomy):
• Male and female patients of reproductive potential must be willing to employ effective birth control from screening to 90 days after the last dose of durvalumab
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document (or that of legally authorized representative, if applicable). This includes consent for tumor/normal exome sequencing and dbGaP-based data sharing.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor (including durvalumab).

• A history of other primary malignancy except for:

  • Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no know active disease ≥ 5 years before the first dose of study drug and of low potential risk for recurrence
  • Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease
  • Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
• Currently receiving any other investigational agents.
• Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study, unless it is an observational (non-interventional) clinical study or during the follow-up period of an interventional study.
• Prior randomization or treatment in a previous durvalumab clinical study regardless of treatment arm assignment.

• Any unresolved toxicity NCI CTCAE grade ≥ 2 from previous anticancer therapy with the exception of alopecia, vitiligo, and the laboratory values defined in the inclusion criteria.

  • Patients with grade ≥ 2 neuropathy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the PI.
  • Patients with irreversible toxicity not reasonably expected to be exacerbated by treatment with durvalumab may be included only after consultation with the PI.
• Radiotherapy treatment to more than 30% of the bone marrow or with a wide field of radiation within 4 weeks of the first dose of study drug.
• Major surgical procedure (as defined by the PI) within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Note: local surgery of isolated lesions for palliative intent is acceptable.
• History of allogenic organ transplantation.
• History of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
• Any known history of brain metastases. Patients with known brain metastases must be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events.
• A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to durvalumab or other agents used in the study.
• Known allergy, or history of serious adverse reaction to vaccines such as anaphylaxis, hives, or respiratory difficulty.

• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to:

  • uncontrolled ongoing or active infection
  • a history of myocarditis or congestive heart failure (as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV)
  • myocardial infarction 6 months prior to study entry
  • uncontrolled hypertension
  • unstable angina pectoris
  • serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
  • interstitial lung disease (ILD) or a history of ILD/pneumonitis requiring treatment with systemic steriods
  • serious chronic gastrointestinal conditions associated with diarrhea
  • psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements, substantially increase the risk of incurring AEs, or compromise the ability of the patient to give written informed consent.

• Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of durvalumab. The following are exceptions to this criterion:

  • Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (e.g. intra-articular injection)
  • Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent
  • Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. CT scan premedication)
• Receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Note: patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine whilst receiving study drug and up to 30 days after the last dose of study drug.
• History of syncopal or vasovagal episode as determined by medical record and history in the 12 month period prior to enrollment
• Less than 2 acceptable potential injection sites for IM injection and electroporation considering the left and right medial deltoid, and anterolateral quadriceps muscles. A site for injection and electroporation is not acceptable if there is inadequate muscle mass to support at least a 19 mm /0.75 inch injection depth or a skin pinch thickness measurement of >50 mm as assessed using the provided caliper). Eligible injection sites must also have intact lymphoid drainage and be free from tattoos, hypertrophic skin patches, keloids or other skin conditions which could interfere with the administration procedure or subsequent assessment of local reactogenicity. Note: In order to ensure adequate muscle mass for administrations for participants with a weight <65 kg, potentially eligible administration sites are confined to the outer aspect of the upper thigh (left or right vastus lateralis muscle). The left and right medial deltoid are not eligible administration sites for those participants.
• Is an individual in whom the ability to observe possible local site reactions at >2 eligible injection sites (left and right medial deltoid or left and right vastus lateralis muscles) is, in the opinion of the investigator, unacceptably obscured due to a physical condition.
• Has a metal implant or implantable device within the area of the electroporation injection site at >2 of the eligible injection sites.
• Contraindication to intramuscular injections and/or blood draws.
• Any chronic or active neurologic disorder, including seizures and epilepsy, excluding a single febrile seizure as a child.
• Current use of any non-removable electronic stimulation device, such as cardiac demand pacemakers, automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator, nerve stimulators, or deep brain stimulators.

• Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (including inflammatory bowel disease [e.g. colitis or Crohn's disease], diverticulitis [with the exception of diverticulosis], systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis syndrome or Wegener syndrome [granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis, etc.]. The following are exceptions to this criterion:

  • Patients with vitiligo or alopecia
  • Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g. following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement
  • Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy
  • Patients without active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the study physician
  • Patients with celiac disease controlled by diet alone
• Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry.
• History of primary active immunodeficiency.
• Active infection including tuberculosis (clinical evaluation that includes clinical history, physical examination and radiographic findings, and TB testing in line with local practice), hepatitis B (known positive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) result), hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (positive HIV 1/2 antibodies). Patients with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] and absence of HBsAg) are eligible. Patients positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.

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: Neoantigen DNA vaccine+durvalumab; Patients will receive durvalumab (1500mg Q3W) in combination with standard of care carboplatin and etoposide for a total of 4 cycles given every 3 weeks; Beginning 4 weeks following Cycle 4 of carboplatin/etoposide/durvalumab, patients on will then receive 6 cycles of durvalumab 1500 mg with the polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine, both administered once every 4 weeks; Patients may then receive durvalumab every 4 weeks until disease progression or drug toxicity; Should a delay in vaccine preparation occur, patients will begin durvalumab and the vaccine will be added with the subsequent cycle.

Device: TDS-IM v2.0 Device; -Integrated electroporation administration system; Biological: Neoantigen DNA vaccine; All study injections will be given intramuscularly using an integrated electroporation device (TDS-IM system, PapiVax Biotech). At each vaccination time point, patients will receive two injections of the neoantigen DNA vaccine, one injection into each deltoid or lateralis.; Drug: Durvalumab; -Supplied by AstraZeneca; Other Names: Imfinzi; Procedure: Peripheral blood draws; -Pre-treatment, Cycle 2 Day 1, Cycle 3 Day 1, Cycle 4 Day 1, Vaccine Day 1, Vaccine Day 29, Vaccine Day 85, Vaccine Day 141, on even numbers of cycles for durvalumab for one year following completion of vaccine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Safety and tolerability of the combination of durvalumab and a neoantigen vaccine as measured by number of participants experiencing adverse events	-Safety and tolerability will be measured by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria (NCI CTCAE) v 5.0	Through 90 days after completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years and 3 months)
Feasibility of combining durvalumab with a neoantigen vaccine as measured by the number of participants that had a vaccine produced for them	-Feasibility is defined as the ability to produce a vaccine for 80% of patients enrolled	Within 24 weeks of the start of consolidation durvalumab

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression-free survival (PFS)	PFS is defined as the duration of time from start of durvalumab to time of progression or death, whichever occurs first.; Progressive Disease (PD): At least a 20% increase in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study (this includes the baseline sum if that is the smallest on study). In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. (Note: the appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered progressions).	12 months
Response conversion rate	-The response conversion rate is defined as the proportion of patients who improve in RECIST v1.1 category subsequent to vaccination.	Through completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years)
Duration of response (DOR)	-The duration of response is measured from the time measurement criteria are met for CR or PR (whichever is first recorded) until the first date that recurrent or progressive disease is objectively documented (taking as reference for progressive disease the smallest measurements recorded since the treatment started).	Through completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years)
Overall survival (OS)	-Defined as time from start of durvalumab to death due to any causes	Through completion of follow-up (estimated to be 4 years and 3 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
• Collaborators: AstraZeneca; Gateway for Cancer Research
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Ward, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 30, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 21, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): April 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Durvalumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: 202104143

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: All study data will be shared with the study sponsor and will be available from presentations and upon publication.

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