Testing the Combination of Anti-Cancer Drugs Talazoparib and Temozolomide in Patients With Advanced Stage Rare Cancers, RARE 2 Trial

Rapid Analysis and Response Evaluation of Combination Anti-Neoplastic Agents in Rare Tumors (RARE CANCER) Trial: RARE 2 Talazoparib and Temozolomide

This phase II trial tests whether combination of talazoparib and temozolomide works to shrink tumors in patients with rare cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Talazoparib is an inhibitor of poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP), an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It damages the cell's DNA and may kill cancer cells. Giving talazoparib in combination with temozolomide may help shrink advanced rare cancers or stop them from growing.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Adrenal Gland Pheochromocytoma; Paraganglioma; Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Computed Tomography; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Drug: Temozolomide; Drug: Talazoparib; Procedure: Biopsy Procedure

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the proportion of patients with advanced rare cancers who have objective responses (OR) to treatment with temozolomide and talazoparib.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the proportion of patients alive and progression free at 6 months on study agents.

II. To identify genomic and transcriptomic determinants of response and resistance in tumor biopsy specimens.

III. To examine genomic alterations in circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that may be associated with response or resistance.

IV. To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of the combination on biomarkers of cell death and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue and CTCs.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive talazoparib orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-28 and temozolomide PO QD on days 2-6 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scans and may optionally undergo biopsy and/or blood sample collection at baseline and on the trial.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days or until one of the following occurs: patient enrolls on another protocol, patient receives standard of care, or death, whichever comes first.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically confirmed rare solid tumors that have progressed on standard therapy or for whom there is no longer standard of care therapy. Other rare tumor types may be acceptable at the discretion of the principal investigator (PI)

  • Patients must not be eligible for a higher priority study, such as a disease specific study of phase 2 or higher or a randomized study. Specifically, patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma at the clinical center will be eligible for this study if they are not eligible for the NCT04394858 due to prior PARP inhibitor, dacarbazine (DTIC) or temozolomide therapy
• Patients must have measurable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v)1.1, with at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions)
• Patients consenting to biopsies must have a tumor site amenable to biopsy. If avoidable, the lesion for biopsy should not be selected as a target lesion for RECIST measurements

• Prior to entering the study, patients must have:

  • >= 3 weeks since completion of radiation therapy or major surgery

  • >= 5 half-lives or 3 weeks (whichever is shorter) since completion of biologic therapy or chemotherapy

    • Should be at least 6 weeks out from nitrosoureas and mitomycin C
  • >= 2 weeks since any prior administration of a study drug in a Phase 0 or equivalent study
  • >= 1 week from palliative radiation therapy (patients on study may be eligible for palliative radiotherapy to non-targeted lesions after 2 cycles of therapy at the PI's discretion)
  • Recovered to eligibility levels from prior toxicity or adverse events. Treatment with bisphosphonates is permitted
• Adults age >= 18 years; children/adolescents age >= 12 years to 17 years with body surface area (BSA) >= 1.5 m^2
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2 (Karnofsky >= 60%)
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL
• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL
• Hemoglobin >= 8 g/dL
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal (=< 3 x upper limit of normal in the presence of documented Gilbert's syndrome or liver metastases at baseline)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 3 X upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 OR creatinine for adult patients: =< 1.5 X institutional ULN, for pediatric patients (< 18 years of age):

  • 2 to < 6 years (0.8 mg/dL male, 0.8 mg/dL female)
  • 6 to < 10 years (1 mg/dL male, 1 mg/dL female)
  • 10 to < 13 years (1.2 mg/dL male, 1.2 mg/dL female)
  • 13 to < 16 years (1.5 mg/dL male, 1.4 mg/dL female)
  • 16 to < 18 years (1.7 mg/dL male, 1.4 mg/dL female)
• Talazoparib and temozolomide can cause fetal harm based on animal reproductive and genetic toxicity studies. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation and for at least 7 months after dosing with study drugs ceases. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 7 months after completion of study drug administration. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (urine or serum) in the 8 days prior to beginning treatment, and again on cycle 1 day 1 of treatment

• Biopsies are optional on this study. In lieu of baseline biopsies, patients are encouraged to submit at registration archival tumor biopsy tissue from a previous research study or medical care providing it meets the minimum collection and preservations requirements. Criteria for the submission of archival tissue are:

  • Tissue must have been collected within 3 months prior to registration
  • Patient must not have received any intervening therapy for their cancer since the collection of the tumor sample
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial. For these patients, an HIV viral load test must be completed within 28 days prior to enrollment
• Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
• Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sensory/motor neuropathy >= grade 2
• Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents
• Patients with active brain metastases or carcinomatous meningitis are excluded from this clinical trial. Patients with treated brain metastases, whose brain metastatic disease has remained stable for >= 1 month without requiring steroid and anti-seizure medication are eligible to participate
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical composition to study drugs

• Known clinically significant liver disease, including active viral, alcoholic, or other hepatitis; cirrhosis; fatty liver; and inherited liver disease

  • Patients with past or resolved hepatitis B infection (defined as having a negative hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] test and a positive anti-HBc [antibody to hepatitis B core antigen] antibody test) are eligible. For these patients, HBsAg and anti-HBc tests must be done within 28 days prior to enrollment
  • Patients positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is negative for HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA). For these patients, an HCV RNA test must be done within 28 days prior to enrollment
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, serious untreated infection, symptomatic respiratory failure/congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because temozolomide and talazoparib have demonstrated fetal harm in animal reproductive studies. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with the study drugs, breastfeeding should be discontinued prior to the first dose of study drug and women should refrain from nursing throughout the treatment period and for 1 months following the last dose of study drug

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: Treatment (talazoparib, temozolomide); Patients receive talazoparib PO QD on days 1-28 and temozolomide PO QD on days 2-6 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scans and may optionally undergo biopsy and/or blood sample collection at baseline and on the trial.

Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo CT; Other Names: CT; CAT; CAT Scan; Computed Axial Tomography; Computerized Axial Tomography; Computerized Tomography; CT Scan; tomography; Computerized axial tomography (procedure); Computerized Tomography (CT) scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo blood sample collection; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Biospecimen Collected; Specimen Collection; Drug: Temozolomide; Given PO; Other Names: Temodar; SCH 52365; Temodal; Temcad; Methazolastone; RP-46161; Temomedac; TMZ; CCRG-81045; Imidazo[5,1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazine-8-carboxamide, 3, 4-dihydro-3-methyl-4-oxo-; M & B 39831; M and B 39831; Gliotem; Temizole; Drug: Talazoparib; Given PO; Other Names: BMN 673; BMN-673; BMN673; Procedure: Biopsy Procedure; Undergo biopsy; Other Names: Bx; BIOPSY_TYPE; Biopsy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective response	Defined as a complete or partial response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 criteria. A Simon two-stage design (between minimax and optimal) will be employed.	Up to 9 months from study enrollment

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of patients alive and progression free	Non-parametric analyses will be used for evaluation. Any p-value reported will not be adjusted for multiple comparisons, and any such analyses will be stated carefully as being hypothesis-generating.	At 6 months from treatment start date
Genomic and transcriptomic determinants of response and resistance	Assessed in tumor biopsy specimens. Non-parametric analyses will be used for evaluation. Any p-value reported will not be adjusted for multiple comparisons, and any such analyses will be stated carefully as being hypothesis-generating.	Up to 3 years from study enrollment
Genomic alterations in circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs)	Non-parametric analyses will be used for evaluation. Any p-value reported will not be adjusted for multiple comparisons, and any such analyses will be stated carefully as being hypothesis-generating.	Up to 3 years from study enrollment
Pharmacodynamic effects of the combination on biomarkers of cell death and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue and CTCs	Non-parametric analyses will be used for evaluation. Any p-value reported will not be adjusted for multiple comparisons, and any such analyses will be stated carefully as being hypothesis-generating.	Up to 3 years from study enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: A P Chen, National Cancer Institute LAO

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 11, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 26, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 29, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): December 2, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pheochromocytoma; Paraganglioma; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Azoles; Cytological Techniques; Cytodiagnosis; Dacarbazine; Triazenes; Imidazoles; Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; Temozolomide; Biopsy; Specimen Handling; talazoparib
• Other Study ID Numbers: NCI-2021-12858 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); 000692; 10490 (Other Identifier: CTEP)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No