Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, ZEN003694, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Capecitabine) for Metastatic or Unresectable Cancers

Phase I Trial of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in Combination With Capecitabine in Patients With Solid Tumors

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of ZEN003694 in combination with the usual treatment with capecitabine in treating patients with cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) and that it has progressed on previous standard treatment. ZEN003694 is an inhibitor of a family of proteins called the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET). It may prevent the growth of tumor cells that over produce BET protein. Capecitabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It is taken up by cancer cells and breaks down into fluorouracil, a substance that kills cancer cells. Giving ZEN003694 in combination with capecitabine may be safe in treating patients with metastatic or unresectable solid tumors.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Unresectable Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma; Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8; Unresectable Colorectal Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Drug: BET Bromodomain Inhibitor ZEN-3694; Drug: Capecitabine; Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Procedure: Biopsy Procedure

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine the safety and tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of BET bromodomain inhibitor ZEN-3694 (ZEN003694 [ZEN-3694]) in combination with capecitabine in patients with solid tumors.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To observe and record anti-tumor activity of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine.

II. To determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine.

III. To determine the pharmacodynamics (PD) of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine (death receptor 5 [DR5] dynamics and apoptosis).

IV. To identify molecular subpopulations particularly sensitized to bromodomain and extra-terminal motif inhibitor (BETi) and capecitabine.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of ZEN003694 and capecitabine, followed by a dose-expansion study.

Patients receive ZEN003694 orally (PO) once daily (QD) and capecitabine PO twice daily (BID) 2 weeks on, 1 week off during each treatment cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, and collection of blood samples throughout the trial. Patients may also undergo biopsies during screening and while on the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for safety 30 days after the last dose, and then every 3 months for 12 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Irvine, California, United States, 92612
      • Suspended
      • UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care
    • Orange, California, United States, 92868
      • Suspended
      • UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610
      • Recruiting
      • UF Health Cancer Institute - Gainesville
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 352-273-8010; Email: cancer-center@ufl.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Thomas J. George
  • Illinois
    • Shiloh, Illinois, United States, 62269
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Memorial Hospital East
  • Kansas
    • Fairway, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • Recruiting
      • University of Kansas Clinical Research Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 913-588-3671; Email: KUCC_Navigation@kumc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Joaquina C. Baranda
    • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
      • Recruiting
      • University of Kansas Cancer Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 913-588-3671; Email: KUCC_Navigation@kumc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Joaquina C. Baranda
    • Westwood, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • Recruiting
      • University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 913-588-3671; Email: KUCC_Navigation@kumc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Joaquina C. Baranda
  • Missouri
    • City of Saint Peters, Missouri, United States, 63376
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Siteman Cancer Center at Saint Peters Hospital
    • Creve Coeur, Missouri, United States, 63141
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital
    • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Washington University School of Medicine
    • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63129
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Siteman Cancer Center-South County
    • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63136
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10032
      • Active, not recruiting
      • NYP/Columbia University Medical Center/Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
      • Recruiting
      • Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein Campus
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 718-379-6866; Email: eskwak@montefiore.org
      • Principal Investigator: Chaoyuan Kuang
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10467
      • Recruiting
      • Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 718-379-6866; Email: eskwak@montefiore.org
      • Principal Investigator: Chaoyuan Kuang
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
      • Recruiting
      • Montefiore Medical Center-Weiler Hospital
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 718-379-6866; Email: eskwak@montefiore.org
      • Principal Investigator: Chaoyuan Kuang
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219
      • Recruiting
      • University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-UC Medical Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 513-584-7698; Email: cancer@uchealth.com
      • Principal Investigator: Davendra P. Sohal
    • West Chester, Ohio, United States, 45069
      • Recruiting
      • University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-West Chester
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 513-584-7698; Email: cancer@uchealth.com
      • Principal Investigator: Davendra P. Sohal
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
      • Recruiting
      • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 405-271-8777; Email: ou-clinical-trials@ouhsc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Susanna V. Ulahannan
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
      • Recruiting
      • University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 412-647-8073
      • Principal Investigator: Anwaar Saeed
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Recruiting
      • Vanderbilt University/Ingram Cancer Center
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 800-811-8480
      • Principal Investigator: Kristen K. Ciombor
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37204
      • Recruiting
      • Vanderbilt Breast Center at One Hundred Oaks
      • Contact: Site Public Contact; Phone Number: 800-811-8480
      • Principal Investigator: Kristen K. Ciombor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Dose Escalation additional criteria: Patients must have histologically confirmed cancer that is metastatic or unresectable and must have progressed on standard therapies which would have included fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine
• Dose Escalation additional criteria specifically for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients: Willingness and ability to undergo a pre-treatment biopsy
• Dose Expansion additional criteria: Patients must have histologically confirmed CRC that is metastatic or unresectable and must have progressed on standard therapies which would have included 5-FU or capecitabine
• Dose Expansion additional criteria: Willingness and ability to undergo pre- and on- treatment biopsies
• Patients must have measurable disease
• Age >= 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine in patients < 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 (Karnofsky >= 60%)
• Availability of archival tumor tissue at the time of patient enrollment for molecular profiling studies
• Prior to study dosing, previous systemic therapy must have been completed for at least five half-lives or 2 weeks, whichever is shorter
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,000/mcL
• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 3 x institutional ULN
• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >= 50 mL/min/1.73 m^2
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
• For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
• Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
• Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression
• 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 should be New York Heart Association Functional Classification of class 2B or better
• The effects of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) and capecitabine on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because BET inhibitors as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, 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. Women of child-bearing potential and 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 6 months after completion of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) and capecitabine administration
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous treatment with BET inhibitors
• History of inability to tolerate capecitabine at the projected treatment dose on this trial
• Use of oral Factor Xa inhibitors (i.e., rivaroxaban, apixaban, betrixaban, edoxaban otamixaban, letaxaban, eribaxaban) and Factor IIa inhibitors (i.e., dabigatran). Low molecular weight heparin is allowed
• Treatment for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C only if this interferes with the current treatment (e.g. through drug-drug interactions)
• Gastrointestinal pathology or history that adversely impacts the ability to take or absorb oral medication
• Hepatic tumor burden > 30% or peritoneal carcinomatosis
• Untreated/uncontrolled central nervous system (CNS) disease
• Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency
• Severe intercurrent illness or comorbidity
• Inability to comply with the protocol and/or not willing or who will not be available for follow-up assessments
• Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities > grade 1) with the exception of alopecia and neuropathy up to and including grade 2
• Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) or other agents used in study
• Patients receiving any medications or substances that are strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 are ineligible. Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 must be discontinued at least 7 days, and inducers 14 days prior to the first dose of ZEN003694 and capecitabine. Substrates of CYP1A2 with narrow therapeutic window must be avoided while taking ZEN003694
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) is an agent with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694), breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694). These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study

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 (ZEN003694, capecitabine); Patients receive ZEN003694 PO QD and capecitabine PO BID 2 weeks on, 1 week off during each treatment cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or MRI, PET/CT, and collection of blood samples throughout the trial. Patients may also undergo biopsies during screening and while on the study.

Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo collection of blood samples; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Biospecimen Collected; Specimen Collection; Sample Collection; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Undergo MRI; Other Names: MRI; Magnetic Resonance; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan; Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; MR; MR Imaging; MRI Scan; NMR Imaging; NMRI; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); sMRI; Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure); MRIs; Structural MRI; Drug: BET Bromodomain Inhibitor ZEN-3694; Given PO; Other Names: BETi ZEN-3694; ZEN 3694; ZEN-3694; ZEN003694; Drug: Capecitabine; Given PO; Other Names: Xeloda; Ro 09-1978/000; Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography; Undergo PET/CT; Other Names: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography; PET; PET Scan; Positron Emission Tomography Scan; Positron-Emission Tomography; PT; Positron emission tomography (procedure); Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo CT and PET/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: Biopsy Procedure; Undergo biopsy; Other Names: Bx; BIOPSY_TYPE; Biopsy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of adverse events	Adverse events and serious adverse events will be tabulated for each dose levels. As per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0, the term toxicity is defined as adverse events that are classified as either possibly, probably, or definitely related to study treatment. The maximum grade for each type of toxicity will be recorded for each patient, and frequency tables will be reviewed to determine toxicity patterns.	Up to 30 days after last dose
Recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D)	Will be determined based on the MTD and later cycle adverse event (AE) rates.	Up to 30 days after last dose
Maximum tolerated dose (MTD)	Defined as the highest dose level with no more than 1/6 dose-limiting toxicity.	During the first cycle of therapy (Cycles = 21 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression free survival (PFS)	PFS will be estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, along with 95% confidence regions.	Up to 12 months
Pharmacokinetics (PK) of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine	Will determine the PK of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine. Capecitabine PK will be evaluated in the absence and presence of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) and Cmax and area under curve (AUC) will be compared with a paired test. ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) PK will be evaluated in the presence of capecitabine and Cmax and AUC will be compared descriptively with historical data.	Up to 12 months
Pharmacodynamics (PD) of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine	Will determine PD of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine. Ribonucleic acid sequencing of death receptor 5 (DR5). DR5 is expected to be increased by the combination ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine. Pre-post comparisons will be made within patients enrolled on the expansion cohort using a non-parametric paired test, at a significance level (alpha) of 0.05. Apoptosis by Pharmacodynamic Assay Development and Implementation Section (PADIS) lab. Panel 3 is priority, but other panels will be evaluated with remaining lysate. Apoptosis is expected to be increased by the combination ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine. Pre-post comparisons will be made within patients enrolled on the expansion cohort using a non-parametric paired test, at a significance level (alpha) of 0.05.	Up to 12 months
Molecular subpopulations particularly sensitized to BETi and capecitabine	Will identify molecular subpopulations particularly sensitized to BETi and capecitabine. Based on WES of archival tissue, we will evaluate descriptively any mutations in genes relevant to DNA damage repair, signaling and (fluoropyrimidine) metabolism, any relations with peculiar response and/or toxicity.	Up to 12 months
Anti-tumor activity of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with capecitabine	Treatment response will be assessed for all patients based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progression of disease (PD). Clinical benefit rate is defined as the addition of CR, PR and SD.	Up to 12 months
Objective response rate (ORR)	Defined as the addition of CR and PR. The probability of ORR and clinical benefit rate will be estimated with exact 95% binomial confidence intervals.	Up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dennis Hsu, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute LAO

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 8, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 7, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Neoplastic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Cytological Techniques; Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides; Cytodiagnosis; Deoxycytidine; Cytidine; Pyrimidine Nucleosides; Pyrimidines; Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Spectrum Analysis; Nucleosides; Uracil; Pyrimidinones; Deoxyribonucleosides; Fluorouracil; Capecitabine; Biopsy; Specimen Handling; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Other Study ID Numbers: NCI-2023-02652 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); UM1CA186690 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 10579 (Other Identifier: CTEP); HCC 23-096

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No