Patient case: 73-year-old male with melanoma; genetic feature: tumor cells negative for PD-L1 expression

Clinical trial: Ph1b/2 Dose-Escalation Study of Entinostat With Pembrolizumab in NSCLC With Expansion Cohorts in NSCLC and Melanoma

Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of entinostat used in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. Additionally the purpose of the study is to assess how effective entinostat and pembrolizumab are in combination in patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Melanoma.

Detailed description: SNDX-275-0601 is an open-label, Phase 1b/2 study evaluating the combination of entinostat plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced metastatic or recurrent NSCLC or melanoma. The study has 2 phases, a Dose Escalation/Confirmation Phase (Phase 1b) and an Expansion Phase (Phase 2). An additional cohort (Entinostat Monotherapy Immune Correlate [EMIC] Cohort) evaluating single agent entinostat for 2 weeks followed by the combination will also be evaluated in patients with NSCLC in the Phase 2 expansion phase.
  Toxicities will be assessed by the Investigator using the United States (US) National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.03.
  Dose Confirmation: The prospective MTD/RP2D identified in the Dose Escalation Phase will be confirmed in 9 patients in Dose Confirmation Cohort(s) to obtain additional AE, immune correlate, and anti-tumor activity data on entinostat in combination.
  Phase 2 (Expansion): In the Expansion Phase, entinostat in combination will be evaluated using the RP2D identified in the Dose Escalation/Confirmation Phase. Up to 3 Expansion Cohorts consisting of distinct subsets of patients with solid tumor cancers may be explored. Expansion cohorts may include:
  1. Cohort 1: NSCLC
  2. Cohort 2: Patients with NSCLC (any histology) who have previously been treated and responded and then progressed on either a PD-1 or PD-L1-blocking antibody
  3. Cohort 3: Patients with melanoma who have previously been treated with and unequivocally progressed on either a PD-1 or PD-L1-blocking antibody
  EMIC Cohort: 15 NSCLC patients Stage 2 of Cohort 1 will be randomly assigned to participate.

Eligibility: Inclusion Criteria:
  Patients with NSCLC:
  1. Has histologically- or pathologically-confirmed recurrent/metastatic NSCLC.
  2. If has adenocarcinoma, required to have previously been tested for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, with results available for collection in this study, and, if positive, has been treated with prior EGFR or ALK therapy.
  3. Received at least 1 chemotherapeutic regimen in the advanced/metastatic setting and experienced documented, unequivocal progressive disease by either RECIST 1.1 or clinical assessment.
  4. Patients with NSCLC enrolled in Cohort 1 of the Expansion Phase should not have been previously treated with a PD-1/PD-L1-blocking antibody
  Patients in Expansion Phase, Cohorts 2 and 3
  5. Previously treated with a PD-1/PD-L1-blocking antibody and experienced experienced documented, unequivocal progressive disease by irRECIST during or after such treatment.
  Patients with Melanoma:
  6. Has a histologically- or cytologically-confirmed diagnosis of unresectable or metastatic melanoma and experienced unequivocal progressive disease following a PD-1 or PD-L1-blocking antibody and, if BRAF V600 mutation-positive, a BRAF inhibitor.
  All Patients
  7. Aged 18 years or older on the day written informed consent is given.
  8. If has brain metastases, must have stable neurologic status following local therapy for at least 4 weeks without the use of steroids or on stable or decreasing dose of ≤10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent), and must be without neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other AEs.
  9. Evidence of locally recurrent or metastatic disease based on imaging studies within 28 days before the first study drug dose:
  -  At least 1 measurable lesion ≥20 mm by conventional techniques or ≥10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI, with the last imaging performed within 28 days before the first study drug dose. If there is only 1 measurable lesion and it is located in previously irradiated field, it must have demonstrated unequivocal progression according to RECIST, version 1.1.
  10. If receiving radiation therapy, has a 2-week washout period following completion of the treatment prior to receiving the first study drug dose and continues to have at least 1 measureable lesion, per above criterion.
  11. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.
  12. Has acceptable, applicable laboratory parameters.
  13. Female subjects must not be pregnant.
  14. If male, agrees to use an adequate method of contraception
  15. Experienced resolution of toxic effect(s) of the most recent prior chemotherapy to Grade 1 or less (except alopecia). If patient underwent major surgery or radiation therapy of >30 Gy, they must have recovered from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention.
  16. Willing to have fresh tumor samples collected during screening and at other time points designated as mandatory, per the Schedule of Study Assessments.
  17. Able to understand and give written informed consent and comply with study procedures.
  Exclusion Criteria:
  Patients meeting any of the following criteria are not eligible for study participation:
  1. Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug. The use of physiologic doses of corticosteroids may be approved after consultation with the Sponsor.
  2. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  3. History of interstitial lung disease (ILD).
  4. Allergy to benzamide or inactive components of entinostat.
  5. History of allergies to any active or inactive ingredients of pembrolizumab.
  6. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate, in the opinion of the treating Investigator, including, but not limited to:
  -  Myocardial infarction or arterial thromboembolic events within 6 months prior to baseline or severe or unstable angina, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV disease, or a QTc interval > 470 msec.
  -  Uncontrolled heart failure or hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, or uncontrolled systemic infection.
  -  Another known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment (excluding adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN]/cervical carcinoma in situ or melanoma in situ). Prior history of other cancer is allowed, as long as there is no active disease within the prior 5 years.
  -  Evidence of pneumonitis or history of pneumonitis.
  -  Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  -  Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  Note: Patients with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging [using the identical imaging modality for each assessment, either MRI or CT scan] for at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug or are on stable or decreasing dose of ≤10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent). This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
  7. Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study.
  8. Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  9. Received a live virus vaccination within 30 days of the first dose of treatment.
  10. Prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to baseline or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤Grade 1 or at baseline) from AEs due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
  11. Prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study baseline or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤Grade 1 or at baseline) from AEs due to a previously administered agent.
  Note: Patients with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy or ≤Grade 2 alopecia are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.
  Note: If patient underwent major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
  12. Received transfusion of blood products (including platelets or red blood cells) or administration of colony stimulating factors (including granulocyte-colony stimulating factor [G-CSF], granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF], or recombinant erythropoietin) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug.
  13. Currently receiving treatment with any other agent listed on the prohibited medication list such as valproic acid, or other systemic cancer agents within 14 days of the first dose of treatment.
  14. If female, is pregnant, breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive, or if male, expect to father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study drug.
  15. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  16. Known active hepatitis B (e.g., hepatitis B surface antigen-reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid [qualitative]).
  17. Is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling, or child) who is investigational site or sponsor staff directly involved with this study, unless prospective Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC) approval (by chair or designee) is given allowing exception to this criterion for a specific patient.

Relevance to patient case: not relevant