Phase 1b/2 study of combination 177Lu girentuximab plus cabozantinib and nivolumab in treatment naive patients with advanced clear cell RCC.
Authors: Jonasch Eric , Hasanov Elshad , Flynt Lesley , Hwang Hyunsoo , Tidwell Rebecca Slack , Brooks Roserika , Wood Lauren Michelle , Solley Travis , Mack Dahlia , Yamamura Yuko , Venkatesan Aradhana M. 
Published: June 2024

TPS4610 Background: Complete response (CR) is still a rare event in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The combination of nivolumab plus cabozantinib was recently approved for the first-line treatment of ccRCC based on the CheckMate 9ER phase 3 study demonstrating improved progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in comparison to sunitinib. However, the CR rate was only 9%. Since the anti-tumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors are dependent on the presence of activated tumor-infiltrating T cells, drugs that could synergize with T cells' anti-tumor activity can allow us to improve CR rates. Activation of the cGAS-STING pathway which is induced by radiation-induced DNA damage, is one promising mechanism that has been investigated. Many studies have shown that radiation treatment augments immune checkpoint inhibition. However, it is not always possible to radiate all metastatic lesions. Therefore, targeted peptide receptor radionuclide therapies, have been developed by conjugating radioisotopes to receptor binding analogs targeting specific cancer cell surface proteins, thereby delivering targeted radiation to cancer cells in the body with minimal damage to surrounding healthy cells. 177Lu girentuximab is the first antibody-radioisotope designed for ccRCC, targeting carbonic anhydrase 9-expressing cells, which includes >90% of ccRCC. It has been tested in metastatic ccRCC as a single agent and shown to be safe and effective in stabilizing disease in 57% of pts. In this study, we hypothesize that 177Lu girentuximab-induced DNA damage will potentiate the STING pathway, and this activation will synergize with nivolumab and cabozantinib to promote trafficking and infiltration of activated T cells to tumors and achieve higher CR rates. Methods: Up to 100 patients with treatment naive, biopsy-proven ccRCC with adequate organ/marrow function with 1 evaluable lesion by RECIST 1.1 will be enrolled. A 5-patient safety lead-in will evaluate myelosuppression. Ongoing safety, and futility monitoring will employ a Bayesian approach. The sample size was chosen for reasonable operating characteristics to distinguish a CR rate (primary endpoint) of 18% as better than 9% using a beta(0.09, 0.91) prior. Secondary endpoints are ORR, PFS by RECIST 1.1, and overall survival. 177Lu-girentuximab 1480 MBq/m2 (61% of single agent MTD) will be administered every 12 weeks for up to 3 cycles. Starting with the second cycle, nivolumab and cabozantinib will be added at standard dose. To explore the effects of the treatment on inducing activated T cell infiltration, patients will undergo pre/post-treatment PET scan with 18F-AraG radiotracer as well as biopsies for single cell, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics studies. Clinical trial information: NCT05663710 .