Carboplatin/Nab-Paclitaxel and Pembrolizumab in NSCLC

This is a phase I/II study for previously untreated subjects with advanced NSCLC. The study will take place in two phases. First, a cohort of twelve participants will be enrolled in phase I part and will be treated with carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel and pembrolizumab. A cohort of twelve subjects will be evaluated for safety and tolerability after 2 cycles of therapy. All subjects who receive either nab-paclitaxel or pembrolizumab will be evaluable. If 33% of subjects or less have unacceptable toxicity in the first cohort or any subsequent cohort (if necessary), the study will proceed to the Phase II part. If more than 33% have unacceptable toxicity, 12 additional subjects will be enrolled in a second cohort, if necessary. If unacceptable toxicity is seen in more than 33% in Cohort 2, the study will end due to unacceptable toxicity of this drug combination.

The phase II part of the study is a single arm study. All subjects will be treated with carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, and pembrolizumab in 21-day cycles for up to 4 cycles.

Mandatory pre-treatment tumor biopsies will be obtained prior to initiating treatment for all subjects (only if adequate archived samples are unavailable). Mandatory tumor biopsies will be obtained in the Phase II part of the study after 4 cycles of study treatment or at the time of progression, whichever comes first.

For subjects without progression of disease after Cycle 4, pembrolizumab will continue every 3 weeks for up to 2 years or until unacceptable toxicity.

OUTLINE: This is a multi-center study.

INVESTIGATIONAL TREATMENT:

Phase I, Cohort 1 Induction Therapy:

* Carboplatin AUC 6 IV, Day 1
* Nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m\^2 IV, Days 1, 8, 15
* pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg IV, Day 1
* Cycle length: 21 days; number of cycles: 4

Phase I, Cohort 1 Maintenance Therapy:

For subjects who have confirmed CR, PR, or SD (non-progression) after 4 cycles of induction therapy, maintenance therapy with pembrolizumab 2\* mg/kg will continue on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment will continue until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or for a maximum of 2 years from Cycle 1, Day 1 (C1D1). Subjects who complete 24 months of treatment with pembrolizumab may be eligible for up to one year of additional study treatment if they progress after stopping study treatment provided they continue to meet inclusion criteria requirements.

If unacceptable toxicity is seen in Phase I, Cohort 1, 12 additional participants will be enrolled.

Phase I, Cohort 2 Induction Therapy (if necessary):

* Carboplatin AUC 6 IV, Day 1
* Nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m\^2 IV, Days 1, 8, 15
* pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg IV, Day 1 (cycle 2-4 only)
* Cycle length: 21 days; Number of cycles: 4

Phase I, Cohort 2 Maintenance Therapy:

For subjects who have confirmed CR, PR, or SD (non-progression) after 4 cycles of induction therapy, maintenance therapy with pembrolizumab 2\* mg/kg will continue on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment will continue until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or for a maximum of 2 years from Cycle 2, Day 1 (C2D1). Subjects who complete 24 months of treatment with pembrolizumab may be eligible for up to one year of additional study treatment if they progress after stopping study treatment provided they continue to meet inclusion criteria requirements.

Phase II Induction Therapy:

* Carboplatin AUC 6 IV, Day 1
* Nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m\^2 IV, Days 1, 8, 15
* pembrolizumab 200mg IV, Day 1 of each cycle
* Cycle length: 21 days; number of cycles: 4

Phase II Maintenance Therapy:

For subjects who have confirmed CR, PR, or SD (non-progression) after 4 cycles of induction therapy, maintenance therapy with pembrolizumab 200 mg will continue on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment will continue until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or for a maximum of 2 years from Cycle 1, Day 1 (C1D1). Subjects who complete 24 months of treatment with pembrolizumab may be eligible for up to one year of additional study treatment if they progress after stopping study treatment provided they meet the requirements.

\*As additional data from ongoing trials becomes available, the dose of pembrolizumab may be adjusted.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately.
* Subjects must be ≥ 18 years of age.
* Individuals with stage IIIB or IV, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not received prior chemotherapy for Stage IIIB or IV disease, and who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation therapy.
* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1
* Measurable disease by RECIST v1.1 criteria
* Prior to registration, all subjects must have archival tissue available. For subjects who have no archival tissue, but have PD-L1 testing results using the Dako 22C3 antibody, subjects will be permitted to enroll without submitting tissue. If the patient has not had prior testing and no acceptable archival tissue is available, subjects must be willing to consent to providing a pre-treatment biopsy for PD-L1 testing. Regardless of PD-L1 testing status, archival tissue will be requested for research testing if available.
* Phase II subjects must be willing to consent to providing a mandatory post-treatment core biopsy for research if clinical feasible.
* Women are eligible to participate if they are of non-childbearing potential or have documentation of a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine β-hCG) within 3 days of registration. Sexually active pre-menopausal women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate, highly effective contraceptive measures, starting with the first dose of study drug and for 120 days after the last dose of last study drug. Effective birth control includes (a) intrauterine device (IUD) plus one barrier method; (b) oral, implantable, or injectable contraceptives plus one barrier method; or (c) 2 barrier methods. Effective barrier methods are male or female condoms, diaphragms, and spermicides (creams or gels that contain a chemical to kill sperm). Women of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for ≥ 1 year.
* Male participants should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study drug through 120 days after the last dose of last study drug.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals with the presence of symptomatic CNS metastases requiring radiation treatment, surgery, or ongoing use of corticosteroids.
* Untreated or brain metastasis causing any symptoms, such as neurologic deficits or headache. Individuals with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of study drug and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline and whole brain radiation or stereotactic radiosurgery completed over 4 weeks prior to registration), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to study treatment.
* History of solid organ or stem cell transplant requiring immunosuppressive medications.
* Any prior adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy within 12 months of registration. Subjects who received chemotherapy for earlier stage disease more than 12 months prior to study registration are eligible for this trial.
* Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways).
* Any radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to registration (4 weeks for brain radiotherapy as noted above).
* Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
* History of other invasive malignancy that is currently active and/or has been treated within 12 months of registration. (Notable exceptions include: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, localized prostate cancer, in situ carcinomas of the cervix and breast, and superficial bladder cancers \[non-muscle-invasive\]).
* Has known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
* Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
* Pulmonary conditions such as sarcoidosis, silicosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
* Has a history of pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
* Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy that is ≥ Grade 2 by CTCAE v 4.0 criteria.
* Known significant liver disease including viral, alcoholic, active hepatitis B or C, and/or cirrhosis.
* Abnormal liver or renal function as defined as: bilirubin ≥ 1.5 mg/dL; AST or ALT ≥ 2.5 x the ULN; alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 x the ULN, there is no upper limit if bone metastasis is present in the absence of liver metastasis; creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dL
* Abnormal baseline hematologic or coagulation parameters as defined as: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<1.5 x 10\^9/L; hemoglobin \< 9.0 g/dL; platelets \< 100 x 10\^9/L; International Normalized Ratio (INR) of prothrombin time (PT) ≥ 1.5 x ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants; Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≥ 1.5 x ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
* Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
* Known activating EGFR mutation or ALK translocation
* Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab.