The investigators propose a randomized two arm trial, using Simon's 2-stage design, in ER+ patients with therapy resistant breast cancer to test the optimal sequence and dosing of epigenetic immune priming in hormone therapy resistance breast cancer. A third arm (Arm C) will include ER-negative patients who will follow the concurrent priming, but exclude tamoxifen. The two arms all include vorinostat, tamoxifen, and pembrolizumab to evaluate * Sequential priming - begin pembrolizumab in Cycle 1 (Arm B and Arm C) and, * Concurrent priming with maximal dosing of both epigenetic and immune modulators- begin pembrolizumab on day 1 in Cycle 2 (Arm A)
Unique aspects of this study: This is the first study to look at the response of hormone therapy resistance breast cancer to epigenetic immune priming. It is also the first study to look at the combination of an Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (vorinostat), an anti-estrogen (tamoxifen) and a PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab in pre or postmenopausal patients with ER+ advanced breast cancer with progression on multiple prior therapies. Recent preclinical studies have further suggested that epigenetic priming may be even more effective in ER-negative tumors that do not respond to immune check point inhibitors or have low PD-1/PD-L1 expression. The goal of this study is to demonstrate that Vorinostat can increase PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. In a third arm the study will evaluate the role of epigenetic priming in tumors that are ER-negative.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
38
University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
San Francisco, California, United States
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
Objective response rate (ORR) will be defined as the proportion of participants whose status is stable disease (SD) or better (complete response (CR), partial response (PR)) at 24 weeks' follow-up as measured by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The best overall response is the best response recorded from the start of the treatment until disease progression/recurrence (taking as reference for progressive disease the smallest measurements recorded since the treatment started). The patient's best response assignment will depend on the achievement of both measurement and confirmation criteria.
Time frame: Up to 24 weeks
Number of Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events (AE)
Each patient who received at least 1 dose of any of the study drugs will be assessed periodically for the development of any grade 3 and higher treatment-related toxicity according to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4. The investigators will also pay particular attention to pembrolizumab adverse events of clinical interest (ECI), which will predominantly be of immune origin.
Time frame: Up to 1 year post treatment, approximately 24 months
Duration of Response
The duration of overall response is measured from the time measurement criteria are met for CR or PR (whichever is first recorded) until the first date that recurrent or progressive disease is objectively documented (taking as reference for progressive disease the smallest measurements recorded since the treatment started).
Time frame: Up to 24 months
Progression Free Survival
Progression-free survival (PFS) is defined as the length of time during and after the treatment that the participant has achieved an objective response, but does not progress as measured by RECIST v.1.1
Time frame: Up to 36 months
Overall Survival (OS)
OS is defined as the length of time from the start of treatment for participants until death or the study has ended, whichever comes first.
Time frame: Up to 36 months
Number of Participants With Tumor Responses Calculated by Immune Related Response-Criteria (irRC)
In the irRC, an immune-related Complete Response (irCR) is defined as the disappearance of all lesions, measured or unmeasured, and no new lesions; an immune-related Partial Response (irPR) is defined as a 50% drop in tumour burden from baseline, and immune-related Progressive Disease (irPD) is a 25% increase in tumour burden from the lowest level recorded. All other responses are considered immune-related Stable Disease (irSD). The number of participants with a tumor response of either irCR or irPR will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 24 months
Number of Participants With a Clinical Response (Clinical Benefit) Based on PD-L1 Expression to Epigenetic Immune Priming
PD-L1 protein expression on tumor tissue from pre-treatment and post-Cycle-3 biopsies, and any other tumor biospecimens obtained, were evaluated immunohistochemically. Patients were categorized based on detectable PD-L1 expression as Positive or Negative for expression. Participants with positive PD-L1 expression were then reviewed to determine if a clinical benefit was obtained at cycle 6. Clinical benefit was defined as a complete response or partial response per RECIST 1.1.
Time frame: Up to 18 weeks, at Cycle 6
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