In this multicenter phase I/II trial, the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor atezolizumab and dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with the mesothelioma-associated tumor antigen WT1 will be integrated into platinum/pemetrexed-based first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of epitheloid malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The general objective is to provide the first-in-human experimental demonstration that the combination of platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy with atezolizumab and WT1/DC vaccination is feasible and safe, has clinical activity and enables the induction of mesothelioma-specific immune responses in patients with MPM.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive and in virtually all cases fatal cancer that is tightly associated with prior asbestos exposure. Despite some improvement over time, the prognosis of patients diagnosed with MPM remains dismal with a median overall survival from diagnosis of only 9-16 months. In this single arm phase I/II trial the investigators want to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of integrating the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor atezolizumab and WT1-targeted dendritic cell vaccination in epitheloid MPM patients in conjunction with first line platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. In addition, chemo-immunotherapy-induced immunogenicity will be studied and patient's clinical outcome will be documented for comparison with current patient's outcome allowing indication of the added value. Fifteen patients diagnosed with histologically proven epithelial MPM (stage I-IV) will be included. Patients should be able to undergo leukapheresis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Patients who underwent prior treatment for MPM or with a history of another malignancy within the last three years will be excluded. The intention of this study is to administer four 3-weekly (±3 days) platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy cycles (CT1-4) combined with atezolizumab treatments (A1-4) and autologous WT1 messenger (m)RNA-loaded dendritic cells (V1-4) at day 0 and day 14 (±3 days) of each chemotherapy cycle, respectively. Additional atezolizumab doses and/or WT1/DC vaccines after the chemo-immunotherapy study scheme can be administered to the patient if consent for continuation of atezolizumab treatment and/or WT1/DC vaccination was obtained and residual WT1/DC vaccine aliquots are available. In that case, atezolizumab and/or WT1/DC vaccines will be administered on a 4-weekly basis (±1 week). The WT1/DC vaccines will be administered within 1 week after atezolizumab administration. After the final WT1/DC vaccination and/or atezolizumab administration, patients will enter a follow-up phase that lasts for up to 90 days after final WT1/DC vaccination and/or atezolizumab administration or 24 months after diagnosis, whichever occurs later.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
WT1/DC vaccines (8-10 x 10\^6 cells in 500 μL saline solution with 5% human albumin) will be administered through intradermal injection at 5 sites (100 μL/site) in the ventromedial region of the upper arm (5-10 cm from the axillary lymph nodes). Injection sites will alternate between left and right arms. WT1/DC vaccines are administered on day 14 of each 3-weekly platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy cycle. Additional WT1/DC vaccinations after the study treatment schedule can be administered (optional) at 4-weekly intervals (± 1 week).
Atezolizumab (1200 mg) will be administered on day 0 of each 3-weekly platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy cycle. Atezolizumab should be administered before chemotherapy administration as an IV infusion over 60 (±15) minutes. If the first infusion is tolerated, all subsequent infusions may bedelivered over 30 (±10) minutes. Additional atezolizumab treatment (1680 mg) after the study treatment schedule can be administered (optional) at 4-weekly intervals (± 1 week) as an IV infusion over 30-60 minutes.
On the first day of each cycle (day 0), pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 should be administered as intravenous (IV) infusion over 10 minutes, followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 as IV over approximately 2 hours. The actual doses of the drugs to be administered to patients will be determined by calculating the patient's body surface area at the beginning of each cycle. For ease of dose administration, the protocol allows ± 5% variance in the calculated total dose per infusion. If deemed necessary, the treating physician can decide to replace cisplatin by carboplatin. In that case, carboplatin will be delivered to an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 5 as an IV infusion over 1 hour.
Antwerp University Hospital
Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
RECRUITINGAZ Maria Middelares
Ghent, Belgium
RECRUITINGVITAZ
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
RECRUITINGProportion of patients that experienced (S)AEs possibly, probably or definitely related to pemetrexed and/or cisplatin/carboplatin and/or atezolizumab and/or WT1/DC vaccination
The relationship of an AE to the investigational agents will be determined by the Investigator as either related or non-related, based on their clinical judgment.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Number and grade of AEs and SAEs
AEs are defined and graded according to the latest version of the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC)
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Proportion of patients who completed study treatment schedule
Study treatment schedule = administration of four platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy cycles (CT1-4) in combination with four atezolizumab treatments (A1-4) and four WT1/DC vaccinations (V1-4).
Time frame: After the chemoimmunotherapy treatment (+/- 18 weeks after entry to trial)
Best overall response
Best overall response will be determined per patient as the best overall response designation. The BOR categories are complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD).
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Duration of response
Duration of response will be calculated for patients with an objective response as the time between the first date of the first documented tumor response (CR or PR) and the subsequent date of the objectively documented disease progression or death, whichever occurs first, or the last tumor assessment in case of censoring.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Disease control rate
Disease control rate is defined as the proportion of patients whose BOR is either CR, PR or SD, where the dominator is the total number of evaluable patients.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Objective response rate
Objective response rate is defined as the proportion of patients whose BOR is either CR or PR, where the dominator is the total number of evaluable patients.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Progression-free survival
Progression-free survival is defined as the time (in months) between start of the platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy treatment and the date of progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. At the time of analysis, patients without a recorded event will be censored at the time of the last objective disease assessment.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Overall survival
Overall survival is defined as the time (in months) between diagnosis/start of treatment and death due to any cause. At the time of analysis, patients without a recorded event will be censored at the time they were last known to be alive.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 2 years
Functional WT1-specific T cell responses
Change in the proportion of T cells exhibiting functional WT1-specific T cell responses as measured by flow cytometry
Time frame: After the fourth DC vaccine, at the time of disease progression (if applicable) and 12 months after the start of 1L chemo-immunotherapy in case of sustained disease control
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