The goal of this clinical trial is to test neoadjuvant dual immunotherapy in Merkel cell carcinoma with the aim to improve recurrence-free survival
This is a phase 2, open label, single cohort, single centre, clinical trial of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with dual inhibition of PD-1 and LAG-3 immune checkpoint pathways. The hypothesis is that neoadjuvant therapy produces a higher pathological response rate (pCR) and a longer recurrence-free survival in a cohort of treatment-naïve patients with resectable stage I (≥10 mm) to stage III Merkel cell carcinoma compared to neoadjuvant nivolumab monotherapy in Checkmate 358 (n=123, NCT02488759, historical control).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Dual inhibition of the distinct LAG3 and PD-1 checkpoint pathways
Melanoma Institute Australia
Wollstonecraft, New South Wales, Australia
RECRUITINGPathological complete response rate
Proportion of patients with a pathological complete response, as determined on the week 6 surgical specimen using the guidelines published by the International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium: Complete pathological response (pCR) = 0% viable tumour cells in the surgical specimen
Time frame: Week 6
Pathological non-complete response rate to neoadjuvant immunotherapy
Proportion of patients with each non-pCR response category, as determined on the week 6 surgical specimen using the guidelines published by the International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium: * Near complete pathological response - (near pCR) - \>0% - ≤10% viable tumour * Partial pathological response (pPR) - \>10 - ≤50% viable tumour * Non pathological response (pNR) - \>50% viable tumour
Time frame: Week 6
Toxicity and tolerability of neoadjuvant immunotherapy
The treatment related adverse events (AE) as described in CTCAE version 5.0, from the initiation of study treatment up to 135 days after the last dose of study treatment
Time frame: Week 24
Objective response rate to neoadjuvant immunotherapy
The proportion of patients within each response category, as assessed using RECIST version 1.1, comparing week 6 to baseline CT and MRI. Objective response rate= CR and PR
Time frame: Week 6
Metabolic response rate to neoadjuvant immunotherapy
The proportion of patients within each response category, as assessed using PERCIST (standardised uptake value \[SUV\]) comparing week 6 to baseline PET. Metabolic response rate = CMR and PMR.
Time frame: Week 6
Recurrence-free survival
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The proportion of patients alive and disease free from the time of surgery
Time frame: 10 years
Disease progression rate
1. The proportion of patients alive and with RECIST-defined progression of disease from the date of consent to the first radiographical evidence of local, regional or distant progression. 2. Disease progression which leads to unresectable MCC.
Time frame: Week 6
Event-free survival (EFS) rate
The proportion of patients with EFS defined as from the time of first dose of study treatment to the earliest of: 1. Disease progression to unresectable stage III or stage IV disease) 2. Recurrence of MCC 3. Treatment-related death 4. Disease related death
Time frame: 10 years
Overall survival rate
The proportion of patients alive at years 1, 2, 5 and 10, and to actual date of death (in months), from the initiation of study treatment.
Time frame: 10 years
Patient reported quality of life
1. Changes in patient rated quality of life scores using QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-5L from date of consent to 6 -12 weekly intervals until the end of year 1. 2. The correlation of patient-rated quality of life scores with adverse events.
Time frame: 1 year
Study treatment completion rate
1. Proportion of patients receiving full neoadjuvant drug treatment per schedule and number of treatments missed. 2. Proportion of patients undergoing planned surgery at week 6. 3. Reasons for incomplete study treatment e.g. adverse event, withdrawn consent, , disease progression, patient lost to follow-up.
Time frame: Week 8
Surgical-related adverse events
Time frame: 12 weeks