The goal of this study is to test neoadjuvant therapy with the dual inhibition of Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) immune checkpoint pathways in a cohort of treatment-naïve, resectable stage II to IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma on the pathological response rate (pCR) and 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 II to IV (M0) cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma compared to neoadjuvant cemiplimab 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 near pathological response (near pCR), partial response (pPR) and pathological non-response (pNR) rate
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 (INMC): * Major pathological response (pCR + near-pCR), * 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 and surgery
The proportion of patients with adverse events (AE) per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), from initiation of study treatment until at least 135 days after the end of treatment. Outcome measures include the proportion of patients with each of the following measures: 1. An AE by CTCAE term / grade 2. AEs attributable to neoadjuvant treatment 3. Grade 3/4/5 AEs by AE term 4. The duration of events reported in (a) 5. Delayed study treatment and/or delay surgery due to an AE 6. A requirement to discontinue study treatment early due to an AE 7. Oral or parenteral steroid treatment for immune-related adverse events. 8. Post-operative complications (e.g. seroma formation, wound infection or lymphoedema) and duration of events. 9. Post-operative complications at 3 weeks and one year using the Clavien-Dindo Classification. 10. Surgeon's assessment of 'operability' and morbidity from baseline and at surgery per INMC questionnaires.
Time frame: Week 24
Objective response rate to neoadjuvant therapy
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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 the Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) and the standardised uptake value (SUV) comparing week 6 to baseline positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Metabolic response rate = Complete metabolic response (CMR) and partial metabolic response (PMR).
Time frame: Week 6
Recurrence-free survival
The proportion of patients alive and disease free from the time of surgery
Time frame: 10 years
Disease progression rate
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. Disease progression which leads to unresectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC)
Time frame: Week 6
Event-free survival rate
Proportion of patients with EFS defined as the earliest of any of the following events: 1. Time from 1st dose study treatment to disease progression (unresectable stage III or stage IV disease), 2. Time of surgery to recurrence of cuSCC (local, regional or distant) 3. Treatment related death 4. Disease related death
Time frame: 10 years
Overall survival
The proportion of patients alive at years 1, 2, 5 and 10, and to actual date of death (in months), from the first dose of study treatment.
Time frame: 10 years
Patient reported quality of life (QLQ-C30)
The published scoring for: The European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). A 30 item instrument where a higher score represents a higher ("better") level of functioning, or a higher ("worse") level of symptoms. Changes in patient rated quality of life (QOL) scores using QLQ-C30 are recorded at baseline (within 7 days of first dose of study treatment) and at 6 -12 weekly intervals until the end of year 1 will be measured. The correlation of the QLQ-C30 scores with adverse events will be measured.
Time frame: 1 year
Patient reported quality of life (EQ-5L-5D)
The published scoring for: The European Quality of Life (EQ-5L-5D). Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, some problems, extreme problems. The EQ visual analogue scale (VAS records) the respondent's self-rated health on a vertical, visual analogue scale where the endpoints are labelled 'Best imaginable, health state' and 'Worst imaginable health state'. Changes in patient rated quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) scores recorded at baseline (within 7 days of first dose of study treatment) and at 6 -12 weekly intervals until the end of year 1 will be measured. The correlation of the EQ-5L-5D scores with adverse events will be measured.
Time frame: 1 year
Study treatment completion rate and the causes of any missed treatments
Proportion of patients receiving full neoadjuvant drug treatment per schedule and number of treatments missed. Proportion of patients undergoing planned surgery at week 6. Reasons for incomplete study treatment e.g. adverse event, withdrawn consent, disease progression, patient lost to follow-up.
Time frame: Week 8
De-escalation of adjuvant radiotherapy.
Proportion of patients where adjuvant radiotherapy was planned at baseline but who did not need radiotherapy as a result of pathological response and pathologically clear surgical margins.
Time frame: Week 8