The ARCANA trial (LACOG 1724) is a single-arm, non-randomized, multi-center, parallel, two-cohort Phase II clinical study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT, MK-2870) as a second-line or subsequent treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic vaginal and vulvar squamous cell carcinomas. Given the rarity of these cancers and the lack of standard second-line therapies, this study explores sac-TMT, a novel TROP-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). TROP-2 is highly expressed in both vulvar and vaginal squamous cell carcinomas, making it a promising therapeutic target.
RATIONALE AND MOLECULAR TARGETING Advanced and metastatic vulvar and vaginal squamous cell carcinomas share pathophysiological features with cervical cancer, including high rates of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) driver oncogenesis and robust expression of Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen 2 (TROP-2). Sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT, MK-2870) is a novel TROP-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized anti-TROP2 IgG1 monoclonal antibody linked via a methyl sulfonyl moiety to a potent topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload (KL610023). Upon binding to TROP-2 on tumor cells, sac-TMT internalizes and releases its payload, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis while exerting bystander-killing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. DREAM STUDY DESIGN AND STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS This Phase II study utilizes a Simon's two-stage Minimax design for each independent cohort (Cohort A: Vagina; Cohort B: Vulva) to control the familywise alpha level at 0.05 (one-sided) with 80% power: Stage 1: 12 participants per cohort will be enrolled. An interim analysis for futility will be conducted; if 0 responses are observed in Stage 1, enrollment in that cohort will be halted. Stage 2: If $\\ge 1$ objective response is achieved in Stage 1, an additional 10 participants will be accrued (totaling 22 evaluable patients per cohort, expanded to 24 to account for a 10% dropout rate). A cohort is considered positive if $\\ge 4$ responses are observed among evaluable participants. TREATMENT ADMINISTRATION AND MANDATORY PROPHYLAXISSac-TMT is administered intravenously on Days 1 and 15 of 28-day cycles. Mandatory premedication administered 1.5 hours ($\\pm30$ minutes) prior to each infusion includes an H1 receptor antagonist (diphenhydramine or equivalent), acetaminophen, dexamethasone (8-10 mg IV), and an H2 receptor antagonist to minimize infusion-related reactions. To prevent oral mucositis, participants receive mandatory daily prophylactic steroid-containing mouthwash (dexamethasone solution) 4 times daily. Prophylactic artificial tears are also strongly recommended to mitigate ocular surface toxicities. EXPLORATORY BIOMARKER RESEARCH The trial incorporates a longitudinal biorepository to identify predictive signatures and resistance mechanisms. Mandatory archival or freshly obtained FFPE tumor tissue blocks/slides collected at baseline will undergo TROP-2 immunohistochemistry (IHC), p16/HPV16 profiling, and high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS). Serial blood samples (plasma/PBMCs) collected at baseline and prespecified on-treatment timepoints (Weeks 6, 12, 24, and at disease progression) will evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics and immune cell profiling to monitor treatment response and genomic resistance patterns over time.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
48
Sacituzumab tirumotecan is a TROP-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of a humanized anti-TROP2 IgG1 monoclonal antibody linked to a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload (KL610023). It will be administered intravenously at a dose of $4\\text{ mg/kg}$ on Days 1 and 15 of every 28-day cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to a maximum duration of approximately 2 years.
Pronutrir - Suporte Nutricional e Quimioterapia
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia - Hospital Santa Izabel (Oncoclínicas)
Salvador, Estado de Bahia, Brazil
HIAE - Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein
São Paulo, HIAE - Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Brazil
UFMG - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Hospital Napoleão Laureano
João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Hospital Ophir Loyola
Belém, Pará, Brazil
Centro de Pesquisa Vencer e Oncoclínica
Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
INCA - Instituto Nacional de Câncer
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Futtura Oncologia - Hub de Pesquisa Clínica
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
...and 2 more locations
Objective Response Rate (ORR) by Investigator Assessment
Proportion of participants with a best overall response of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by local site investigator/radiology.
Time frame: Up to Week 24
Objective Response Rate by Independent Central Review (ORR-ICR)
Proportion of participants achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) as evaluated by Independent Central Review using RECIST v1.1 criteria.
Time frame: Up to 24 weeks.
Disease Control Rate (DCR)
Proportion of participants achieving a best overall response of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) according to RECIST v1.1 by investigator assessment..
Time frame: Up to 24 weeks.
Duration of Response (DoR)
Time from the first documented evidence of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) until the date of first documented disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months.
Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
Time from the date of enrollment until the date of first documented disease progression (radiographically or clinically confirmed per RECIST 1.1) by investigator assessment, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months.
Overall Survival (OS)
Time from the date of enrollment to the date of participant death due to any cause.
Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months.
Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR)
Rate, incidence, and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) and Grade $\\ge 3$ AEs evaluated according to NCI CTCAE version 5.0, including Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs).
Time frame: From enrollment up to 30 days after the last dose of study intervention.
Treatment Compliance
Assessment of treatment modifications, including the proportion and reasons for dose reductions, treatment delays, or permanent discontinuations (e.g., disease progression, AEs, consent withdrawal).
Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years.
Post-Progression Therapies
Descriptive characterization and timing of subsequent anticancer therapies administered after disease progression on sac-TMT.
Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months.
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - EORTC QLQ-C30
Assessment of changes from baseline in global health status, functional domains, and symptom scales evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core cancer instrument.
Time frame: Baseline and every 6 weeks during treatment up to Week 24.
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - EORTC QLQ-VU34
ssessment of changes from baseline in vulvar/vaginal cancer-specific symptoms evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-VU34 questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline and every 6 weeks during treatment up to Week 24.
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