Combining autophagy inhibition with CDK4/6 inhibitors for advanced solid tumors

A Phase Ib/II Study Confirmed Inhibition of Autophagy Synergizes Anti-tumor Effect of High Dose CDK4/6i with Manageable Safety in HR+HER2-breast Cancer Patients

This study is testing a new combination of two medications, Palbociclib and hydroxychloroquine, to see if it can help people with advanced solid tumors who haven't had success with previous treatments.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 29 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong)
• Trial ID: NCT05953350 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the safety and effectiveness of combining the CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib with the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in patients with advanced solid tumors who have previously failed CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment. The study employs a 3+3 design with three different doses of Palbociclib and a fixed dose of HCQ, aiming to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended phase 2 dose of the combination therapy. The first treatment cycle lasts 28 days, during which the tolerability and occurrence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) will be closely monitored.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with advanced solid tumors who have previously failed CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy and have measurable disease.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancer or those who have not previously received CDK4/6 inhibitors may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments for patients with advanced solid tumors.

How similar studies have performed: While the combination of autophagy inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors is a novel approach, similar strategies have shown promise in other cancer treatments.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients diagnosed with advanced solid tumors (including breast cancer, undifferentiated liposarcoma, etc.) confirmed by histology and/or cytology, who have failed CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment or have experienced failure of neoadjuvant or adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy for 12 months.
2. At least one measurable target lesion according to RECIST 1.1.
3. Age 18 years or older, any gender.
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2.
5. Expected survival of at least 3 months.
6. Within one week before enrollment, baseline blood tests should be essentially normal (no blood transfusions or hematopoietic growth factor treatment within 14 days): absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 10\^9/L; hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL; platelet count (PLT) ≥ 75 × 10\^9/L.
7. Within one week before enrollment, baseline liver and kidney function tests should be essentially normal (normal values determined by each study center's laboratory): total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT/ALT) ≤ 3 × ULN (≤ 5 × ULN for patients with liver metastases or liver cancer); serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT/AST) ≤ 3 × ULN (≤ 5 × ULN for patients with liver metastases); serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance (Ccr) ≥ 50 ml/min.
8. Fertile patients (both males and females) must agree to use a reliable contraceptive method concurrently with their partners during the trial and for at least 3 months after the last dose of medication (hormonal or barrier methods, or abstinence). Pre-menopausal female patients must have a negative pregnancy test in blood or urine before enrollment.
9. Pre-menopausal women should provide blood and urine samples to confirm a negative pregnancy status and commit to using contraception during the study period and for 6 months after the study. Male participants are required to commit to using contraception with their partners or female partners during the study period and for 6 months after the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have undergone major visceral surgery (excluding needle biopsies) or significant trauma within 4 weeks prior to the first administration of the study drug.
2. Prior treatment with radiotherapy and two or more CDK4/6 inhibitors for advanced or metastatic disease.
3. Failure to recover from adverse reactions of previous anti-tumor therapy to CTCAE 5.0 grade ≤ 1 (except for acceptable toxicities without safety risks, such as hair loss, and manageable immune-related adverse reactions). Additionally, symptomatic peripheral neuropathy of CTCAE 5.0 grade ≥ 2 resulting from the previous treatment regimen.
4. Clinical symptoms of central nervous system metastases or leptomeningeal metastases, or other evidence indicating uncontrolled central nervous system metastases or leptomeningeal metastases deemed unsuitable for enrollment by the investigator.
5. Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or lactation.
6. Active infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy that is not under control at present (except for asymptomatic urinary tract infections). History of immune deficiency, including positive HIV antibody testing. History of active hepatitis B (except for controlled cases with antiviral therapy) and positive hepatitis C antibody.
7. History of severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, including but not limited to clinically significant cardiac rhythm or conduction abnormalities requiring clinical intervention, ventricular arrhythmias, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block; average QTcF \> 470 ms based on three consecutive 12-lead electrocardiograms at rest; acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, aortic dissection, stroke, or other grade 3 or higher cardiovascular events within 6 months before the first dose; uncontrolled hypertension.
8. Patients with psychiatric disorders or poor compliance.
9. Patients unsuitable for hydroxychloroquine use due to the presence of retinal vascular disease.
10. Other systemic medical history or conditions deemed inappropriate for participation in the trial by the investigator.

Where this trial is running

Guangzhou, Guangdong

• Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Tao Qin, Phd

Conditions Inhibition of Autophagy Synergizes Anti-tumor Effect; inhibition of autophagy; CDK4/6i; hydroxychloroquine; HR+HER2-breast cancer