Combining Bevacizumab and Serplulimab with a New Treatment for Malignant Ascites

Multi-arm, Phase II Clinical Study of Intraperitoneal Injection of Recombinant Human Tumor Necrosis Factor, Bevacizumab Monoclonal Antibody, and Serplulimab for the Treatment of Malignant Ascites Patients With Standard Therapy Failure

This study is testing a new treatment that combines two drugs with a special therapy to see if it can help people with severe abdominal fluid buildup from digestive system cancers who haven't found relief from other treatments.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: bevacizumab, Serplulimab, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy
• Locations: 3 sites (Guangzhou, Guangdong and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06433869 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of combining serplulimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, with bevacizumab and recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF-NC) in treating malignant ascites, particularly those originating from digestive system tumors. Participants will be divided into three groups, each receiving different combinations of these treatments to assess their efficacy. The study aims to leverage the complementary mechanisms of action between immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors to improve treatment outcomes for patients with peritoneal metastasis. The trial is designed for patients who have not responded to conventional therapies and have significant abdominal fluid accumulation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with confirmed malignant ascites from digestive system tumors who have not responded to prior treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with ascites not related to digestive system tumors or those with severe comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve outcomes for patients suffering from malignant ascites.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with similar combinations of immunotherapy and antivascular treatments, indicating potential for positive outcomes in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥18 years old, gender unlimited;
* Malignant ascites confirmed by histology or cytology as originating from digestive system tumors (malignant confirmed by ascites cytology or clinically diagnosed as peritoneal metastases by imaging and symptoms);
* Patients with more than a moderate amount of abdominal fluid, who have failed initial treatment or have been treated with conventional chemotherapy drugs and/or biological response modulators intravenously. Moderate ascites is defined as:

  * B ultrasound examination of ascites ≥3cm in lying position;
  * Accompanied by clinical symptoms (chest tightness, shortness of breath, abdominal distension and discomfort, which were judged by researchers to be related to abdominal fluid accumulation);
* ECOG physical status is 0-2;
* Expected survival time \>3 months;
* Cardiopulmonary function is basically normal;
* For adequate organ function, subjects must meet the following laboratory criteria:

  * Peripheral blood imaging: WBC≥4.0×109/L, PLT≥80×109/L, Hb≥90g/L;
  * Renal function: serum creatinine ≤2×ULN and creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula) ≥40 ml/min;
  * Liver function: total bilirubin ≤1.5× upper limit of normal value (ULN); Or total bilirubin \>ULN but direct bilirubin ≤ ULN; Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5×ULN (ALT or AST ≤5×ULN in patients with liver metastasis);
  * Good coagulation function, defined as International standardized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT) ≤1.5 times ULN;
* Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) ≤ULN; If abnormal, T3 and T4 levels and clinical manifestations should be investigated, and comprehensive assessment of non-acute activity can be included;
* Non-surgical sterilization or female patients of reproductive age who are required to use a medically approved contraceptive method (such as an IUD, contraceptive pill or condom) during the study treatment period and for 6 months after the end of the study treatment period; Women of reproductive age who were not surgically sterilized had to be negative for serum or urine HCG within 7 days prior to study enrollment. And must be non-lactation period; For men whose partners are women of childbearing age, effective contraception should be used during the trial and within 6 months after the last administration of the study drug;
* Voluntarily enrolled in this study, with good compliance, signed written informed consent, and able to cooperate with follow-up observation.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of allergy to tumor necrosis factor and its derivatives, bevacizumab analogues, and Serplulimab;
* Malignant diseases other than digestive tract neoplasms were diagnosed within 5 years prior to initial administration (excluding radical basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous epithelial carcinoma of the skin, and/or carcinoma in situ after radical resection);
* Received any other investigational drug therapy or participated in an interventional clinical investigator within 7 days prior to initial dosing; Or received anti-tumor drug treatment (including Chinese herbal medicine with anti-tumor indication) within 7 days prior to the first use of the study drug;
* Pregnant or lactating women, women of childbearing age who did not want to use contraception during the study period; Or the man is unwilling to use effective contraception during treatment and during the following 1 year;
* Significant damage to the function of important organs;
* Patients with obvious bleeding tendency;
* Clinically significant or uncontrolled heart disease, including unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to first dosing, New York Heart Association Class III/IV congestive heart failure, and uncontrolled arrhythmia (in subjects who are allowed to wear a pacemaker or have atrial fibrillation and have a well-controlled heart rate);
* Presence of ECG changes or medical history that investigators consider clinically significant; Screening QTcF interval \>480 ms, subjects with indoor block (QRS interval \>120 ms) can use JTc interval instead of QTc interval (if JTc is used instead of QTc, JTc must be ≤340 ms);
* Uncontrolled hypertension, systolic blood pressure \>160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg after optimal medical treatment, history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy;
* Severe acute infection that is not under control; The patient is having fever (\> 38℃), or has suppurative and chronic infection, and the wound is prolonged and does not heal;
* Patients with encapsulated abdominal effusion confirmed by imaging; A definite diagnosis of abdominal infection;
* Persons infected with acute or chronic active hepatitis B or hepatitis C, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA\>2000IU/ml or 104 copies /ml; Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA\> 103 copies /ml; Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies were both positive. After nucleotide antiviral therapy, those who were lower than the above criteria could be included in the group. A known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or a confirmed positive immunotest result;
* Patients with obvious evidence of bleeding tendency or history within 3 months prior to enrollment (hemorrhage \>30 mL within 3 months, hematemesis, stool, and blood in the stool), hemoptysis (\>5 mL fresh blood within 4 weeks); People with a history of inherited or acquired bleeding or coagulation disorders. Have clinically significant bleeding symptoms or definite bleeding tendency within 3 months, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic gastric ulcer, etc.; Arterial or venous thrombotic disease was present 6 weeks before enrollment;
* Known history of allogeneic organ transplantation and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation;
* Had a major surgical procedure (craniotomy, thoracotomy, or laparotomy) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study therapy or expected to require major surgery during study therapy;
* Complications of toxicity and/or major surgery have not fully recovered before starting treatment;
* Women who are pregnant or nursing, or who are expected to become pregnant or give birth during the study period from screening visits to completion of safety follow-up visits (male subjects to 90 days after the last dosing);
* Radiotherapy was received within 4 weeks prior to the first administration of the study drug. Subjects must have fully recovered from radiation-related toxicities without the need for corticosteroid therapy, confirming the rule out of radiation pneumonia. For palliative radiotherapy for non-CNS disease, a 2-week washout period is allowed;
* Patients with uncontrollable neurological, mental illness or mental disorder, poor compliance, unable to cooperate with and describe the response to treatment; Patients with uncontrolled primary brain tumor or central nervous metastases, with obvious cranial hypertension or neuropsychiatric symptoms;
* There are other conditions that researchers consider inappropriate to participate in this experiment.

Where this trial is running

Guangzhou, Guangdong and 2 other locations

• Cancer center of SunYat-sen University — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)
• Zhang Dongsheng — Guangzhou, China (Recruiting)
• Zhang Dongsheng — Guangzhou, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: dongsheng zhang, PHD

Conditions Malignant Ascites