Combining chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and heat treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer

A Pilot Study of Chemoimmunotherapy Combined With Hyperthermia and Spatially-Fractionated Radiotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer

This study is testing a new combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and heat treatment to see if it can help people with advanced biliary tract cancer who can’t have surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (estimated)
• Ages: 21 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore (other)
• Drugs / interventions: durvalumab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, immunotherapy
• Locations: 2 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06546969 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to improve outcomes for patients with unresectable advanced biliary tract cancer by evaluating the effects of a combination of standard chemoimmunotherapy and additional treatments including spatially fractionated radiation therapy and deep hyperthermia. Participants will receive a regimen of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab over four cycles, with the possibility of extending treatment based on physician discretion. The study will assess both the positive and negative effects of this combined approach on patient health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 21 and older with histologically-confirmed unresectable advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received systemic therapy for locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer who are not candidates for surgery.

How similar studies have performed: While the combination of these specific treatments is novel, similar approaches in cancer treatment have shown promise in other studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Capable of giving signed informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol
2. Provision of a signed and dated written ICF prior to any mandatory study-specific procedures, sampling, and analyses
3. Age ≥ 21 years at the time of screening
4. Histologically-confirmed, unresectable advanced or metastatic carcinoma of the biliary tract including intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma
5. No prior systemic therapy for locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent BTC (prior adjuvant capecitabine therapy is allowed as long as last treatment was ≥ 1 month before enrollment)
6. An ECOG performance status of 0-2 at enrollment
7. At least 1 lesion that qualifies as a RECIST version 1.1 target lesion in the abdomen or pelvis that is amenable to SFRT on contrast enhanced CT or MRI
8. No prior exposure to gemcitabine or platinum-based chemotherapy
9. No prior exposure to anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 antibodies
10. Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

    * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
    * ANC ≥ 1.5 x 109/L
    * Platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L
    * Serum bilirubin ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
    * Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase ≤ 3 x ULN
    * Measured creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min or calculated creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min as determined by Cockcroft-Gault (using actual body weight)
11. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks at the time of screening
12. Body weight \>30 kg
13. Participants must provide a tumor biopsy taken within 3 years prior to screening
14. Baseline vitals: heart rate of ≤ 90bpm, systolic blood pressure of 140-100mmHg and diastolic of 90-60mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Ampullary carcinoma
2. History of allogeneic organ transplantation
3. Prior history of radiation to the proposed treatment site
4. Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders with the following exceptions:

   * Participants with vitiligo or alopecia
   * Participants with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement
   * Any chronic skin condition that does not requires systemic therapy
   * Participants without an active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the study physician
   * Participants with celiac disease controlled by diet alone
5. Known history or evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis
6. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, active interstitial lung disease, serious chronic gastrointestinal conditions associated with diarrhea, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirement, substantially increase the risk of incurring adverse events, or compromise the ability of the participant to give written informed consent
7. Participants with documented myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident within 6 months prior to enrollment
8. History of another primary malignancy, except for:

   * Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease ≥2 years before the first dose of investigational product and of low potential risk for recurrence
   * Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease
   * Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
9. History of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
10. Active infection including tuberculosis, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Participants with a past or resolved hepatitis B infection or participants positive for hepatitis C antibody with negative hepatitis C virus RNA on polymerase chain reaction are eligible to enroll. Participants with HIV with undetectable viral load and CD4 cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 are eligible to enroll
11. Any unresolved toxicity per CTCAE version 5.0 grade ≥2 from a previous anticancer therapy, except for alopecia, vitiligo and the laboratory values defined in the inclusion criteria.

    * Participants with grade ≥2 neuropathy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the study physician
    * Participants with irreversible toxicity not reasonably expected to be exacerbated by treatment with durvalumab may be included only after consultation with the study physician
12. Untreated brain metastases or spinal cord compression. Participants with suspected brain metastases at screening should have an MRI (preferred) or CT scan, each preferably with IV contrast of the brain prior to study entry
13. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or any of the study drug excipients
14. Any concurrent chemotherapy, investigational product, biologic or hormonal therapy for cancer treatment

    • Concurrent use of hormonal therapy for non-cancer related conditions is acceptable
15. Receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the enrollment
16. Major surgical procedure within 28 days prior to enrollment.
17. Prior locoregional therapy with radioembolization
18. Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of durvalumab with the following exceptions:

    * Intranasal, inhaled, or topical steroids or local steroid injection
    * Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent
    * Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions
19. Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product administered in the last 3 months
20. Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study, unless it is an observational clinical study or during the follow-up period of an interventional study
21. Female participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding or male or female participants of reproductive potential who are not willing to use effective birth control from screening to 180 days after the last dose of gemcitabine/cisplatin or 90 days after the last dose of durvalumab
22. Judgement by the investigator that the participant should not participate in the study if they are unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions, and requirements
23. Participants on anti-arrhythmic medication unless they are deemed fit for HT by a consultant cardiologist and there is no increased risk to the patient from HT because of the arrhythmia in the opinion of the treating physician
24. Severe COPD with FEV1 \< 50% of expected
25. Participants whose right-to-left pelvic/abdominal dimension is \> 49 cm
26. Participants with incorporated metallic implants such as metallic stents, pacemakers or defibrillators, and orthopedic rods and plates of dimensions \> 1000/frequency (MHz) aa. Participants who are under any therapy, which by virtue of direct pharmacological action or heat interaction, could influence the intended effects of HT or mask its side effects

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations

• Maryland Proton Treatment Center — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (RECRUITING)
• University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jason Molitoris, MD, PhD — University of Maryland Medical Center / Maryland Proton Treatment Center
• Study coordinator: Jason Molitoris, MD, PhD

Conditions: Biliary Tract Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma, Chemoimmunotherapy, Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy, Deep Hyperthermia