Combining low-dose radiation with immune therapy for recurrent cervical cancer

A Multi Tumor, Open Phase I Clinical Study on the Progression of First-line Anti-tumor Therapy Using Cardonizumab Combined With Pulsed Low-dose Rate External Irradiation (PLDR)

This study is testing if a combination of low-dose radiation and an immune therapy drug can help patients with recurrent cervical cancer who can't have chemotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Anhui Provincial Hospital (Government)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Hefei, British Columbia)
• Trial ID: NCT06232083 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the use of pulse low-dose rate radiotherapy (PLDR) in conjunction with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs) for patients with recurrent cervical cancer. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of ICBs by utilizing PLDR, which has shown promise in protecting the lymphatic system and reducing immune barriers. Participants will receive PLDR alongside the drug Cardunizumab to assess the combined treatment's efficacy and safety. The study targets patients who are not suitable for chemotherapy and have experienced recurrence after standard treatments.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 20-70 with recurrent cervical squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma who are not eligible for chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with local recurrence that can be surgically addressed or those with severe comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new effective treatment option for patients with recurrent cervical cancer who have limited alternatives.

How similar studies have performed: While the combination of PLDR and ICBs is a novel approach, previous studies have shown promise in using ICBs for cervical cancer, indicating potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Patients must meet all the following criteria to be enrolled:

1. The subjects voluntarily joined the study, signed informed consent, had good compliance and were willing to cooperate with the follow-up;
2. There is no limit for men and women, ranging in age from 18 to 75 years old (including 18 and 75 years old);
3. Pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer, lung cancer or cervical cancer;
4. The expected survival time was more than 3 months;
5. Recurrent or metastatic patients with previous treatment progress;
6. ECoG 0-2 points;
7. According to RECIST 1.1 standard, there was at least one extracranial measurable lesion;
8. The laboratory test results within one week before enrollment meet the following conditions: 1) blood routine: HGB≥90g/L； WBC ≥ 4.0 × 109/L; Neut ≥ 2.0 × 109/l; PLT ≥ 100 × 109/l; 2) Blood biochemistry: TBIL ≤ 1.5 × ULN; ALT and AST ≤ 3 × ULN (ALT and AST ≤ 5 × ULN in patients with liver metastasis); Bun and Cr ≤ 1.5 × ULN and creatinine clearance rate ≥ 50 ml/min; 3) The results of echocardiography within two weeks before admission were consistent: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)\>50%;
9. The coagulation function was normal without active bleeding and thrombosis;
10. Patients without contraindications to radiotherapy;
11. The pregnancy test of patients of childbearing age was negative, and they voluntarily took effective and reliable contraceptive measures during the test;
12. Subjects who have received anti-tumor treatment in the past should not be enrolled until the toxicity of previous treatment has stabilized and returned to the baseline level (except for the residual hair loss effect) or the CTCAE V5.0 score ≤ 1.

Exclusion criteria

If the patient meets any of the following conditions, he cannot be selected:

1. Patients with malignant tumors other than esophageal cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer;
2. Patients with other active malignant tumors in the first 5 years of randomization, such as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, and breast cancer in situ, except those with locally curable tumors that have been cured;
3. Patients who had participated in clinical trials of other drugs within 4 weeks before enrollment, and who had received radiotherapy for the target area within 4 weeks before entering this study, were vaccinated with live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks before the first administration or during the study period;
4. Arteriovenous thrombosis events occurred within 6 months, such as cerebrovascular accidents (including transient ischemic attack, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction), deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, etc;
5. Receiving any other anti-tumor treatment at the same time;
6. Those who are known to have a history of allergy to the drug components of this protocol have a history of telangiectatic ataxia or other radiation hypersensitivity;
7. Subjects with active infectious diseases;
8. Subjects with any severe and/or uncontrolled disease;
9. Female patients during pregnancy and lactation, female patients with fertility and positive baseline pregnancy test;
10. According to the judgment of the investigator, there are concomitant diseases that seriously endanger the safety of the patient or affect the completion of the study (including but not limited to severe hypertension, severe pulmonary dysfunction/disease and severe diabetes that cannot be controlled by drugs);
11. Having a clear history of neurological or mental disorders, including epilepsy or dementia, and unable to cooperate with the radiotherapy process;
12. Known history of allogeneic organ transplantation and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation;
13. Diagnosed with immune deficiency or undergoing systemic glucocorticoid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy, and suffering from active or recurrent autoimmune diseases, except for vitiligo, alopecia, psoriasis or eczema that do not require systematic treatment; Hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune thyroiditis only needs a stable dose of hormone replacement therapy; Type I diabetes requiring only a stable dose of insulin replacement therapy;
14. Have active or documented inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), and active diverticulitis. The clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal obstruction, or the need for conventional parenteral fluid infusion, parenteral nutrition or indwelling gastric tube;
15. There were symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, leptomeningeal metastasis or spinal cord compression caused by metastasis before signing the informed consent. Those without clinical symptoms, who have clinical and/or imaging evidence indicating stable condition, and who stop corticosteroids and anticonvulsant drugs for at least 2 weeks can participate in the study;
16. At present, there are patients with effusion in the third space who need repeated puncture and drainage and other local treatment with poor clinical control;
17. Subjects with any of the following cardiovascular diseases were excluded:

    1. Myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, pulmonary embolism, acute/persistent myocardial ischemia, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, or other arteriovenous thrombosis, embolism or ischemic events with clinical significance/requiring drug treatment intervention occurred within 6 months before the first administration;
    2. Previous and/or current NYHA III-IV congestive heart failure;
    3. Previous and/or current severe arrhythmias requiring medical treatment;
    4. Before the first administration, 12 lead ECG showed that the mean QT interval (QTCF)\>470 Ms.
18. The investigator believes that the patient is not suitable for any other circumstances in this study.

Where this trial is running

Hefei, British Columbia

• The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China — Hefei, British Columbia, China (Recruiting)

Conditions Lung Cancer; Esophageal Cancer; Cervical Cancer