Comparing chemotherapy alone to chemotherapy with durvalumab for bladder cancer

Durvalumab and Standard Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Lymph Node Positive Bladder Cancer

This study is testing if adding a drug called durvalumab to standard chemotherapy helps people with bladder cancer that has spread to lymph nodes do better than chemotherapy alone.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: durvalumab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, methotrexate, doxorubicin, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT05137262 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II randomized study evaluates the effectiveness of standard neo-adjuvant cisplatin chemotherapy versus the combination of this chemotherapy with durvalumab in patients with lymph node positive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The trial aims to enroll 60 patients who will be randomized to receive either the standard treatment or the combination therapy. Key objectives include measuring the pathologic complete response rate, surgical eligibility, relapse-free survival, overall survival, and treatment toxicity. Tissue and blood samples will be collected to explore biomarkers associated with treatment response.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a histological diagnosis of lymph node positive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Not a fit: Patients with non-urothelial carcinoma or those who are not candidates for biopsy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve treatment outcomes for patients with bladder cancer by enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Similar studies combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy have shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histological diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and must meet criteria for stage cTanyN1-3M0 disease via AJCC 8th edition staging criteria30
* Patients must provide tissue by agreeing to transurethethral biopsy of the bladder and the lymph node prior to initiating treatment. If patient is unable or unwilling to undergo biopsy at screening and tissue is available, patient may be eligibile per PI discretion.
* Patients must be ≥18 years of age.
* Patients must have pelvic lymph node amenable for biopsy as assessed by treating MD and interventional radiologist.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0 or 1.
* Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
* Patients must have body weight \>30 kg.
* Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50%.
* Adequate organ function as defined below:

  * Hematological i. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mcL. ii. Platelets ≥100,000 / mcL. iii. Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL
  * Renal iv. Creatinine clearance \> 50 ml/min as calculated by the Cockgroft Gault formula as:

    1. CLCR = {\[(140-age) × weight)\]/(72 x SCR) × 0.85 (if female), where CLCR (creatinine clearance) is measured in mL/min, age is expressed in years, weight in kilograms (kg), and SCR (serum creatinine) in mg/dL.
  * Hepatic v. Serum total bilirubin ≤1.5xULN OR Direct bilirubin ≤ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \>1.5xULN. vi. AST and ALT ≤2.5xULN OR ≤5xULN for subjects with liver metastases.
  * Coagulation vii. International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT) ≤1.5xULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants. viii. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≤1.5xULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants.
* Women of child-bearing potential MUST have a negative serum or urine HCG test unless prior tubal ligation (\>/= 1 year before screening), total hysterectomy or menopause (defined as 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea). Patients should not become pregnant or breastfeed while on this study. Sexually active patients must agree to use dual contraception for the duration of study participation and for 90 days after receipt of last drug on active treatment.
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign informed consent from prior to initiation of the study and any study procedures.
* Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has metastatic disease to lymph nodes outside of the pelvis or to visceral sites as seen on imaging.
* CTCAE v5.0 Grade ≥ 2 neuropathy.
* CTCAE v5.0 Grade ≥ 2 hearing loss.
* New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure defined as:

  * Class III heart failure is defined as: patients with cardiac disease resulting in marked limitation of physical activity and/or less than ordinary activity causes fatigue. Patients are comfortable only at rest.
  * Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of heart failure at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases
* Known active Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C infection (HCV-DNA positive), or HIV infection.
* Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 28 days before the first dose of study drug, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid. Systemic steroid administration required to manage toxicities arising from chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy delivered as part of the therapy on trial is allowed.
* Prior exposure to any anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 (including durvalumab) antibody.
* Active or prior documented autoimmune disease within the past 2 years. NOTE: Patients with vitiligo, Grave's disease, or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment (within the past 2 years) are not excluded.
* History of primary immunodeficiency.
* History of allogeneic organ transplant.
* Receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of IP. Note:

Patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine whilst receiving IP and up to 30 days after the last dose of IP.

* Active infection requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotics or other uncontrolled intercurrent illness requiring hospitalization. Minor infections, e.g. periodontal infection or urinary tract infection (UTI), which may be treated with short-term oral antibiotics are allowed.
* Active infection of tuberculosis, as determined by clinical signs and symptoms.
* Inability to comply with the study and follow-up procedures.
* History of CVA, myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the previous 6 months before starting therapy.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, interstitial lung disease, serious chronic gastrointestinal conditions associated with diarrhea, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirement, substantially increase risk of incurring AEs or compromise the ability of the patient to give written informed consent.
* Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment.

Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, organ confined adenocarcinoma of the prostate, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer. Patients may not have received systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy within 1 year of study entry.

* History of exposure to immunotherapy for previous malignancy.
* Intra-vesicular therapy within 4 weeks of study entry or those who have not recovered from adverse effects of such agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatin, durvalumab, or any other agents used in the study.
* Pregnant female patients; breastfeeding female patients; and female or male patients of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use 2 methods of contraception for at least 90 days after the last dose of study drugs. Highly effective methods of contraception are those that alone or in combination, result in a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly. These methods include:
* Established use of oral, inserted, or injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception are allowed provided the patient remains on the same treatment throughout the entire study and has been using that hormonal contraceptive for an adequate period of time to ensure effectiveness.
* Correctly placed copper containing intrauterine device (IUD).
* Male condom or female condom used with spermicide (i.e. foam, gel, film, cream or suppository).
* Male sterilization with appropriately confirmed absence of sperm in the post vasectomy ejaculate.
* Bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral oophorectomy

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• M D Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Matthew Campbell — M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Study coordinator: Matthew Campbell

Conditions Urothelial Carcinoma; Bladder Cancer