Later-line paclitaxel polymer micelle plus immunotherapy for biliary tract cancer

The Paclitaxel Polymer Micellar Based Combined Immunotherapy for the Posterior Line Treatment of Advanced Bile Tract Cancer

This trial tests whether giving a paclitaxel polymer micelle combined with immunotherapy helps people with advanced biliary tract cancer who have finished first-line treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: lenvatinib, chemotherapy, immunotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT07159204 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 2 interventional study gives a paclitaxel polymer micelle combined with immune therapy to patients with advanced biliary tract cancer as a later-line regimen after standard first-line treatment. Eligible patients have unresectable, recurrent, locally advanced, or metastatic disease (AJCC-8 stage IIIA or above) and metastases in no more than two organs. The program delivers the combination therapy at a single center and monitors safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor activity with regular clinical and imaging assessments. Treatment history, toxicities, and response rates will be tracked over time to characterize potential benefit and risks.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with unresectable, recurrent, locally advanced, or metastatic biliary tract cancer (intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer), AJCC-8 stage IIIA or higher, with metastases in no more than two organs and who have completed first-line therapy are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage disease, widespread metastases involving more than two organs, those eligible for curative local treatments, or with uncontrolled comorbidities or recent high-grade toxicities are unlikely to be suitable or to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could shrink tumors or slow disease progression and potentially extend survival or quality of life for patients who have limited options after first-line therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Related chemo-immunotherapy combinations, including taxane-based regimens, have shown activity in biliary tract cancers in other trials, but the paclitaxel polymer micelle formulation combined with immunotherapy is relatively novel and not yet proven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* The subjects voluntarily participated in the study and agreed to sign the written informed consent, with good compliance and follow-up, and were at least 18 years old at the time of signing the informed consent, regardless of gender.
* Patients with advanced biliary carcinoma diagnosed by imaging and histology as unresectable, recurrent, locally advanced, or with metastatic lesions are defined as stage IIIA or above according to the AJCC-8 staging system, including intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. No more than 2 organs metastasized, including liver, lung, bone, and brain.
* Radical surgery/local treatment, including focal excision, ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, is not appropriate for at least 4 weeks prior to baseline assessment, or for disease progression thereafter. All acute toxic effects during local treatment must be ≤CTCAE5.0 grade 1.
* Patients were intolerant or failed for ≥1 month after first-line systemic therapy, required palliative care, and patient adverse events were controlled (NCI-CTCAE≤ Grade I).
* At least one measurable lesion (a spiral CT scan of a measurable lesion ≥10mm or an enlarged lymph node ≥15mm, as required by RECIst version 1.1).
* The ECOG score in the first week of enrollment was 0-1. Survival was expected to be ≥3 months as assessed by the investigators.
* Active hepatitis B and C patients are required to receive relevant antiviral therapy, HBV-DNA \< 2000 IU/ml (\< 104 copies /ml), and have received anti-HBV therapy for at least 14 days prior to study entry and continue treatment during treatment. HCV RNA-positive patients must receive antiviral therapy according to standard local treatment guidelines and have liver function within CTCAE grade 1 elevation.
* Hematology and organ function are adequate, based on the following laboratory results obtained within 14 days prior to initiation of investigational therapy (unless otherwise indicated)
* Any clinically significant biliary obstruction should be resolved before randomization.
* Adequate renal function: creatinine ≤1.5×ULN, or creatinine clearance \>50mL/min
* Women who are fertile: agree to abstain from sex (abstain from heterosexual intercourse) or use a contraceptive method with an annual contraceptive failure rate of \< 1% during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose.
* Men: agree to abstain from sex (no heterosexual intercourse) or use contraception, and agree not to donate sperm.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who have previously received treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, lenvatinib or paclitaxel, or are known to be allergic to or intolerant to immune checkpoint inhibitors, lenvatinib or paclitaxel and their components
* Any systemic anti-tumor treatment received within the three months prior to participating in the study, including but not limited to intravenous infusion and/or oral chemotherapy, targeted drugs, antibody drugs and traditional Chinese medicines with known anti-cancer effects.
* The patient is undergoing approved or under-development systemic anti-cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, biological immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or traditional Chinese medicine therapy with clear indications. Treatment is allowed 4 weeks before randomization.
* The histopathological results show a mixture of liver cancer, squamous cell carcinoma or sarcoma cell components, or ampullary carcinoma.
* Accompanied by other malignant tumors, but having had other uncured malignant tumors in the past (within 5 years) or simultaneously.
* Significant digestive tract diseases: Pre-existing or existing grade 3 or above digestive tract fistula or non-digestive tract fistula as per CTCAE 5.0 criteria. There is evidence or history of bleeding mechanism disorders such as a history of gastrointestinal bleeding within the last 6 months, or a clear tendency of gastrointestinal bleeding, or a gastrointestinal bleeding event of grade ≥3 (CTCAE 5.0).
* Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases with significant clinical significance Including but not limited to having experienced acute myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina pectoris, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to enrollment, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia requiring treatment, hypertension that has not been well controlled after antihypertensive drug treatment, and a history of thromboembolism (including stroke and/or transient ischemic attack) within the last 6 months.
* Liver and kidney insufficiency: Liver insufficiency: Characterized by jaundice, ascites and/or bilirubin \>3×ULN. Renal insufficiency: Creatinine ratio \>3.5g/24 hours, urine routine showing urine protein ≥++ or confirmed 24-hour urine protein quantification \> 1.0g, or renal failure requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, etc. Having received treatment with a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor within 7 days before participating in the study, or having received treatment with a potent CYP3A4 inducer within 12 days before participating in the study.
* Have active autoimmune diseases or a history of autoimmune diseases or are at risk of immune diseases: Have suffered from active, known or suspected autoimmune diseases in the past two years, including but not limited to myasthenia gravis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Be ready or have previously received organ or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Alternative therapy is not considered a form of systemic treatment for participants who may have their vital organ functions affected or who have already/may need systemic immunosuppressive therapy. This clinical trial allows patients with type 1 diabetes, hypothyroidism with only hormone replacement, skin diseases that do not require systemic treatment, or those who will not relapse without external triggers to participate.
* Neurological disorders: Known or untreated brain metastases, or patients with epilepsy requiring drug treatment. Known active central nervous system metastases and/or cancerous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases but stable brain metastasis disease (no evidence of progression on imaging at least four weeks before the first trial treatment and any neurological symptoms have returned to baseline) can participate, without evidence of new or expanded brain metastases, and without steroid use for at least 7 days before the trial treatment. However, cancerous meningitis is not included. Regardless of clinical stability, it is excluded.
* Infectious disease: Persistent infection with grade \>2 (CTCAE 5.0). A known history of active tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). A known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

• Peking Union Medical College Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jiongyuan Li

Conditions Biliary Tract Cancer