Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with targeted SBRT for borderline resectable non-small cell lung cancer

A Phase I, Single-Arm, Single-Institution Study Evaluating Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy With Immunosensitizing Radiation for Borderline Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This trial will test whether giving focused radiation before standard chemoimmunotherapy and planned surgery helps people with borderline resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: nivolumab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone, radiation
• Locations: 4 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 3 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06800339 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 trial gives a short course of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) intended to sensitize tumors before standard-of-care platinum-doublet chemotherapy combined with nivolumab, followed by surgical resection assessment. Systemic therapy consists of up to three 3-week cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy plus nivolumab prior to evaluating operability. Patients must have stage II–IIIC(N3) NSCLC judged borderline resectable by a multidisciplinary thoracic tumor board and provide tumor tissue for biomarker testing including next-generation sequencing for EGFR/ALK. The primary goals are safety, feasibility, and whether the combination increases the chance of successful surgical removal.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18) with ECOG 0–1 and stage II–IIIC(N3) NSCLC judged borderline resectable who can provide tumor tissue for biomarker testing and are fit for surgery.

Not a fit: Patients with poor performance status (ECOG >1), clearly unresectable or widely metastatic disease, or tumors driven by actionable EGFR/ALK alterations better treated with targeted therapy are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase the proportion of tumors that become removable and improve long-term outcomes by combining focused radiation with chemoimmunotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy trials have shown encouraging pathological response rates, but using SBRT beforehand as an immunosensitizer is relatively novel with limited prior data.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age greater than or equal to18 years at time of study entry
2. Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
3. Participants with histologically confirmed stage II-IIIC(N3) NSCLC (per the 8th International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer) with disease that is considered borderline resectable prior to initiation of RT or systemic therapy.

   a. Patients with intrathoracic, contralateral N3 disease will be allowed to enroll (see exclusion criteria for further details)
4. Subject cases must be reviewed in a multidisciplinary thoracic tumor board setting prior to enrollment to allow for adequate discussion regarding the potential for resection.
5. Participants must have a tumor tissue sample available for biomarker testing, including next-generation sequencing to confirm EGFR/ALK status. Assessment of EGFR/ALK status may be performed locally through a CLIA approved laboratory testing method.

   a. Tissue source may be a formalin fixed paraffin block (FFPE) of a previous tumor biopsy sample. Source of biomarker testing may be obtained from archived tissue if adequate or from a new biopsy, if needed and clinically indicated
6. Absence of major associated pathologies that increase the surgery risk to an unacceptable level
7. Pulmonary function capacity (eg. FVC, FEV1, TLC, and DLCO) capable of tolerating proposed lung resection according to surgeon.
8. Adequate normal organ and marrow function defined below:

   1. Platelet count greater than or equal to100,000/mm3
   2. Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 8 g/dL
   3. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1000/mm3
   4. Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) greater than or equal to 40 mL/min
   5. Total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome who can have total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL)
   6. AST, ALT, Alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 3 x ULN per local testing
9. Subjects are deemed capable of giving informed consent and must have signed and dated an IRB approved written informed consent form. This written consent must be obtained before the performance of any protocol related procedures that are not part of normal standard of care.
10. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have negative serum or urine pregnancy testing within 30 days of study start.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of metastatic (Stage IV) disease, including malignancy pleural effusions.
2. Participants with N3 disease involving ipsilateral or contralateral scalene or supraclavicular lymph nodes. In the case of clinical suspicion for involvement of these lymph nodes, pathologic confirmation and biopsy may be pursued to determine final eligibility.
3. Participants with known sensitizing EGFR (L858R or Exon 19 deletion) mutations or ALK translocation. If testing is done, an FDA approved assay should be used and testing can be performed locally.
4. Participants with brain metastases are excluded from this study. All patients should have pre-study MRI brain or CT head with contrast to confirm the absence of intracranial disease, per standard of care staging procedures.
5. Participants with active autoimmune disease which would preclude immunotherapy. Participants with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of external trigger are permitted to enroll.
6. Participants with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of enrollment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses \>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of autoimmune disease.
7. Participants with serious or uncontrolled medical disorders.
8. Participants with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma tumor histology.
9. Prior administration of chemotherapy or any other cancer therapy for early-stage NSCLC.
10. Prior therapy with an anti-PD-(L)1, anti-CTLA-4 antibody or any other antibody targeting t-cell co-regulatory pathways.
11. Participants with active hepatitis B (positive hepatitis B surface antigen) or hepatitis C virus (positive HCV RNA).

    1. Participants with past HBV infection or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody and the absence of HBsAg) are eligible. HBV DNA must be obtained in these patients prior to randomization. HBV carriers or those participants requiring antiviral therapy are not eligible to participate.
    2. Participants positive for HCV antibody are eligible only if PCR is negative for HCV RNA.
12. Participants with poorly controlled or untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). All of the following criteria are required to define an HIV infection that is well controlled and therefore eligible for enrollment: undetectable viral RNA, CD4 count greater than or equal to 350, no history of AIDS-defining opportunistic infection within the past 12 months, and stable for at least 4 weeks on the same anti-HIV medications.
13. Active prior malignancy within the previous 3 years, except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured, such as basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer or carcinoma in situ of the prostate, cervix or breast.
14. History of allergy or hypersensitivity to nivolumab, or chemotherapy agents.
15. History of allogeneic organ transplantation.
16. Female patients who are pregnant or actively breastfeeding or male or female patients of reproductive potential who are not willing to employ effective birth control methods from time of screening to 90 days after completion of surgery.

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland and 3 other locations

• Maryland Proton Treatment Center — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• Upper Chesapeake- Kaufman Cancer Center — Bel Air, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• Baltimore Washington Medical Center- Tate Cancer Center — Glen Burnie, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Matthew Ferris, MD

Conditions Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Radiation Treatment; SBRT; ChemoImmunotherapy