Neoadjuvant treatment for recurrent melanoma using ipilimumab and nivolumab

Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Ipilimumab/Nivolumab for Patients With Recurrent, High Risk, Resectable Melanoma

This study tests if giving two rounds of immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab before surgery can help people with recurrent melanoma do better after their treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Utah (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, ipilimumab, nivolumab
• Locations: 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Trial ID: NCT06365619 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of neoadjuvant therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab in patients with recurrent, high-risk, resectable melanoma who have previously undergone adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy. Participants will receive two cycles of these immunotherapy agents before their scheduled surgery, followed by standard adjuvant therapy post-surgery. The study aims to evaluate the treatment's impact on disease response and overall outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed Stage IIIB-D or Stage IV recurrent metastatic melanoma that is resectable.

Not a fit: Patients with non-resectable melanoma or those who have not experienced recurrence during or after adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve surgical outcomes and overall survival for patients with recurrent melanoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar immunotherapy approaches in melanoma, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects aged ≥ 18 years.
* Histologically confirmed Stage IIIB-D or Stage IV recurrent metastatic melanoma that is resectable or borderline resectable as determined by a Surgical Oncologist.
* Recurrent disease at eligibility must have been confirmed with biopsy while receiving or within 3 months of completion of adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy.
* ECOG Performance Status ≤ 1.
* Adequate organ function as defined as:

  * Hematologic:

    * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/mm3
    * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3
    * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
  * Hepatic:

    * Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
    * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3 × institutional ULN ----Subjects with liver metastases will be allowed to enroll with AST and ALT levels ≤ 5 x ULN.
  * Renal:

    * Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault formula:
* For subjects of childbearing potential: Negative pregnancy test or evidence of post-menopausal status or evidence of permanent surgical sterilization. The post-menopausal status will be defined as having been amenorrheic for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. The following age-specific requirements apply:

  * Subjects \< 50 years of age:

    * Amenorrheic for ≥ 12 months following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatments; and
    * Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the post-menopausal range for the institution
  * Subjects ≥ 50 years of age:

    * Amenorrheic for ≥ 12 months following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments; or
    * Had radiation-induced menopause with last menses \>1 year ago; or
    * Had chemotherapy-induced menopause with last menses \>1 year ago
* Subjects of childbearing potential and subjects with a sexual partner of childbearing potential must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception as described in Section 5.3.1.
* Subject has adequate archival tissue or agrees to undergo a fresh tissue biopsy if sufficient archival tissue is unavailable.
* Recovery to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 CTCAE v5 from toxicities related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy per the treating investigator.
* Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Receiving other investigational agents currently or within 28 days of study treatment.
* Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy ≤ 14 days or within five half-lives prior to starting study treatment, whichever is shorter.
* Prior radiotherapy 45 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
* Major surgery 4 weeks prior to starting study drug or who have not fully recovered from major surgery.
* Active infection requiring the use of systemic antibiotics.
* Systemic steroid therapy greater than physiologic equivalent (10mg prednisone/day) or any other form of systemic immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to registration.
* Active secondary malignancy, unless the malignancy is not expected to interfere with the evaluation of safety
* Known brain metastases or cranial epidural disease.
* Current evidence of uncontrolled, significant intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

  --Cardiovascular disorders:
  * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association Class III or IV, unstable angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmias.
  * Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction (MI), or other ischemic events, or thromboembolic event (eg, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) within 3 months before the first dose.
  * QTc prolongation defined as a QTcF \> 500 ms.
  * Known congenital long QT.
  * Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 55%.
  * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as ≥ 140/90 as assessed from the mean of three consecutive blood pressure measurements taken over 10 minutes.
* Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate the subject's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns or compliance with clinical study procedures (e.g., infection/inflammation, intestinal obstruction, unable to swallow medication, \[subjects may not receive the drug through a feeding tube\], social/psychological issues, etc.)
* HIV infection with a detectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment.

  --Note: Subjects on effective antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment are eligible for this trial.
* Active infection including tuberculosis (clinical evaluation that includes clinical history, physical examination, radiographic findings, and TB testing in line with local practice), hepatitis B (positive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) result), or hepatitis C.

  --Note: Subjects with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody \[anti-HBc\] and absence of HBsAg) are eligible. Subjects positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
* Medical, psychiatric, cognitive, or other conditions that may compromise the subject's ability to understand the subject information, give informed consent, comply with the study protocol or complete the study.
* Known prior severe hypersensitivity to investigational product (IP) or any component in its formulations (NCI CTCAE v5.0 Grade ≥ 3).
* Subjects taking prohibited medications as described in Section 6.7.2. A washout period of prohibited medications for a period of at least five half-lives or as clinically indicated should occur before the start of treatment.

Where this trial is running

Salt Lake City, Utah

• Huntsman Cancer Institute — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Siwen Hu-Lieskovan, PhD, MD — Huntsman Cancer Institute
• Study coordinator: Kaitlin Stephens

Conditions Melanoma