Paxalisib plus temozolomide for malignant brain tumours with PI3K pathway changes

5G-PEARL: Paxalisib in Combination With Temozolomide in Patients With High Grade Malignant Brain Tumours Within the 5G Platform

This trial tests whether adding paxalisib to standard temozolomide helps people with newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma whose tumors have PI3K-activating mutations or PTEN loss.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 64 (estimated)
• Ages: 16 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: Bevacizumab
• Locations: 1 site (Sutton)
• Trial ID: NCT07391215 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

5G-PEARL is an open-label, multi-centre, adaptive Phase 1/2 platform testing paxalisib combined with temozolomide in molecularly selected malignant gliomas. Phase 1b opens parallel biomarker-defined arms for patients with hyperactivating PIK3CA/PIK3R1 mutations or PTEN loss and will enroll about 10 patients per arm initially in the front-line unmethylated MGMT setting. Paxalisib starts at 45 mg once daily with an option to increase in Cycle 2, while temozolomide is given days 1-5 of a 28-day cycle with standard dose escalation if tolerated. A Bayesian two-stage adaptive design and Safety Review Committee decision points guide dose, safety, and early efficacy decisions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with histologically confirmed WHO grade 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, unmethylated MGMT in the front-line setting, whose tumors show hyperactivating PIK3CA/PIK3R1 mutations or PTEN loss and who can provide or consent to required whole-genome/transcriptome data are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without the specified PI3K pathway mutations or PTEN loss, those with different molecular profiles (including MGMT-methylated disease in some arms), or those unable to tolerate temozolomide or paxalisib are unlikely to benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could slow tumor growth or extend progression-free survival in molecularly selected glioblastoma patients when added to temozolomide.

How similar studies have performed: Early-phase work with brain-penetrant PI3K pathway inhibitors, including paxalisib, has shown target engagement and occasional responses, but definitive benefit in glioblastoma has not yet been proven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Phase 1b front line mrd cohort:

1. Patients with histologically confirmed advanced WHO Stage IV glioblastoma (per fourth edition 2016). Per the new 2021 fifth edition of WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System, this will include:

   • Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype Grade 4
2. Patients for Phase 1b will need to have consented to the Minderoo Precision Brain Tumour Programme and have whole genome, and transcriptome data available. Patients who have had NHS funded whole genome sequencing and have available frozen tissue stored can be recruited to the study in parallel to consenting to the Minderoo Precision Brain Tumour Programme to have transcriptome analysis done.
3. Patients for the minimal residual disease (mrd) cohort will be eligible following completion of optimal surgery and Stupp based adjuvant chemoradiotherapy as long as they meet all other inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients will need to commence Cycle 1 Day 1 of the study no later than 6 weeks from the completion of chemoradiotherapy. Patients who are radiologically progressing following chemo-radiotherapy will not be eligible.
4. 16 years or over.
5. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
6. World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status of 0-1.
7. Neurologically stable (eg without a progression of neurological symptoms or requiring escalating doses of systemic steroid therapy within one week prior to cycle 1, day 1.
8. Written (signed or dated) informed consent and be capable of co-operating with treatment and follow up.
9. Haematological and biochemical indices within the ranges shown below. These measurements must be performed within one week prior to the first dose of either IMP.

   Haemoglobin (Hb): ≥ 9.0 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count: ≥1.5 x 10\^9/L Platelet count: ≥100 x 10\^9/L Coagulation: INR \< 1.5 and APTT \<1.5x if not anticoagulated INR stable \> 7 days within intended therapeutic range if anticoagulated Bilirubin: ≤1.5 x ULN; participants with Gilbert's syndrome can enrol if conjugated bilirubin is within normal ranges.

   Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST): \<3 x ULN Albumin: ≥ 28 g/L Creatinine: \<1.5 x ULN Sodium: ≥130 mmol/L Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, phosphate: Within institution normal ranges (replacement is permitted) HbA1C (%): \<8.0 Urinary protein: \< 1+ on dipstick
10. Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to start of trial.
11. Men and women of childbearing potential must agree to comply with the use of a highly effective method of contraception so as to avoid impregnating a partner or becoming pregnant, respectively, during the study, and for at least 180 days after the last dose of either investigational drug. Please, refer to section 4.1 of the Clinical Trials Facilitation and Coordination Group (CTCG) guidance for further details.

Exclusion Criteria:

Phase 1b frontline mrd cohort:

1. Receipt of treatment before the first dose of study drug (Cycle 1 Day 1) within an interval shorter than the following, as applicable:

   * Bevacizumab during the prior 6 weeks
   * Any investigational medicinal product since diagnosis.
   * Tumour treating fields during the prior 6 weeks
2. Prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy or vaccine therapy is not permitted. Prior use of any other immune-modulatory investigational agent must be discussed with sponsor team and CI.
3. Ongoing Grade 2 or greater toxicities from pre-existing conditions or from previous treatments.
4. Patients with carcinomatous meningitis, leptomeningeal spread of tumour, spread of tumour to the brain stem or spinal cord.
5. Has evidence of recent intratumoural or peritumoural haemorrhage on baseline MRI. Patients with radiological findings that are stable on at least 2 consecutive MRI scans at least 3 weeks apart will be eligible.
6. History of clinical relevant bleeding disorders, including significant GI bleeding within last 6 months.
7. History of arterial thromboembolism.
8. Recent (within 3 months) deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism or other significant thromboembolism. Venous port of catheter thrombosis or superficial thrombosis are not considered significant. Patients with prior thrombosis (\> 3 months ago) on stable anticoagulation are permitted to be enrolled.
9. History of clinically significant cardiac disorders:

   * Myocardial infarction, or New York Heart Association Class II to IV congestive heart failure, within 6 months of the first dose of study drug.
   * Concurrent and clinically significant abnormalities on electrocardiogram (ECG) at Screening, including a corrected QT interval (QTcF \>480ms).
10. History of malabsorption syndrome or other conditions that may interfere with enteral absorption. Patients with a history of or active inflammatory bowel disease (eg Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis). History of gastrointestinal perforation or fistulae.
11. History of uncontrolled diabetes. Patients with controlled diabetes on therapy with HbA1C \<8% will be eligible.
12. Has urine protein \> 1g/24 hours. Participants with \>1+ on urine dipstick testing will undergo 24-hour urine collection for quantitative assessment of proteinuria.
13. Has significant lung disease including pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, active tuberculosis, or history of opportunistic infections (including PCP or CMV pneumonia).
14. Known to be serologically positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
15. Steroid requirement for neurological symptom control of \>3mg Dexamethasone per day (patients will allowed to enrol if they have been on a stable dose of steroids of equivalent or less than 3mg Dexamethasone for at least 5 days prior to Day 1 of Cycle 1).
16. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: inactive vaccines including COVID vaccines are allowed prior to 1 week of Day 1 of Cycle 1).
17. Current active concurrent malignancy. Cancer survivors who have undergone potentially curative therapy for a prior malignancy, have no evidence of that disease recurrence for three years or more and are deemed at negligible risk of recurrence will be eligible.
18. Is a participant or plans to participate on another interventional clinical trial while taking part in this Phase 1 study. Participation in an observational trial would be acceptable.
19. Any other condition which in the investigator's opinion would not make the patient a good candidate for the clinical trial.
20. Exposure to medications (with or without prescriptions), supplements, herbal remedies, or foods with potential for drug-drug interactions with study interventions within 14 days prior to the first dose of study intervention and during the course of therapy, including strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers, due to potential drug-drug interactions with both paxalisib and temozolomide.
21. Major surgery within 4 weeks (excluding placement of vascular access), minor surgery within 2 weeks.
22. Live and attenuated vaccines are not permitted during or within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment.

Inclusion and Exclusion criteria for Phase 2:

1. This will be broadened following an assessment of the safety and tolerability seen in the Phase 1 to be more inclusive and reflective of the real-world population.
2. Patients with any other CNS tumours will only be eligible for defined Phase 2 biomarker arms once a Phase 1b GO decision has been met. Specific eligibility criteria for these tumours will be defined following an amendment.

Where this trial is running

Sutton

• Royal Marden NHS Foundation Trust — Sutton, United Kingdom (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: 5G Team

Conditions Malignant Primary Gliomas; Glioblastoma Multiforme