Using 18F-PD-L1 PET/CT to predict treatment response in lung cancer patients

18F-PD-L1 PET/CT to Predict Response to Nivolumab in Patients With NSCLC

This study is testing if a special type of scan can help predict how well lung cancer patients will respond to their first treatment with immunotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Netherlands Cancer Institute (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: nivolumab, ipilimumab, immunotherapy, prednisone
• Locations: 8 sites (Amersfoort and 7 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT03564197 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial is a multicenter, single-arm study aimed at exploring and validating biomarkers in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are eligible for first-line chemo-immunotherapy or PD-(L)1 immunotherapy. Eighty participants will undergo a whole-body 18F-PD-L1 PET/CT scan before starting nivolumab-containing treatment. The goal is to predict durable responses to treatment based on the PET/CT imaging results. Patients will continue their treatment until disease progression, withdrawal of consent, or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed stage IV NSCLC who are EGFR wild-type and EML4-ALK fusion negative.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of lung cancer or those who do not meet the eligibility criteria, such as those with prior radiation to the biopsy site, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could help identify which patients are most likely to benefit from nivolumab treatment, leading to more personalized and effective cancer care.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using PET imaging for predicting treatment responses in cancer, suggesting that this approach may be beneficial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of stage IV, EGFR WT and EML4-ALK fusion negative NSCLC. Mutational testing is not necessary in patients with squamous NSCLC.
2. Eligible for first line chemo-immunotherapy, first line nivolumab + ipilimumab or 2nd line and beyond PD-(L)1 immunotherapy monotherapy.
3. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial.
4. Be \>= 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
5. Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1.
6. Must provide tissue from a histological biopsy of a tumor lesion that is not radiated prior to biopsy and obtained after the last line of systemic therapy, to determine the actual PD-L1 status.
7. Have a performance status of 0-1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
8. Demonstrate adequate hematologic and organ function, defined by the following laboratory results. All screening laboratory tests should be performed within 30 days prior to day 1 (PET imaging):

   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500 cells/µL
   * WBC count ≥ 2000 cells/µL
   * Platelet count ≥ 100.000/µL
   * Hemoglobin ≥ 5.6 mmol/L
   * AST and ALT ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN if liver metastases are present)
   * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except subjects with known Gilbert disease, who can have total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL)
   * Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR measured of calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) ≥ 40 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels \> 1.5 x ULN.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days prior to day 1 (PET imaging). Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid \>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
2. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy.
3. Has symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.

   * Note: Subjects with asymptomatic CNS metastases are allowed to enter the study.
   * Note: Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are clinically stable and not using steroids with \> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment.
4. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic steroid treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids.
5. Has evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
6. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
7. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
8. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
9. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 23 weeks after the last dose of trial treatment.
10. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways.
11. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
12. Has known active Hepatitis B or C.

Where this trial is running

Amersfoort and 7 other locations

• MeanderMC — Amersfoort, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• VUmc — Amsterdam, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Antoni van Leeuwenhoek — Amsterdam, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis — Den Bosch, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Medisch Centrum Haaglanden — Den Haag, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Deventer Ziekenhuis — Deventer, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Lumc — Leiden, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Antonius Ziekenhuis — Utrecht, Netherlands (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Joop de Langen, MD — The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
• Study coordinator: Joop de Langen, MD

Conditions NSCLC Stage IV; EGFR WT; negative EML4-ALK fusion; eligible for first line chemo-immunotherapy, first line nivolumab/ipilimumab or 2nd line and beyond PD-1 immunotherapy monotherapy