Eligibility |
Inclusion Criteria
1. Written (signed and dated) informed consent for both pre-screening and the main trial
and capable of co-operating with any investigational medicinal product (IMP)
administration and follow-up.
2. Histologically or cytologically proven Stage IIIB, IIIC or IV squamous NSCLC or Stage
IIIB or IV non-squamous NSCLC scheduled to receive pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as
standard of care at the time of enrolment or randomisation. Patients can receive up to
two cycles of SoC pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy prior to enrolment or
randomisation to the trial.
Or histologically proven inoperable Stage III or IV squamous cell carcinomas of the
oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction (referred to as squamous oesophageal cancer)
scheduled to receive or continue to receive chemotherapy and pembrolizumab as standard
of care at the time of enrolment.
3. NSCLC patients with no prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy prior to the
pembrolizumab they are receiving in combination with chemotherapy at time of enrolment
or randomisation.
1. For non-squamous NSCLC patients, the patient has not received previous systemic
therapy for advanced/metastatic disease. Completion of treatment for earlier
stage disease with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy as part of
neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as therapy was completed
at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent locally advanced or
metastatic disease.
2. For squamous NSCLC patients, the patient has not received previous cytotoxic
chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic disease. Completion of treatment for earlier
stage disease with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy as part of
neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as therapy was completed
at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent locally advanced or
metastatic disease.
Or patients with squamous oesophageal cancer with no prior systemic therapy for
advanced disease and with no prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy prior to the
chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor they are receiving at time of enrolment
to the trial. Completion of treatment for earlier stage disease with chemotherapy with
or without radiotherapy as part of neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as
long as therapy was completed at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent
locally advanced or metastatic disease.
4. Have at least one measurable lesion according to RECIST v1.1. Note: A measurable
lesion may be biopsied at screening and on trial, however that lesion cannot be
selected as a target lesion for disease assessment according to RECIST v1.1.
5. Confirmed PD-L1 status (tumour proportion score) for NSCLC patients. Or a confirmed
PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) for patients with squamous oesophageal cancer.
6. Archival tumour tissue or new biopsy expressing MAGE-A3 as demonstrated by RT-qPCR.
7. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
9. Haematological and biochemical indices within the ranges shown below. These
measurements should be performed to confirm the patient's eligibility.
Haemoglobin (Hb) =90 g/L
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) =1.5×10^9/L (growth factor support (G-CSF) is allowed
when used as part of routine supportive therapy for Standard of Care)
Platelet count =100×10^9/L
International normalized ratio (INR) AND prothrombin time (PT) OR Activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT) =1.5 × ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant
therapy as long asINR or PT/ aPTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of
anticoagulants
Bilirubin =1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR < 3 x ULN in the presence of
documented Gilbert's Syndrome (unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia)
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =3.0 x ULN OR =5.0
x ULN in presence of liver metastases
Calculated creatinine clearance (using the Cockcroft & Gault [C&G] formula) =50 mL/min
or serum creatinine =1.5 x UL
10. Aged 18 years or over at the time pre-screening consent is given.
Exclusion Criteria
1. For non-squamous NSCLC patients, patients who have received previous systemic therapy
for advanced/metastatic disease prior to the pembrolizumab they are receiving in
combination with chemotherapy at time of enrolment or randomisation. Completion of
treatment for earlier stage disease with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy as
part of neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as therapy was
completed at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent locally advanced or
metastatic disease. Palliative radiotherapy is allowed. Irradiated lesions will not be
evaluable for response.
For squamous NSCLC patients, patients who have received previous cytotoxic
chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic disease prior to the pembrolizumab they are
receiving in combination with chemotherapy at time of enrolment or randomisation.
Completion of treatment for earlier stage disease with chemotherapy with or without
radiotherapy as part of neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as
therapy was completed at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent locally
advanced or metastatic disease. Palliative radiotherapy is allowed. Irradiated lesions
will not be evaluable for response.
Or for patients with squamous oesophageal cancer - patients who have previously
received systemic therapy for advanced disease and with no prior immune checkpoint
inhibitor therapy prior to the SoC treatment outlined in this clinical trial.
Completion of treatment for earlier stage disease with chemotherapy with or without
radiotherapy as part of neoadjuvant/radical/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as
therapy was completed at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of recurrent locally
advanced or metastatic disease. Palliative radiotherapy is allowed. Irradiated lesions
will not be evaluable for response.
2. Previous therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent
directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T cell receptor (e.g., anti-CTLA-4,
OX 40, anti-CD137). This does not include the immune checkpoint inhibitor patients
receive in combination with chemotherapy commencing during screening prior to
enrolment or randomisation to the trial.
3. Current or prior malignancy which could affect safety or efficacy assessment of the
IMP or compliance with the protocol or interpretation of results. Patients with
curatively-treated non-melanoma skin cancer, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, or
carcinomas-in-situ are eligible.
4. Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
Patients with symptomatically active brain metastases or leptomeningeal metastases.
Patients with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are
radiologically stable, i.e., without evidence of progression for at least 4 weeks by
repeat imaging (note that the repeat imaging should be performed during trial
screening), clinically stable and without requirement of steroid treatment for at
least 14 days prior to first dose of study treatment.
5. Women of child-bearing potential (or are already pregnant or lactating). However,
those patients who meet the following points are considered eligible:
- Have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test before enrolment or randomisation
and;
- Agree to use two forms of contraception (one effective form plus a barrier
method) [oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraception and condom;
intra-uterine device and condom; diaphragm with spermicidal gel and condom] or
agree to sexual abstinence, effective from the first administration of
ChAdOx1-MAGEA3-NYESO, throughout the treatment phase of the trial and for six
months afterwards.
6. Male patients with partners of child-bearing potential. However, those patients who
meet the following points are considered eligible:
- They agree to take measures not to father children by using a barrier method of
contraception (condom plus spermicide) or to sexual abstinence effective from the
Cycle 3 Day 1 of SoC treatment, throughout the treatment phase of the trial and
for six months afterwards.
- Men with partners of child-bearing potential must also be willing to ensure that
their partner uses an effective method of contraception for the same duration for
example, hormonal contraception, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicidal
gel or sexual abstinence.
- Men with pregnant or lactating partners must be advised to use barrier method
contraception (for example, condom plus spermicidal gel) to prevent exposure to
the foetus or neonate.
7. Major thoracic or abdominal surgery from which the patient has not yet recovered.
Patients who have undergone other types of surgery which the Chief Investigator (CI)
and Sponsor agree would not compromise patient safety on trial are eligible.
8. Electrocardiogram (ECG) with clinically significant abnormalities or with QTcF
interval (QT corrected using Fridericia's formula) >480 msec.
9. At high medical risk because of non-malignant systemic disease including active
uncontrolled infection.
10. Historically known to be serologically positive for hepatitis B or human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients with previous Hepatitis C exposure but no
current infection are eligible to participate.
11. Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2
years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or
immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or
physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency)
is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed.
12. Has received COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (previously named AZD1222 or
ChAdOx1-nCoV-19) vaccine within six weeks of commencing chemotherapy and an immune
checkpoint inhibitor.
13. Has received any other live vaccination within four weeks before enrolment or
randomisation to the trial. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to,
the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster, yellow fever, rabies,
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for
injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal
influenza vaccines (e.g., FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
14. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy
(in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of
immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of study drug. Use of
short (<7 day) courses of steroids as part of the SoC treatment management is allowed.
15. Has undergone prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last
5 years. Participants who have had a transplant greater than 5 years ago are eligible
as long as there are no symptoms of graft versus host disease (GVHD).
16. Has previously experienced severe hypersensitivity (greater than or equal to Grade 3)
to an immune checkpoint inhibitor, ChAdOx1 or MVA vaccines and/or any of their
excipients.
17. History of a severe allergy to eggs or history of severe allergic reaction to any
previous vaccination.
18. History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT or HIT type 2).
19. History of Capillary Leak Syndrome.
20. Is a participant or plans to participate in another interventional clinical trial,
whilst taking part in this Phase I/IIa trial. Participation in an observational trial
or interventional clinical trial which does not involve administration of an IMP and
which would not place an unacceptable burden on the patient in the opinion of the
Investigator and Medical Advisor would be acceptable.
21. Any other condition, which in the Investigator's opinion, would not make the patient a
good candidate for the clinical trial.
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