| Eligibility |
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Signed written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health
information.
2. Age = 18 years at the time of consent.
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0-2.
4. Histologically confirmed melanoma of cutaneous or mucosal primary; (e.g. sinus,
vagina, anus, gastrointestinal tract); metastatic melanomas from unknown primary are
allowed because melanoma of unknown primary is biologically similar to cutaneous
melanomas.
5. AJCC stage III/IV unresectable (or resectable) disease. Both should be measurable by
RECIST v1.1 criteria. Patients with resectable bulky stage IIIB, state IIIC or stage
IIID melanoma (=2-cm in shortest diameter for lymph nodes infiltrated by tumor and
=2-cm in longest diameter for non-lymph nodes infiltrated by tumor) can also be
entered into the study at the discretion of the Principal Investigator.
6. Must have available and consent to collect archived tumor blocks from previous
surgeries confirming or treating metastatic disease (e.g. radical lymph node
dissection); if not available they can be enrolled into the trial, if they consent to
have a tumor biopsy before treatment initiation.
7. Must agree to undergo one on-treatment biopsy on week 4of the study; the biopsy at
week 16 is optional.
8. Must agree to have 100 mL blood drawn for study purposes on week 1 , day 20+or-2 (week
4), week 16, week 28, week 40 and end of treatment.
9. Demonstrate adequate organ function, as listed below; all screening labs are to be
obtained within 21 days prior to registration.
- Hemoglobin = 10 g/dL without transfusion or erythropoietin dependency (within 7
days of assessment)
- Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) = 1,500/mm3
- Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) = 1,000/mm3
- Platelets= 100,000/mm3
- Serum Creatinine OR Measured or calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be
used in place of creatinine or CrCl) = 1.5 × upper limits of normal (ULN) OR
- = 60 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula for subjects with creatinine levels
> 1.5 × ULN
- Serum Total Bilirubin = 1.5 × ULN or = 2 × ULN for subjects with Gilbert's
Syndrome
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) = 2.5 × ULN OR < 5 × ULN for subjects with liver
metastases
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) = 2.5 × ULN OR < 5 × ULN for subjects with liver
metastases
- Albumin = 2.5 mg/dL
- Serum calcium = 2.0 mmol/L (8.0 mg/dL)
10. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72
hours prior to study treatment. Note: Females are considered of childbearing potential
unless they are surgically sterile (have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal
ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or they are naturally postmenopausal for at least
12 consecutive months.
11. Females of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate methods of
contraception, as outlined in the protocol. Oral contraception is required 14 days
prior to initiation of study medications until 120 days after treatment
discontinuation. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and
preferred contraception for the subject.
12. Male patients with female partners must have had a prior vasectomy or agree to use an
adequate method of contraception as outlined in the protocol- Contraception, starting
with the first dose of study therapy through 150 days after the last dose of study
therapy. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred
contraception for the subject.
13. As determined by the enrolling physician or protocol designee, willingness and ability
of the subject to understand and comply with study procedures.
14. Previous radiation therapy is allowed, provided it is completed =14 days prior to
starting denosumab and patient has recovered adequately from any related toxicities
(grade=1, or grade =2 that is stable for =3 months).
15. If patient has received adjuvant treatments, in particular ipilimumab and high dose
interferon, any toxicities must have resolved to grade 1 or less. Grade 2 toxicities
attributed to ipilimumab from autoimmune endocrinopathies that require permanent
hormone replacement therapy are allowed as long as they are adequately treated. This
implies that patients should be off systemic steroids for treatment of any of these or
other autoimmune toxicities (e.g. colitis, rash).
Subjects who have previously received PD-1 inhibitors in stage III (adjuvant) or stage IV
are allowed as long as:
1. the interval between the last dose of the adjuvant PD-1 inhibitor and the date of
relapse (clinical or radiographic) is at least 1 year,
2. if subjects who received treatment for stage IV had antitumor response (partial
response or complete response) by RECIST criteria version 1.1 but they stopped due to
subject/investigator preference for at least a year between the last dose of the PD-1
inhibitor and the date of relapse (clinical or radiographic). Allowing for these
subjects who have previously received PD-1 inhibitors in the adjuvant setting (i.e. no
knowledge about clinical benefit) or following definite antitumor response in the
metastatic setting is based on a recent case series of subjects who responded to PD-1
inhibitor rechallenge, if they had previously responded to PD-1 inhibitors. This
implies that waning antitumor immunity in the absence (i.e. >1 year) of costimulation
with PD-1 inhibitors may be the reason for cancer recurrence and NOT primary
resistance of PD-1 inhibitors.
3. any side effects that may have occurred during the previous exposure to PD-1
inhibitors are not serious (i.e. grade 1 or 2 by CTCAE version 5.0 criteria).
Exclusion Criteria:
1. History of prior malignancy, with the exception of the following:
- Non-melanoma skin cancers, non-invasive bladder cancer, and carcinoma in situ of
the cervix,
- Prior history of prostate, provided that patient is not under active systemic
treatment other than hormonal therapy and with documented undetectable prostate
specific antigen (PSA < 0.2 ng/mL),
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) provided
patient has isolated lymphocytosis (Rai stage O), and does not require systemic
treatment [for "B" symptoms, Richter's transformation, lymphocyte doubling time
(< 6 months), lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly],
- Lymphoma or any type or hairy-cell leukemia, provided patient is not on an active
systemic treatment and is in complete remission, as evidenced by Positron
Emission Tomography (PET)/CT scans and bone marrow biopsies for at least 3
months,
- History of other malignancy, provided patient has completed therapy, or does not
require therapy, and is free of disease for = 2 years. If patient has had other
malignancy within the last 2 years from which he/she may have been completely
cured by surgery alone, or does not require any treatment other than observation
at the specialist's discretion, he/she may considered to be enrolled on condition
that the risk of development of recurrent or distant metastatic disease based on
the American Joint Committee in Cancer (AJCC) staging system is less than 30% in
3 years from the original diagnosis of other malignancy.
2. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases that are symptomatic and
require antiepileptic drugs or corticosteroids (any dose). Subjects with previously
treated brain metastases may participate provided they are asymptomatic (i.e., no
neurologic symptoms) for at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment
and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. Patients with
previously treated brain metastases should have evidence of stable brain metastases
(without evidence of progression by imaging) for at least 2 weeks prior to the first
dose of trial treatment. Patients with previously treated but grown brain metastases
(or new brain metastases if there is no prior history of brain metastases) are still
allowed in the study as long as the net growth of pre-existing brain lesions (or new
brain lesions if there is no prior history of brain metastases) does not exceed 1-cm
in largest diameter as measured by brain MRI with IV contrast (for example, a patient
with pre-existing brain lesion(s) that has grown by 6-mm in the largest diameter and
also has a new lesion that measures 4-mm in largest diameter can still be enrolled in
the study; alternatively, a patient that has a new brain lesion that measures 1-cm in
the largest diameter and no growth of pre-existing brain lesions can still be enrolled
in the study). This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis, which is
excluded regardless of clinical stability. Subjects with leptomeningeal disease,
detected either by brain MRI or by cytology (e.g. lumbar puncture) are also excluded.
3. Treatment with any investigational drug, immunotherapy or chemotherapy within 28 days
prior to study treatment (i.e., initiation of denosumab). Treatment with any targeted
therapy (e.g. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK) inhibitors) is allowed as long
as at least 15 days have elapsed since last dose of drug.
4. Patients discontinuing prior therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors for melanoma
should be off these medications for at least 15 days before starting study treatment.
5. Prior PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in the adjuvant setting; targeted therapies or prior
ipilimumab in the adjuvant setting are allowed.
6. Any condition, including laboratory abnormalities, that in the opinion of the
investigator places the subject at unacceptable risk, if he/she were to participate in
the study. This includes, but is not limited, to serious medical conditions or
psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in this clinical study.
7. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy
equivalent to daily doses of prednisone of 10 mg or greater (or an equivalent dose of
other corticosteroids) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days
prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
8. Has a known history of active tuberculosis (Mycobacterium Bacillus Tuberculosis).
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 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
10. Hypersensitivity to nivolumab, pembrolizumab or denosumab or any of their excipients.
11. Has 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, etc.) is not considered a
form of systemic treatment.
12. Has a history of non-infectious pneumonitis that required systemic corticosteroids or
evidence of interstitial lung disease or current active, non-infectious pneumonitis
Episodic, brief (< 7 day) exposure to systemic corticosteroids (e.g. steroid taper for
poison ivy or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation) is allowed.
13. Has a history of an acute coronary event (e.g. myocardial infarction) within 3 months
since study entry, uncontrolled and symptomatic coronary artery disease, or congestive
heart failure New York Heart Association class III/IV.
14. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy within 7 days prior to treatment
initiation.
15. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
16. Known serologic status reflecting active hepatitis B or C infection. Patients that are
hepatitis B core antibody positive, but antigen negative, will need a negative
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to enrollment. [Note: Hepatitis B antigen or PCR
positive patients will be excluded].
17. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note:
Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and
are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live
attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
18. Known active metabolic bone disease such as Paget's disease, Cushing's disease,
hyperprolactinemia, over the last year 12 months, known history of osteoporosis that
is symptomatic (e.g. history of fractures, bone pain), or hypercalcemia/hypocalcemia
of any type (serum-free calcium being more than 1.1 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and
less than 0.9 x, lower limits normal. LLN) over the last 2 weeks since study
initiation that requires treatment beyond calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
19. Prior treatment with denosumab. Use of bisphosphonates for the treatment of metastatic
bone disease, but not for hypercalcemia of malignancy, is allowed.
20. History of current evidence of osteonecrosis or osteomyelitis of the jaw. Note: The
subject should be referred to dentist before study treatment initiation for poor
dentition or other dental issues that, in the opinion of the treating physician, may
increase the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
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