Testing the Addition of Radiation Therapy to Immunotherapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Phase II Study of Anti-PD1 Antibody [MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab)] Alone Versus Anti-PD1 Antibody Plus Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Status Active, not recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

This randomized phase II trial studies how well pembrolizumab with or without stereotactic body radiation therapy works in treating patients with Merkel cell cancer that has spread to other places in the body (advanced). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Stereotactic body radiation therapy uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method can kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period and cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving pembrolizumab with stereotactic body radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with Merkel cell cancer.

Clinical Trial Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To describe the progression-free survival (PFS) of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) + pembrolizumab (MK-3475) compared to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) alone in advanced/metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To describe the PFS of SBRT + MK-3475 compared to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) alone across Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) measurable (including both radiated and non-radiated) cancer deposits.

II. To describe the overall response rate of SBRT + pembrolizumab (MK-3475) compared to pembrolizumab(MK-3475) alone in both radiated and in non-radiated deposit(s).

III. To determine the PFS at 6 months of SBRT + pembrolizumab (MK-3475) compared to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) alone across all cancerous deposits by RECIST.

IV. To determine the rate of grade > 3-4 adverse events, by organ system, by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0.

V. To determine the local control of SBRT treated tumors. VI. To calculate delivered radiation dose using cone-beam computed tomography (CT) images collected on the radiation treatment table in the final treatment position.

CORRELATIVE SCIENCE OBJECTIVES:

I. To test the utility of CT-based radiomics to predict radiation-induced pneumonitis and true delivered dose of SBRT based on cone beam collected imaging and diagnostic scans.

II. Biobanking for future correlative science projects.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

GROUP II: Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo SBRT for 3 doses during cycle 1.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for up to 5 years. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma
• Carcinoma
• Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
• Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

• NCT number: NCT03304639
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: June 12, 2018
• Completion date: September 22, 2024