This phase II trial studies how well pembrolizumab works in treating patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) positive solid tumors after surgery. MSI-H tumor cells have a greater than normal number of genetic markers called microsatellites. Microsatellites are short, repeated, sequences of DNA. Cancer cells that have large numbers of microsatellites may have defects in the ability to correct mistakes that occur when DNA is copied in the cell. These MSI-H cancer cells may be circulating in patients’ blood. An investigational blood test will show if residual tumor cells are present in the blood even though tumor was removed. Having ctDNA in the blood may increase the risk of cancer coming back after surgical removal of tumor. 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. This trial studies if the study drug, pembrolizumab, can remove leftover tumor cells in the blood and prevent cancer from coming back after tumor was surgically removed.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT03832569.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To observe the rate of ctDNA clearance at 6 months with pembrolizumab in patients with MSI-H solid tumors with persistent ctDNA despite curative intent surgery.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To establish the safety of 6 months of adjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with resected MSI-H solid tumors.
II. To observe other measures of efficacy, including median, 1-year and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS), median, 2- year and 5-year overall survival in ctDNA+ patients treated with 6 months of pembrolizumab.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. To collect archival tumor samples and post recurrence tumor biopsies for correlative analysis, including T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangements and whole exome sequencing, to study any changes in tumor mutational burden in MSI-H tumors.
II. To utilize blood specimens collected during the course of study to explore the mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to pembrolizumab therapy.
III. To utilize stool samples collected from the patients for microbiome analysis.
IV. To bank tumor and blood material for future correlative analysis, including but not limited to whole exome analysis to determine mutation load and specific neoantigen landscape with strong association with regimen efficacy and survival.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then every 12 months for 2 years post-enrollment.
Lead OrganizationMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Principal InvestigatorYelena Y. Janjigian