Neoadjuvant Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria

• Voluntarily agree to participate by giving signed, dated, and written informed consent prior to any study-specific procedures
• >= 18 years of age
• Histologic diagnosis of melanoma belonging to the following American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition TNM stages (Tx or T1-4) and (N1b, N1c, N2b, N2c, N3b or N3c) and/or (M1a)
• No prior systemic therapy for melanoma
• Must be considered surgically operable and may present as any of the following groups: * Primary melanoma with clinically apparent regional lymph node metastases, confirmed by pathological diagnosis * Clinically detected recurrence of melanoma at regional lymph node basin(s), confirmed by pathological diagnosis * Clinically or histologically detected primary melanoma involving multiple regional nodal groups, confirmed by pathological diagnosis * Clinically detected single site of nodal metastatic melanoma arising from an unknown primary, confirmed by pathological diagnosis * Subjects with in-transit or satellite metastases with or without lymph node involvement are allowed if they are considered surgically resectable at Screening by the treating surgical oncologist * Subjects with distant cutaneous/subcutaneous, soft tissue or nodal metastases with or without regional lymph node involvement are allowed if they are considered potentially surgically resectable and can be biopsied at Screening by the treating surgical oncologist. Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is not an exclusion
• Subjects are eligible for this study either at presentation for primary melanoma with concurrent regional nodal and/or in-transit or distant metastasis, or at the time of clinically detected nodal, in transit, or distant recurrence
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
• Neutrophils > 1500/uL (stable off any growth factor within 4 weeks of first study treatment administration) (within 28 days of cycle 1 day 1 [C1D1])
• Platelets > 100 x 10^3/uL (transfusion to achieve this level is not permitted within 2 weeks of first study treatment administration) (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL (transfusion to achieve this level is not permitted within 2 weeks of first study treatment administration) (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Creatinine clearance >= 45 mL/min (measured or calculated using modification of diet in renal disease [MDRD]) (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 3.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Total bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN, or < 3.0 x ULN for patients with Gilbert syndrome (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Albumin >= 3.0 g/dL (within 28 days of C1D1)
• Patients must provide a sufficient and adequate formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue sample from the most recent biopsy of a tumor lesion, obtained within 90 days from signing informed consent form (ICF). If recent tumor tissue is unavailable or inadequate, a fresh biopsy will be required, unless the principal investigator agrees that it is not safe/feasible
• Subjects must be evaluated by standard-of-care full body imaging studies, the choice of which is decided by the treating physician investigator and may include positron emission tomography – computed tomography (PET-CT ;preferred; including diagnostic CT component if possible) or CT (if PET-CT cannot be done) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain (or CT if MRI cannot be done) as part of the initial clinical work-up at screening (no more than 4 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1)
• Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test at screening (within 72 hours of first dose of study medication) in accordance with the standard of care for WOCBP. Non-childbearing potential is defined as: * >= 50 years of age and has not had menses for greater than 1 year * Amenorrheic for >= 2 years without a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy and a follicle-stimulating hormone value in the postmenopausal range upon pre-study (screening) evaluation * Status is post-hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation WOCBP must agree to use highly effective contraceptive measures starting with the screening visit through 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Highly effective contraception is as stipulated in national or local guidelines * Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the established and preferred contraception for the patient. WOCBP must agree not to donate eggs (ova, oocytes) during the treatment period and for at least 5 months after the last dose of study drug
• Male patients with a female partner(s) of childbearing potential must agree to use highly effective contraceptive measures throughout the study starting with the screening visit through 5 months after the last dose of study treatment is received. Males with pregnant partners must agree to use a condom; no additional method of contraception is required for the pregnant partner
• Willing and able to comply with the requirements of the protocol

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Treatment with another investigational drug or other systemic intervention for melanoma within 4 weeks of initiation of study drugs. Patients must not have radiotherapy within the preceding 2 weeks. Patients must have recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
• Patients must be at least 4 weeks from major surgery and have fully recovered from any effects of surgery and be free of significant detectable infection
• Ocular or uveal melanoma
• Bowel obstruction or impending bowel obstruction within the past 3 months
• Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke or myocardial infarction within 6 months of enrollment, unstable angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class >= III), or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
• Active or history of brain metastases or leptomeningeal metastases
• Concurrent malignancy (present during screening) requiring treatment or history of prior malignancy active within 2 years prior to the first dose of study treatment, i.e., patients with a history of prior malignancy are eligible if treatment was completed at least 2 years before the first dose of study treatment and the patient has no evidence of disease. Patients with history of prior early-stage basal/squamous cell skin cancer, low-risk prostate cancer eligible for active surveillance or noninvasive or in situ cancers who have undergone definitive treatment at any time are also eligible
• Treatment with one of the following classes of drugs within the delineated time window prior to C1D1: * Cytotoxic, targeted therapy or other investigational therapy within 3 weeks * Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-drug conjugates, radioimmunoconjugates, or similar therapy, within 4 weeks, or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter * Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine or booster < 7 days before C1D1. For vaccines requiring more than 1 dose, the full series should be completed prior to C1D1, when feasible. Booster shot not required but also must be administered > 7 days from C1D1 or > 7 days from future cycle on study
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or any of the study drug excipients
• Any evidence of current interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis or a prior history of ILD or non-infectious pneumonitis requiring high-dose glucocorticoids
• History of allogeneic organ transplant
• Psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study
• Patients with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) within 14 days or another immunosuppressive medication within 30 days of the first dose of study treatment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease
• Active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment within 2 years before starting treatment, i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents or immunosuppressive drugs
• History or current evidence of any condition, co-morbidity, therapy, any active infections, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the patient’s participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator
• Pregnant or breastfeeding or WOCBP who are not willing to employ effective birth control from screening to 90 days after the last dose of study treatment (whichever is later)
• Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 days for mild or asymptomatic infections or 20 days for severe/critical illness prior to C1D1
• Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients on stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with undetectable viral load and normal CD4 counts for at least 6 months prior to study entry are eligible. Serological testing for HIV at screening is not required
• Known to be positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen, or any other positive test for HBV indicating acute or chronic infection. Patients who are receiving or who have received anti-HBV therapy and have undetectable HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for at least 6 months prior to study entry are eligible. Serological testing for HBV at screening is not required
• Known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by positive serology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients on or who have received antiretroviral therapy are eligible provided they are virus-free by PCR for at least 6 months prior to study entry. Serological testing for HCV at screening is not required
• Dependence on total parenteral nutrition