This phase I trial studies the side effects of SD-101 when given together with nivolumab and radiation therapy in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that does not respond to treatment with chemotherapy (chemotherapy refractory) and has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as SD-101, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body’s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving SD-101, nivolumab, and radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with pancreatic cancer compared to nivolumab or radiation therapy alone.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT04050085.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine the safety and tolerability of intratumoral cytidine-phospho-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG) in combination with nivolumab and radiotherapy (RT) in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v)5.0 criteria.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To obtain preliminary data on disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of intratumoral CpG in combination with nivolumab and RT in chemotherapy refractory pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. To obtain preliminary data on efficacy as defined by objective response rate (ORR), using immune Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) (iRECIST) and RECIST v1.1, of intratumoral CpG in combination with nivolumab and RT in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
II. To identify biomarkers of response and potential mechanisms of efficacy by analyzing serial blood samples for serum cytokine levels, peripheral immune phenotype, and circulating T-cell clonality and expansion.
III. To identify biomarkers of response and potential mechanisms of efficacy by evaluating serial tumor tissue biopsies for tumor infiltrating immune cell subsets, expression of immune regulatory proteins including PD-L1, IDO, CD3, and FOXP3, gene expression signatures, T-cell clonality and expansion, and tumor mutational burden.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive TLR9 agonist SD-101 (SD-101) intratumorally on days 1 and 8 of cycle 1 and day 1 of cycles 2-5. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo radiation therapy on days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 of cycle 1. Patients also receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 2. Cycles with nivolumab repeat every 2 weeks for 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days and then every 8 weeks thereafter.
Lead OrganizationUniversity of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Principal InvestigatorEdward J. Kim