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Vemurafenib With Lymphodepletion Plus Adoptive Cell Transfer & High Dose IL-2 Metastatic Melanoma

A Phase II Clinical Trial of Vemurafenib With Lymphodepletion Plus Adoptive Cell Transfer and High Dose IL-2 in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01659151
Enrollment
17
Registered
2012-08-07
Start date
2012-08-03
Completion date
2025-08-19
Last updated
2026-02-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Metastatic Melanoma

Keywords

metastatic, melanoma, cell transfer, ACT, T-cell, immunotherapy, antibodies, lymphocytes

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to find out more about the effects of an investigational combination of medicines, which includes special immune cells (T-cells). A T-cell is a type of lymphocyte, or white blood cell. Lymphocytes are a kind of white blood cell that protect the body from viral infections, help other cells fight bacterial and fungal infections, produce antibodies, fight cancers, and coordinate the activities of other cells in the immune system.

Detailed description

In this study, these special immune T-cells will be taken from a sample of the participant's tumor tissue that will be surgically removed. Certain parts of these cells will be multiplied, or grown, in the laboratory. They will then be given back to the patient by an infusion in their veins. These cells are called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The investigators want to study the benefits and side effects of TIL when they are given with the following combination of drugs: * Vemurafenib - a type of drug used to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells. This drug will be given for about three weeks while T-cells are being grown in the lab and then again after T-cell infusion for up to two years. * Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide - two types of chemotherapy drugs. These drugs will be used for what is called lymphodepletion. The purpose of lymphodepletion in this study is to temporarily reduce the number of normal lymphocytes circulating in the patient's body before they are given the T-cells that were grown in the lab. This is so that there will be more "space" for the lymphocytes (T-cells) that will be infused in their veins. * Interleukin-2 (IL-2) - a drug used to help the body's response to treatment on the immune system. A high dose regimen of IL-2 will be given after they receive the infusion of the T-cells. The use of TIL is investigational, meaning it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vemurafenib and IL-2 have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and melanoma that cannot be surgically removed. The chemotherapy drugs fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, used for lymphodepletion, have been approved by the FDA, but not for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. The combination of vemurafenib followed by lymphodepletion with chemotherapy, TIL infusion, and high dose IL-2 is investigational, and has not been proven to help treat melanoma. This combination is not FDA approved; however, the FDA is allowing its use in this study.

Interventions

DRUGHigh Dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2)

A high dose regimen of IL-2 will be given after participants receive the infusion of the T-cells.

PROCEDUREACT with TIL Infusion

Special immune T-cells will be taken from a sample of the participant's tumor tissue that will be surgically removed. Certain parts of these cells will be multiplied, or grown, in the laboratory. They will then be given back to the participant by an infusion in their veins. These cells are called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL).

DRUGVemurafenib

Vemurafenib is used to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells. This drug will be given for about 3 weeks while T-cells are being grown in the lab and then again after T-cell infusion for up to 2 years.

The purpose of lymphodepletion in this study is to temporarily reduce the number of normal lymphocytes circulating in the participant's body before they are given the T-cells that were grown in the lab. This is so that there will be more "space" for the lymphocytes (T-cells) that will be infused in their veins. Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, 2 types of chemotherapy drugs will be used for what is called lymphodepletion.

Sponsors

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Must have unresectable metastatic stage IV melanoma or stage III intransit or regional nodal disease and in the opinion of the PI or treating Coinvestigator is an acceptable candidate for adoptive cell transfer (ACT). * Residual measurable disease after resection of target lesion(s) for TIL growth * Tumor must have a B-RAF V600E, D or K mutation by pyrosequencing, Cobas assay, or equivalent (43) * Clinical performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0 - 1. ECOG performance status of 0-1 will be inferred if the patient's level of energy is ≥ 50% of baseline. * May be treatment-naïve or may have been previously treated for metastatic disease. * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of starting Vemurafenib. * Adequate renal, hepatic and hematologic function, including creatinine of less than or equal to 1.7 gm/dL, total bilirubin less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL, except in patients with Gilbert's Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin less than 3.0 mg/dL, aspartic transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) of less than 3X institutional upper limit of normal, hemoglobin of 8 gm/dL or more, white blood count (WBC) of 3000 per mcL and total granulocytes of 1000 per mcL or more, and platelets of 100,000 per mcL or more. * Must have a positive screening Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antibody titre on screening test * Patients with antibiotic allergies per se are not excluded; although the production of TIL for adoptive transfer includes antibiotics, extensive washing after harvest will minimize systemic exposure to antibiotics. * At screening, patients with ≤ 3 untreated CNS metastases may be included provided none of the untreated lesions are \> 1 cm in greatest dimension, and there is no peri-tumoral edema present on brain imaging (MRI or CT if MRI is contraindicated). * At screening, patients with ≤ 3 treated central nervous system (CNS) metastases treated with either surgical resection and/or radiation therapy may be included. Patients may be included if the largest lesion is ≤ 1 cm, and there is no evidence of progressive CNS disease on brain imaging at least 28 days after treatment. * At screening, may be included if the largest lesion is \> 1 cm or \> 3 in number, and there is no evidence of progressive CNS disease on brain imaging at least 90 days after treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy. * At screening, must have no known history of congenital long QT syndrome and must have a corrected mean QTc interval ≤ 450 msec at baseline. * No evidence of ongoing cardiac dysrhythmia ≥ grade 2, NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0 * All laboratory and imaging studies must be completed and satisfactory within 30 days of signing the consent document, with the exceptions of: negative serum pregnancy test for WOCBP must be negative within 7 days of starting Vemurafenib, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing which will not be repeated if performed previously, and pulmonary function tests/cardiac stress tests whose results are valid for 6 months if performed previously.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with active systemic infections requiring intravenous antibiotics, coagulation disorders or other major medical illness of the cardiovascular, respiratory or immune system, which in the opinion of the principal investigator (PI) or treating co-investigator is not acceptable risk for ACT, are excluded. * Patients testing positive for HIV titre, Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis B core antibody, Hepatitis C antibody, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type (HTLV) I or II antibody, or both rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and fluorescent treponemal antibodies (FTA) positive * Patients who are pregnant or nursing * Patients needing chronic, immunosuppressive systemic steroids are excluded * Patients with autoimmune diseases that require immunosuppressive medications * Presence of a significant psychiatric disease, which in the opinion of the principal investigator or his designee, would prevent adequate informed consent or render immunotherapy unsafe or contraindicated * Patients with \> 3 untreated CNS metastases or evidence of peri-tumoral edema * Patients with ≤ 3 untreated CNS metastases but with at least one lesion \>1 cm or peri-tumoral edema * Patients with congenital long QT syndrome * Patients with invasive malignancy other than melanoma at the time of enrollment and within 2 years prior to the first Vemurafenib administration are excluded, except for adequately treated (with curative intent) basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ carcinoma of the cervix, in situ ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast, in situ prostate cancer, or limited stage bladder cancer or other cancers from which the patient has been disease-free for at least 2 years. * Unable to swallow pills * Patients with treated CNS metastases \> 1 cm or \> 3 in number will be excluded if there is evidence of progressive CNS disease on brain imaging at least 90 days after treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy. * Unable to comprehend and give informed consent * Previous BRAF inhibitor treatment * Male patients with female partners of childbearing potential who do not agree to use 2 FDA-accepted forms of contraception during sexual intercourse with women of child-bearing potential from the start of Vemurafenib and up to at least 6 months after discontinuing Vemurafenib * WOCBP who do not agree to use 2 FDA forms of contraception during sexual intercourse from the start of Vemurafenib and up to at least 6 months after discontinuing Vemurafenib

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Participants With Overall Response (OR)12 MonthsOverall response (OR) is defined as the patient being alive at month 12, and tumor size evaluated at screening and at month 12 using the RECIST 1.1 criteria to be a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). Evaluations will be made by CT scan approximately 12 months from the date of tumor harvest, and by clinical evaluation during the first 12 months
Percentage of Participant Drop Out RateUp to 12 monthsThe percentage of participants who drop out due to progression between the time of harvest and TIL transfer (i.e., the "drop-out rate").

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)12 monthsProgression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from study entry to disease progression, relapse or death due to any cause, whichever is earlier, will be summarized with the Kaplan-Meier curve. Confidence intervals for the median and survival rates at different time points will be constructed if needed and appropriate. This secondary endpoint will be reported descriptively.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAmod Sarnaik, M.D.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Combination Therapy
Combination Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. The combination of vemurafenib followed by lymphodepletion with chemotherapy, Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) with Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) infusion, and High Dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2). High Dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2): A high dose regimen of IL-2 will be given after participants receive the infusion of the T-cells. ACT with TIL Infusion: Special immune T-cells will be taken from a sample of the participant's tumor tissue that will be surgically removed. Certain parts of these cells will be multiplied, or grown, in the laboratory. They will then be given back to the participant by an infusion in their veins. These cells are called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Vemurafenib: Vemurafenib is used to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells. This drug will be given for about 3 weeks while T-cells are being grown in the lab and then again after T-cell infusion for up to 2 years. Lymphodepletion: The purpose of lymphodepletion in this study is to temporarily reduce the number of normal lymphocytes circulating in the participant's body before they are given the T-cells that were grown in the lab. This is so that there will be more space for the lymphocytes (T-cells) that will be infused in their veins. Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, 2 types of chemotherapy drugs will be used for what is called lymphodepletion.
17
Total17

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCombination Therapy
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
2 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
15 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
16 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
17 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
17 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
7 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
4 / 17
other
Total, other adverse events
17 / 17
serious
Total, serious adverse events
13 / 17

Outcome results

Primary

Percentage of Participant Drop Out Rate

The percentage of participants who drop out due to progression between the time of harvest and TIL transfer (i.e., the drop-out rate).

Time frame: Up to 12 months

Population: Evaluable participants

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Combination TherapyPercentage of Participant Drop Out Rate6 percentage of participants
Primary

Percentage of Participants With Overall Response (OR)

Overall response (OR) is defined as the patient being alive at month 12, and tumor size evaluated at screening and at month 12 using the RECIST 1.1 criteria to be a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). Evaluations will be made by CT scan approximately 12 months from the date of tumor harvest, and by clinical evaluation during the first 12 months

Time frame: 12 Months

Population: Evaluable participants

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Combination TherapyPercentage of Participants With Overall Response (OR)38 percentage of participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from study entry to disease progression, relapse or death due to any cause, whichever is earlier, will be summarized with the Kaplan-Meier curve. Confidence intervals for the median and survival rates at different time points will be constructed if needed and appropriate. This secondary endpoint will be reported descriptively.

Time frame: 12 months

Population: Evaluable participants

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Combination TherapyNumber of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)7 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 21, 2026