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Ibrutinib Combined With Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

A Study of the Safety, Immunopharmacodynamics and Anti-tumor Activity of Ibrutinib Combined With Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02562898
Enrollment
18
Registered
2015-09-29
Start date
2015-10-12
Completion date
2020-09-01
Last updated
2021-05-06

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

Conditions

Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Brief summary

Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel is a standard regimen (NCCN, Category 1) for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, further improvement in treatment is needed. Increasingly, the nature of the immune infiltrate in PDAC appears to be tumor promoting. In preclinical studies, ibrutinib treatment, presumably by reprogramming B cells, results in increased CD8+ T cells to assist in tumor control. Preclinical studies of ibrutinib plus gemcitabine show superior antitumor effects compared to gemcitabine alone in both orthotopic murine pancreatic cancer cell line grafts and in genetically engineered mouse models. Thus, the investigators propose a clinical trial of ibrutinib plus the standard gemcitabine based regimen of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, evaluating safety, then efficacy and including correlative studies.

Detailed description

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, with an estimated 39,950 deaths attributable to PDAC in 2014 (http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html). Over 90% of patients have inoperable disease at presentation, at which point systemic therapy becomes the primary form of treatment. Treating PDAC has been challenging and few approved drugs are available. Recently, however, some breakthroughs have occurred, raising hope that this aggressive disease can be better controlled. FOLFIRINOX, a combination of 5FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, has been found to be substantially superior to treatment of gemcitabine alone in patients with metastatic disease and good performance status. Similarly, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, a regimen with less non-hematologic toxicity, demonstrated improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to gemcitabine alone. Both of these combinations or modifications of these combinations are now front line options for patients with good performance status. Furthermore, these improvements in survival, however incremental, now afford patients with pancreatic cancer time to participate in and possibly benefit from clinical trials of novel therapeutics.

Interventions

DRUGGemcitabine

1000mg/m2 IV Day 1, 8, and 15 - 4 week cycle

DRUGIbrutinib

560, 840, 420, or 280mg, orally once per day - 4 week cycle

DRUGPaclitaxel

125mg/m2 IV Day 1, 8, and 15 - 4 week cycle

Sponsors

Stand Up To Cancer
CollaboratorOTHER
Lustgarten Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Margaret Tempero
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma * Stage IV disease (measurable disease NOT required) * Intact primary tumor * CA19-9 greater than 75 units * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score of 0-1 * At least 18 years of age * Female patients who are not of child-bearing potential, and fertile female patients of child-bearing potential, who agree to use adequate contraceptive measures, who are not breastfeeding, and who have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to start of randomization. * Fertile male patients willing to use adequate contraceptive measures. * Adequate bone marrow function: * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/microliter (uL) * platelet count ≥ 100,000/uL * hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * Adequate hepatic function: * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN (unless bilirubin rise due to Gilbert's syndrome) * Aspartate amino transferase (AST) (SGOT) ≤ 3.0 X ULN; ≤5.0X ULN if liver metastases are present. * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SGPT) ≤ 3.0 X ULN; ≤0 5.0X ULN if liver metastases are present. * Adequate renal function (defined as serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 X ULN) * Ability to understand the nature of this study protocol, comply with study and/or follow-up procedures, and give written informed consent * Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

* Any prior systemic or investigational therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer. Systemic therapy administered alone or in combination with radiation in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting is permissible as long as it was completed \> 6 months prior to the time of study registration. * History of other diseases, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination findings, or clinical laboratory findings giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, renders the subject at high risk from treatment complications or might affect the interpretation of the results of the study. * History of previous malignancy (except basal cell) within 5 years. * Life expectancy of \<3 months. * Inability to undergo two sequential Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-directed core biopsies of the primary tumor. * Presence of known central nervous system or brain metastases. * Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. * History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrollment. * Known bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand's disease or hemophilia). * Patients receiving warfarin or other Vitamin K antagonists. However, if therapeutic anticoagulation is necessary, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is the anticoagulant of choice. * Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease, such as uncontrolled arrhythmia or Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification; or a history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to randomization. * Current peripheral sensory neuropathy \> Grade 1 * Major surgery within 4 weeks of the start of study treatment (defined as those surgeries that require general anesthesia. Insertion of a vascular access device is NOT considered major surgery. * Requires treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitor. * Unable to swallow capsules or has malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function or resection of the stomach or small bowel, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, or partial or complete bowel obstruction.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Patients Who Experienced a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT)Up to 2 yearsDLTs will be based on the first course of treatment and defined as any unexpected grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity not reversible to grade 2 or less within 96 hours, or any grade 4 toxicity. Grade 4 hematological toxicities will not be considered dose limiting in this trial since a significant fraction of patients who are treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel are expected to experience these toxicities. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy, a common and expected toxicity of treatment with nabpaclitaxel, will not be considered a DLT.
Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)Up to 2 yearsThe dose level at which fewer than 2 of 6 patients experience a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) will be designated as the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)
CA19-9 Clinical Response Rate12 monthsThe CA19-9 Response Rate is calculated using CA 19-9 treated patients who had a baseline CA19-9 \> 75 units who have confirmed CA19-9 reduction of 75% from baseline value. Patients who have missing CA19-9 measurements will be treated as non-responders, i.e., they will be included in the denominator when calculating the percentage. The CA19-9 Response Rate, along with exact 95% confidence intervals, will be reported for the study.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Median Time-to-progression (TTP)10 monthsTime to Progression is defined as the time from date of first dose of protocol therapy to time of documented radiographic and/or clinical disease progression or death from any cause. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median TTP with 95% confidence intervals.
Median Overall Survival (OS)Up to 2 yearsMedian OS for all enrolled patients will be calculated from date of first dose of protocol therapy until date of death, using chart review and/or follow up phone calls to determine date of death in patients after removal from study. The survival of patients still alive after 2 years of follow up post study discontinuation will be censored. Alive patients are censored at the date last known alive. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median OS with 95% confidence intervals.
Median Progression-free Survival (PFS)10 monthsPFS is defined as the duration of time from date of first dose of protocol therapy to time of documented radiographic and/or clinical disease progression or death from any cause. Eligible patients are evaluable for PFS who are response-evaluable and who are removed from study for radiographic or clinical progression and/or who experience death from any cause during study follow up. Patients who have not progressed or died are censored at the date last known to be progression-free. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median PFS with 95% confidence intervals. The proportion of patients with PFS equal to or exceeding 6 months will also be calculated and reported along with 95% confidence intervals.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Dose Escalation for Safety and Toxicity
All patients in phase Ib dosing escalation with extended safety and toxicity cohorts will start treatment with daily dosing of ibrutinib concurrently with standard doses of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Ibrutinib (560 mg/day, 840 mg/day, or 420 and 280 mg/day if de-escalation is necessary) will be started on day 1. Approximately patients 15-30 will be enrolled in escalation and extended safety cohort.
10
Immune Response Cohort
Subjects who are assigned to the Immune Response Cohort will have a biopsy before starting ibrutinib-only therapy. They will then receive ibrutinib for 7 days and have a second biopsy after completing the ibrutinib-only therapy, before starting the combination of chemotherapy with ibrutinib. Approximately 20 patients will be enrolled in this arm.
8
Total18

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicDose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityImmune Response CohortTotal
Age, Customized
30-39 years
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Age, Customized
40-49 years
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Age, Customized
50-59 years
4 Participants1 Participants5 Participants
Age, Customized
60-69 years
3 Participants4 Participants7 Participants
Age, Customized
70-79 years
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Age, Customized
80-89 years
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants8 Participants14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants0 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
5 Participants0 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
4 Participants7 Participants11 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 participants8 participants18 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants4 Participants10 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants4 Participants8 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
10 / 107 / 8
other
Total, other adverse events
10 / 106 / 8
serious
Total, serious adverse events
5 / 103 / 8

Outcome results

Primary

CA19-9 Clinical Response Rate

The CA19-9 Response Rate is calculated using CA 19-9 treated patients who had a baseline CA19-9 \> 75 units who have confirmed CA19-9 reduction of 75% from baseline value. Patients who have missing CA19-9 measurements will be treated as non-responders, i.e., they will be included in the denominator when calculating the percentage. The CA19-9 Response Rate, along with exact 95% confidence intervals, will be reported for the study.

Time frame: 12 months

Population: Some patients did not have a decrease of 75% or did not have subsequent CA19-9 labs collected on study (i.e. off study prior to next time point) so they were not included in this analysis

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityCA19-9 Clinical Response Rate0.333 proportion of responders
Immune Response CohortCA19-9 Clinical Response Rate0.143 proportion of responders
Primary

Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)

The dose level at which fewer than 2 of 6 patients experience a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) will be designated as the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)

Time frame: Up to 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityMaximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)820 mg/day
Immune Response CohortMaximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)560 mg/day
Primary

Number of Patients Who Experienced a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT)

DLTs will be based on the first course of treatment and defined as any unexpected grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity not reversible to grade 2 or less within 96 hours, or any grade 4 toxicity. Grade 4 hematological toxicities will not be considered dose limiting in this trial since a significant fraction of patients who are treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel are expected to experience these toxicities. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy, a common and expected toxicity of treatment with nabpaclitaxel, will not be considered a DLT.

Time frame: Up to 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityNumber of Patients Who Experienced a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT)9 participants
Immune Response CohortNumber of Patients Who Experienced a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT)8 participants
Secondary

Median Overall Survival (OS)

Median OS for all enrolled patients will be calculated from date of first dose of protocol therapy until date of death, using chart review and/or follow up phone calls to determine date of death in patients after removal from study. The survival of patients still alive after 2 years of follow up post study discontinuation will be censored. Alive patients are censored at the date last known alive. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median OS with 95% confidence intervals.

Time frame: Up to 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityMedian Overall Survival (OS)246 days
Immune Response CohortMedian Overall Survival (OS)170 days
Secondary

Median Progression-free Survival (PFS)

PFS is defined as the duration of time from date of first dose of protocol therapy to time of documented radiographic and/or clinical disease progression or death from any cause. Eligible patients are evaluable for PFS who are response-evaluable and who are removed from study for radiographic or clinical progression and/or who experience death from any cause during study follow up. Patients who have not progressed or died are censored at the date last known to be progression-free. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median PFS with 95% confidence intervals. The proportion of patients with PFS equal to or exceeding 6 months will also be calculated and reported along with 95% confidence intervals.

Time frame: 10 months

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityMedian Progression-free Survival (PFS)128 days
Immune Response CohortMedian Progression-free Survival (PFS)99 days
Secondary

Median Time-to-progression (TTP)

Time to Progression is defined as the time from date of first dose of protocol therapy to time of documented radiographic and/or clinical disease progression or death from any cause. Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to summarize median TTP with 95% confidence intervals.

Time frame: 10 months

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Dose Escalation for Safety and ToxicityMedian Time-to-progression (TTP)128 days
Immune Response CohortMedian Time-to-progression (TTP)126 days

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026