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A Study of Pembrolizumab on the Tumoral Immunoprofile of Gynecologic Cancers

A Pilot Study Investigating the Effect of Pembrolizumab on the Tumoral Immunoprofile of Gynecologic Cancers of Mullerian Origin

Status
Completed
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02728830
Enrollment
39
Registered
2016-04-05
Start date
2016-06-30
Completion date
2022-01-31
Last updated
2024-02-21

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

Conditions

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, Gynecologic Neoplasms, Peritoneal Cancer, Uterine Endometrial Cancer

Keywords

gynecologic cancers, mullerian cancers, tumoral immunoprofile

Brief summary

The ultimate goal of the study is to identify potential biomarkers, immune gene expression signatures, and co-stimulatory pathways that may be used to understand the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on gynecologic cancers.

Detailed description

Epithelial gynecologic malignancies are tumors of müllerian origin, which include ovarian, endometrial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers, and account for \>70,000 new diagnoses and \>22,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Treatment typically consists of a thorough cytoreductive and staging surgery in combination with platinum/taxane chemotherapy. Newer approaches adding anti-angiogenic therapies to chemotherapy have resulted in moderate improvements in recurrence free survival. However, despite these aggressive treatments, the majority of women with advanced stage at diagnosis will experience relapse. Unfortunately, relapsed disease is incurable and women ultimately die of their disease despite maximal efforts at cancer control using subsequent chemotherapy or targeted agents. There has been significant interest in incorporating immune checkpoint therapies in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies, especially given the durable remissions associated with these therapies in the treatment of melanoma and early indications of durable responses in recurrent ovarian cancer. At this time, little is known about whether or how to combine chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapies, and immunologic therapies for maximal benefit. Understanding the tumor microenvironment, particularly immune and angiogenic factors that contribute to tumor survival, as well as the changes that occur in response to immunotherapy is critical to identify favorable biomarker profiles which could lead to improved prognostic outcomes and inform the development and sequencing of therapies to maximize benefit.

Interventions

DRUGPembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab 200mg IV

Sponsors

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
AA Secord
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Have histologically or cytologically confirmed gynecologic tumor of müllerian origin, specifically epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal, or uterine endometrial cancer. 2. Have disease amenable to surgical resection. 3. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial. 4. Be at least 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent. 5. Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion. Subjects for whom newly-obtained samples cannot be provided (e.g. inaccessible or subject safety concern) may submit an archived specimen only upon agreement of the investigator. 6. Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale. 7. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined below. All screening labs should be performed within 10 days of study drug administration: 7a. ANC ≥ 1,500/mcL 7b. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL 7c. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL or ≥ 5.6 mmol/L without transfusion or EPO dependency (within 7 days of assessment) 7d. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels \> 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal 7e. Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or direct bilirubin ≤ the upper limit of normal with total bilirubin levels \> 1.5 times upper limit of normal 7f. AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal or ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal for subjects with liver metastases 7g. Albumin \> 2.5 mg/dL 7h. International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants 7i. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants 8\. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required. 9\. Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity until planned hysterectomy/oophorectomy. Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year.

Exclusion criteria

1. Is currently participating and receiving a study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the study drug administration. 2. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to study drug administration. 3. Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis) 4. Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients. 5. Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier. 6. Has received prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy for the current gynecologic malignancy. NOTE: Subjects who have received treatment for a prior unrelated malignancy must have recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. NOTE: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy. 7. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy, or in situ cervical cancer. 8. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to study drug administration and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to study drug administration. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability. 9. Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. 10. Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis. 11. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. 12. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. 13. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. 14. Is pregnant or breastfeeding. 15. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent. 16. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies). 17. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected). 18. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. NOTE: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Tumor Immune Infiltrates as Measured by PD-L1 Modified H-ScoreBaseline and 14-21 DaysThis outcome measures the change in tumor immune infiltrates post-pembrolizumab versus pre-pembrolizumab as measured by the PD-L1 Modified H-score. Histological score (H-score) is a score that is comprised of intensity and percentage of staining and is used for assessing amount of protein (in this case PD-L1) present in a tissue sample. H-score is determined by adding of the percentages of cell staining at each intensity level multiplied by the membrane intensity of staining (0 (no staining), 1+ (weak staining), 2+ (medium staining), 3+(strong staining)). The H-score has a range of 0 to 300. Lower H-scores represent lower expression of PD-L1 in the tumor sample, while higher scores represent stronger expression of PD-L1 in the tumor samples.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Toxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE18 monthsFrequency and severity of adverse events associated with pembrolizumab when given to patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancers of müllerian origin prior to standard surgical therapy and as maintenance therapy after completion of chemotherapy. All events experienced within the AE reporting time frame deemed probably, possibly, or definitely related to study drug above the reporting threshold of 4%. Categorized by grade and frequency, defined using CTCAE 4.0 event name and grading.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Exploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileBaseline and 14-21 DaysTo characterize changes in the tumoral and circulating blood immunoprofile after administration of pembrolizumab. Levels of immune and inflammatory mediators, profile of tumor immune infiltrates, and the expression of PD-L1 in pre-administration samples will be compared to post-administration surgical resection (including ascites) samples.
Exploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood Immunoprofile for Those Who Enroll in Second Course Phase at Time of Recurrence18 monthsTo evaluate changes in the tumoral and circulating blood immunoprofile at time of recurrence. Levels of immune and inflammatory mediators, profile of tumor immune infiltrates, and the expression of PD-L1 in samples at time of recurrence will be compared to pre-administration and surgical samples.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

Of the 39 subjects that were consented, 24 were screen failures. Nine were screen failures because exclusionary surgery, 6 because of exclusionary pathology, 3 because physician decision, 2 because of participant withdrawals, 1 was lost to follow up, 1 had exclusionary lab values, 1 had a contraindicated illness, and 1 had a language barrier.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Pembrolizumab
Subjects will receive one dose of 200mg pembrolizumab by IV 14-21 days prior to surgery. Subjects will undergo standard surgical cytoreductive surgery as deemed appropriate by their gynecologic oncologist, followed by standard adjuvant chemotherapy for their cancer as deemed appropriate by their treating physician. If subject's disease does not get worse following standard of care chemotherapy, they will receive pembrolizumab in the maintenance setting every three weeks for up to a year. If subject's disease returns after completing a year of pembrolizumab and they have not had adverse reactions to pembrolizumab they may be eligible to continue receiving pembrolizumab for an additional year in the second course phase. Pembrolizumab: Pembrolizumab 200mg IV
15
Total15

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyContraindicated Illness1
Overall StudyExclusionary Lab Values1
Overall StudyExclusionary Pathology6
Overall StudyExclusionary Surgery9
Overall StudyLanguage Barrier1
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up1
Overall StudyPhysician Decision3
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject2

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPembrolizumab
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
7 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
8 Participants
Age, Continuous63.7 years
Debulking Surgery
Not Applicable
1 Participants
Debulking Surgery
Optimal R0
7 Participants
Debulking Surgery
Optimal R1
5 Participants
Debulking Surgery
Suboptimal
2 Participants
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status
0
5 Participants
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status
1
10 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
FIGO Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis
I
1 Participants
FIGO Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis
II
0 Participants
FIGO Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis
III
9 Participants
FIGO Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis
IV
1 Participants
FIGO Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis
Unstaged
4 Participants
Histologic Subtype
Adenocarcinoma; clear cell
3 Participants
Histologic Subtype
Adenocarcinoma; serous
12 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Fallopian Tube
3 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Other
1 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Ovary
9 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Uterus
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 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
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
13 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
15 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
15 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
Tumor Grade at Diagnosis
Grade Cannot be Assessed
3 Participants
Tumor Grade at Diagnosis
High Grade
10 Participants
Tumor Grade at Diagnosis
Low Grade
2 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
3 / 15
other
Total, other adverse events
12 / 15
serious
Total, serious adverse events
3 / 15

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Tumor Immune Infiltrates as Measured by PD-L1 Modified H-Score

This outcome measures the change in tumor immune infiltrates post-pembrolizumab versus pre-pembrolizumab as measured by the PD-L1 Modified H-score. Histological score (H-score) is a score that is comprised of intensity and percentage of staining and is used for assessing amount of protein (in this case PD-L1) present in a tissue sample. H-score is determined by adding of the percentages of cell staining at each intensity level multiplied by the membrane intensity of staining (0 (no staining), 1+ (weak staining), 2+ (medium staining), 3+(strong staining)). The H-score has a range of 0 to 300. Lower H-scores represent lower expression of PD-L1 in the tumor sample, while higher scores represent stronger expression of PD-L1 in the tumor samples.

Time frame: Baseline and 14-21 Days

Population: Eleven subjects had adequate matched pre- and post- treatment tissue samples for analysis for tumor immune infiltrates.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
PembrolizumabChange in Tumor Immune Infiltrates as Measured by PD-L1 Modified H-Score13.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 23.2
Secondary

Toxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE

Frequency and severity of adverse events associated with pembrolizumab when given to patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancers of müllerian origin prior to standard surgical therapy and as maintenance therapy after completion of chemotherapy. All events experienced within the AE reporting time frame deemed probably, possibly, or definitely related to study drug above the reporting threshold of 4%. Categorized by grade and frequency, defined using CTCAE 4.0 event name and grading.

Time frame: 18 months

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAnemia, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAENeutropenia, Grade 21 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEThrombocytopenia, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAbdominal pain, Grade 15 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAbdominal pain, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEALT elevation, Grade 18 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEALT elevation, Grade 21 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEALT elevation, Grade 31 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAST elevation, Grade 17 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAST elevation, Grade 21 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAST elevation, Grade 33 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEALK phosphatase elevation, Grade 17 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEALK phosphatase elevation, Grade 21 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEArthralgia, Grade 13 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAnorexia, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAnorexia, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEBack pain, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEBloating, Grade 11 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEBloating, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEConstipation, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEConstipation, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEDiarrhea, Grade 16 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEDiarrhea, Grade 29 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEDiarrhea, Grade 32 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEDyspnea, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEEdema, Grade 13 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEFatigue, Grade 112 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEFatigue, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHeadache, Grade 18 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypertension, Grade 11 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypertension, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypertension, Grade 31 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypoalbuminemia, Grade 12 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypomagnesemia, Grade 13 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHypomagnesemia, Grade 21 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHyponatremia, Grade 13 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEHyponatremia, Grade 31 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAENausea, Grade 113 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAENausea, Grade 24 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEProteinuria, Grade 11 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEProteinuria, Grade 22 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEProteinuria, Grade 31 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEVomiting, Grade 113 Participants
PembrolizumabToxicity Profile: Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEWeight loss, Grade 13 Participants
Other Pre-specified

Exploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood Immunoprofile

To characterize changes in the tumoral and circulating blood immunoprofile after administration of pembrolizumab. Levels of immune and inflammatory mediators, profile of tumor immune infiltrates, and the expression of PD-L1 in pre-administration samples will be compared to post-administration surgical resection (including ascites) samples.

Time frame: Baseline and 14-21 Days

Population: Thirteen participants had pre and post samples available for analysis

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileIL6 Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.1 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileCXCL10 Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.5 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileIFN-Gamma Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.6 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileIL12p70 Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.1 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileIL1b Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.9 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileIL2ra Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.2 fold change
PembrolizumabExploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood ImmunoprofileTNF-Alpha Fold Change, Pre to Post Pembro1.1 fold change
Other Pre-specified

Exploratory: Changes in Tumoral and Circulating Blood Immunoprofile for Those Who Enroll in Second Course Phase at Time of Recurrence

To evaluate changes in the tumoral and circulating blood immunoprofile at time of recurrence. Levels of immune and inflammatory mediators, profile of tumor immune infiltrates, and the expression of PD-L1 in samples at time of recurrence will be compared to pre-administration and surgical samples.

Time frame: 18 months

Population: No enrolled subjects qualified for the second course phase

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026