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Pembrolizumab in Combination With Ibrutinib for Advanced, Refractory Colorectal Cancers

A Phase I/II Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Ibrutinib for Advanced, Refractory Colorectal Cancers

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03332498
Enrollment
40
Registered
2017-11-06
Start date
2018-01-24
Completion date
2021-09-09
Last updated
2022-06-03

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

Conditions

Colon Cancer, Colon Disease, Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Carcinoma

Keywords

colon, rectum, advanced, refractory

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability, describe the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) (or the highest protocol-defined dose level in the absence of establishing an MTD) of ibrutinib in combination with pembrolizumab in participants with advanced, refractory colorectal cancers.

Detailed description

On this study, one treatment cycle equals 21 days. On the first day of each study treatment cycle, 200 milligrams of pembrolizumab will be given through an IV (intravenously) for about thirty minutes. In addition, participants will begin taking the ibrutinib capsules every day starting on cycle 1, day 1. Participants will have a follow-up visit every 3 weeks, on about the first day of each cycle with laboratories drawn to make sure that the study drugs are not causing any side effects. In addition, participants will have a computed tomography (CT) scan every 6 to 7 weeks to determine whether your cancer is getting better or worse.

Interventions

DRUGPembrolizumab

200 milligrams of pembrolizumab will be given through an IV (intravenously) for about thirty minutes. Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD1 that functions by inhibiting checkpoint inhibition and reversing T cell suppression.

DRUGIbrutinib

Ibrutinib oral capsules every day starting on cycle 1, day 1. Ibrutinib is primarily a BTK inhibitor which has been approved for the treatment of several hematologic malignancies.

Sponsors

Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma. * Measurable or non-measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. Stage IV or recurrent disease is required. * Participants must have received and progressed through or become intolerant to fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab. If RAS wild type, participants should have received and progressed or become intolerant to the above as well as cetuximab or panitumumab containing therapies. Prior therapy with Regorafenib and/or TAS 102 is allowed. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Score 0 or 1. * Estimated life expectancy \> 3 months. * Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function as assessed by the following: * Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dl * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1,000/mm\^3 independent of growth factor support * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) unless bilirubin rise is due to Gilbert's syndrome or of non-hepatic origin * AST, ALT and Alkaline Phosphatase ≤2.5 times the ULN ( ≤5 x ULN for potential participants with liver involvement) * Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 ml/min * Must not have had chemotherapy, major surgery, monoclonal antibody therapy or experimental therapy within the 21 days prior to the start of ibrutinib administration * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of study drug. Post-menopausal women and surgically sterilized women are not required to undergo a pregnancy test. * Men and women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception beginning at the signing of the informed consent form (ICF) until at least 4 months for both females and males after the last dose of study drug. The definition of adequate contraception will be based on the judgment of the principal investigator or a designated associate. * Must agree to not donate sperm (males) or eggs (females) during and up to 120 days after the last dose of study treatment. * Must be able to understand and be willing to sign the written informed consent form. A signed informed consent form must be appropriately obtained prior to the conduct of any trial-specific procedure. Must be willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment schedule, laboratory testing, and other study requirements.

Exclusion criteria

* Active central nervous system (CNS) metastases. If CNS metastases are treated and patients are at neurologic baseline for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment, they will be eligible but will need a Brain MRI prior to enrollment. Must be off corticosteroids or on a dose of less than 10mg per day. * Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Patients with vitiligo, type I diabetes mellitus, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis only requiring hormone replacement, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll. * A condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of enrollment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses \> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. * Prior therapy with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell costimulation or checkpoint pathways). * Prior therapy with ibrutinib or other BTK inhibitors. * Previous or concurrent cancer within 3 years prior to treatment start EXCEPT for curatively treated cervical cancer in situ, non-melanoma skin cancer, superficial bladder tumors \[Ta (non-invasive tumor), Tis (carcinoma in situ) and T1 (tumor invades lamina propria)\]. * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). * Serologic status reflecting active hepatitis B or C infection. Patients who are hepatitis B core antibody positive and who are antigen negative, will need to have a negative PCR result prior to enrollment. Those who are hepatitis B antigen positive or PCR positive, will be excluded. * Child Pugh B or C cirrhosis. * History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies. * Substance abuse, medical, psychological or social conditions that may interfere with participation in the study or evaluation of the study results. * History or concurrent condition of interstitial lung disease of any grade or severely impaired pulmonary function. * Unresolved toxicity higher than CTCAE grade 1 attributed to any prior therapy or procedure, excluding alopecia. * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, any Class 3 or 4 cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or history of myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to first dose with study drug. * Unable to swallow capsules or disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function and/or inhibiting small intestine absorption such as; malabsorption syndrome, resection of the small bowel, or poorly controlled inflammatory bowel disease affecting the small intestine. * Requires anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists (e.g., phenprocoumon). * Requires treatment with a strong CYP3A4/5 and/or CYP2D6 inhibitor. * History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrollment. * Any illness or medical conditions that are unstable or could jeopardize the safety of the participant and his/her compliance in the study. * Major surgery or a wound that has not fully healed within 4 weeks of enrollment. * Vaccinated with live, attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks of enrollment. * History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis within 6 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase I - Recommended Phase II Dose (RP2D)42 days post first doseStandard 3+3 Design: The first cohort will enroll a minimum of 3 participants, according to a standard 3+3 design. If 0 out of the first 3 participants in the first cohort experience a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), then dose escalation will continue as planned. If 1 out of the first 3 participants experience a DLT, then the cohort will be expanded to a total of 6 participants, and if no more than 1 out of 6 participants experiences a DLT in a given dose cohort, dose escalation will continue as planned. If ≥ 2 DLTs are observed in the first dose cohort, the principle investigator will discuss with Janssen on how to proceed. The DLT evaluation period will be defined as the time from the first dose of pembrolizumab and ibrutinib to 42 days after the first dose or if a participant experiences a DLT within this time period.
Phase II - Disease Control Rate at 4 Months4 monthsPercentage of participants who achieved disease control at 4 months. Disease control rate = Complete Response (CR) + Partial Response (PR) + Stable Disease (SD). Tumor response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and RECIST based immune-related response criteria (irRC).

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Phase 1 Cohort 0: Dose Escalation (Pembrolizumab and Ibrutinib)
Pembrolizumab intravenously (IV): 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Ibrutinib by mouth (PO): Phase I Dose Escalation at 420 mg daily.
4
Phase 1 Cohort 1: Dose Escalation (Pembrolizumab and Ibrutinib)
Pembrolizumab intravenously (IV): 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Ibrutinib by mouth (PO): Phase I Dose Escalation at 560 mg daily
4
Phase 2: Treatment at RP2D
Phase 2: Treatment at Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) - 200 mg Pembrolizumab and 560 mg Ibrutinib Pembrolizumab: 200 milligrams of pembrolizumab will be given through an IV (intravenously) for about thirty minutes. Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD1 that functions by inhibiting checkpoint inhibition and reversing T cell suppression. Ibrutinib: Ibrutinib oral capsules every day starting on cycle 1, day 1. Ibrutinib is primarily a BTK inhibitor which has been approved for the treatment of several hematologic malignancies.
32
Total40

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002
Overall StudySevere illness prior to Day 1 of treatment002

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPhase 1 Cohort 0: Dose Escalation (Pembrolizumab and Ibrutinib)Phase 1 Cohort 1: Dose Escalation (Pembrolizumab and Ibrutinib)Phase 2: Treatment at RP2DTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants0 Participants8 Participants9 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
3 Participants4 Participants24 Participants31 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants4 Participants29 Participants37 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants5 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
4 Participants4 Participants25 Participants33 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
4 participants4 participants32 participants40 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants2 Participants15 Participants17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants2 Participants17 Participants23 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
3 / 44 / 426 / 32
other
Total, other adverse events
4 / 44 / 429 / 32
serious
Total, serious adverse events
2 / 43 / 413 / 32

Outcome results

Primary

Phase II - Disease Control Rate at 4 Months

Percentage of participants who achieved disease control at 4 months. Disease control rate = Complete Response (CR) + Partial Response (PR) + Stable Disease (SD). Tumor response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and RECIST based immune-related response criteria (irRC).

Time frame: 4 months

Population: All participants in Phase 2 portion who received at least one dose of study drugs.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Pembrolizumab and IbrutinibPhase II - Disease Control Rate at 4 Months13 percentage of participants
Primary

Phase I - Recommended Phase II Dose (RP2D)

Standard 3+3 Design: The first cohort will enroll a minimum of 3 participants, according to a standard 3+3 design. If 0 out of the first 3 participants in the first cohort experience a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), then dose escalation will continue as planned. If 1 out of the first 3 participants experience a DLT, then the cohort will be expanded to a total of 6 participants, and if no more than 1 out of 6 participants experiences a DLT in a given dose cohort, dose escalation will continue as planned. If ≥ 2 DLTs are observed in the first dose cohort, the principle investigator will discuss with Janssen on how to proceed. The DLT evaluation period will be defined as the time from the first dose of pembrolizumab and ibrutinib to 42 days after the first dose or if a participant experiences a DLT within this time period.

Time frame: 42 days post first dose

Population: All participants in Phase 1 portion of study who received at least one dose of study drugs

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Pembrolizumab and IbrutinibPhase I - Recommended Phase II Dose (RP2D)560 mg

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 15, 2026