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Microbiome Immunotherapy Toxicity and Response Evaluation

An Observational Study to Evaluate the Microbiome as a Biomarker of Efficacy and Toxicity in Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04107168
Enrollment
1800
Registered
2019-09-27
Start date
2020-07-08
Completion date
2025-07-08
Last updated
2023-02-16

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

Conditions

Lung Cancer, Melanoma, Renal Cancer

Keywords

NSCLC, Advanced, Unresectable, Microbiome, Adjuvant, Resected, Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Brief summary

This is a observational study to investigate how the microbiome correlates with efficacy and toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced cancer.

Detailed description

The gastrointestinal microbiome of a healthy individual is comprised of many hundreds of bacteria species and thousands of bacteria strains. The composition of bacteria in an individual's microbiome can change over time and this can be influenced by factors including diet, drugs, genetics and infection. These bacteria play a central role in digestion of food, development and regulation of our immune system as well as our resistance to pathogens. Recent evidence suggest that a patient's intestinal microbiota composition plays a critical, though as yet poorly defined, role in determining both therapeutic efficacy and likelihood of significant adverse events to T-cell checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are revolutionising treatment of many types of metastatic cancer, including melanoma, renal and non-small cell lung cancer, in the expectation of improving patient overall survival. However, they have limitations as they do not work for all patients and can cause unpredictable, complex immune-related toxicities. The investigators will perform a detailed study of cancer patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors. Saliva and a series of stool samples will be collected from each patient to analyse their microbiome and will be linked to treatment response, by examining blood samples and - if available - tumour and organ samples. The investigators hope this work will enable personalisation of patient immunotherapies based on microbiome biomarkers, as well as precisely manipulate a patient's microbiota to optimise their immunotherapy. In addition, participants who have consented to take part in an optional sub-study may be offered a single nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 antigen before study entry. The investigators hope that that this identify correlations between the microbiome and COVID-19. Comparison with a limited cohort of healthy household members (up to 360 volunteers) acting as controls will provide additional essential information about the role of the patient-specific microbiome.

Interventions

DRUGNivolumab

A human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody, which binds to the programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1).

DRUGPembrolizumab

A human immunoglobulin G4-kappa (IgG4-kappa) monoclonal antibody that targets PD-1.

DRUGIpilimumab

A human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody raised against cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4).

DRUGDurvalumab

A human immunoglobulin G1-kappa (IgG1-kappa) monoclonal antibody that binds to programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1).

DRUGTremelimumab

A fully human monoclonal antibody raised to target cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4).

DRUGAtezolizumab

A humanised IgG1 monoclonal antibody raised to target programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1).

DRUGBevacizumab

A humanised IgG1 monoclonal antibody raised to target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Sponsors

Microbiotica Ltd
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
CCTU- Cancer Theme
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

for cancer patients: * Signed informed consent * Aged ≥18 years old * Histological or cytological confirmation of invasive malignancy * Due to commence palliative, adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy including an anti-PD-(L)1 antibody +/- anti-CTLA-4 antibody * Patients with unresectable disease must have radiologically and/or clinically measurable disease, by RECIST version 1.1; target lesions must not have been previously irradiated; baseline tumour assessments must be performed within 45 days prior to starting immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment * Received no prior immune checkpoint inhibitors (previous treatment with other types of anti-cancer therapy is determined by patient cohort; for patients with unresectable disease, prior adjuvant therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor(s) is allowed). * Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, sample collections and other study procedures

Exclusion criteria

for cancer patients: * Other invasive malignancies diagnosed within the last year which are not fully resected, or in complete remission, or for which additional therapy is required * Significant acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition, disease or laboratory abnormality which in the judgment of the investigator would place the patient at undue risk, or interfere with their ability to comply with the study. Examples may include, but are not limited to: * Patients with uncontrolled ischaemic heart or other cardiovascular event (e.g. myocardial infarction, new angina, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or new congestive cardiac failure) within the last 6 months * Presence of active infection * Cirrhotic liver disease, known chronic active or acute hepatitis B, or hepatitis C * Current active, severe, or uncontrolled autoimmune condition, including but not limited to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. * Women who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are lactating during the study period. * Requirement for non-physiological dose of oral steroids, or regular use of any other immunosuppressive agents; less than 10mg prednisolone or equivalent doses are allowed. Use of inhaled or topical steroids is allowed. Household control eligibility requirements: Confirmation of suitability to be a household control participant will be determined by completing a self-assessed questionnaire either at home or in clinic. Household controls must: * NOT have had any gastrointestinal infections i.e., parasites, viruses or diarrhoeal episodes during the last 6 months. * NOT have taken antibiotics for at least 6 months * NOT have or be recovering from any chronic intestinal disease such as: * Crohn's disease * Ulcerative colitis * Coeliac disease * Irritable bowel syndrome * Stomach ulcers * NOT have a chronic autoimmune disease or significant allergies e.g., multiple sclerosis, asthma requiring regular medication, psoriasis. * NOT have and NOT be recovering from any form of cancer. * NOT take proton pump inhibitors, steroids, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin. * NOT had requirement to be hospitalised for treatment of COVID-19 In addition, household controls must sign informed consent and be aged ≥18 years old.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Can the microbiome signature predict progression-free survival (PFS) of 1 year or greaterMinimum 1 year PFSThe primary outcome measure is the ability to predict for PFS of 1 year or greater for patients with advanced melanoma, renal and non-small cell lung cancer (cohorts 1-6).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Can the microbiome signature overall survival (OS)Up to 6 yearsMeasure the ability of the microbiome signature to median OS in Cohorts 1-6.
Can the microbiome signature to predict relapse1 year & 2 years relapse-free survival (RFS)Measure the ability of the microbiome signature to predict for 1 or 2 year relapse after resection of high risk melanoma or renal cancer in cohorts 7-9.
Does the microbiome correlate with treatment efficacyUp to 6 yearsTo compare pre-treatment oral and gut microbiome findings and their association with treatment efficacy.
Can the microbiome signature predict PFS1 year & 2 years PFSMeasure the ability of the microbiome signature to predict 6 month PFS, 2 year PFS, overall response rate and median PFS in Cohorts 1-6.
Correlation microbiome findings and known characteristics of patientsUp to 6 yearsTo correlate microbiome findings with aspects of pre-existing patient characteristics and behaviour including but not limited to diet, smoking history, BMI, use of antibiotics, steroids, proton pump inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and probiotics.
Control for the microbiome of cancer patientsUp to 6 yearsTo compare the microbiome signature of cancer patients with a household control group of people who are not known to have cancer.
Build a library of biological samples for future researchUp to 6 yearsTo retain a library of biological samples (saliva, stool, blood and tumour as well as organ if available) with linked patient data for future research.
Correlate microbiome findings with incidence and characteristics of immune-related adverse eventsUp to 6 yearsTo correlate microbiome findings with incidence and characteristics of CTCAE V5-defined Grade 3 or greater immune-related adverse events in all enrolled cancer patients, and any association with response to immunosuppressants.

Countries

United Kingdom

Contacts

Primary ContactMITRE Study Coordinator
cuh.mitre@nhs.net01223 274746

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 19, 2026