CLINICAL TRIAL / NCT02573896
Immunotherapy of Relapsed Refractory Neuroblastoma With Expanded NK Cells
- Interventional
- Recruiting
- NCT02573896
Contact Information
A Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Autologous Expanded Natural Killer (NK) Cells for Immunotherapy of Relapsed Refractory Neuroblastoma With Dinutuximab +/- Lenalidomide
This NANT trial will determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of autologous expanded natural killer (NK) cells when combined with standard dosing of dinutuximab and will assess the feasibility of adding lenalidomide at the recommended Phase II dose of the expanded NK cells with dinutuximab, for treatment of children with refractory or recurrent neuroblastoma.
This NANT trial will determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of autologous expanded
natural killer (NK) cells when combined with standard dosing of dinutuximab and will
assess the feasibility of adding lenalidomide at the recommended Phase II dose of the
expanded NK cells with dinutuximab, for treatment of children with refractory or
recurrent neuroblastoma.
Dinutuximab is a chimeric antibody against GD2, which is expressed on a majority of
neuroblastoma cells. It has been shown to increase EFS and OS in patients with high-risk
neuroblastoma when given after autologous stem cell transplant in combination with
subcutaneous GM-CSF and intravenous IL-2, followed by isotretinoin. Lenalidomide has been
studied in children with solid tumors and can safely be given to patients based on 2
prior trials in children. It was also shown to have immunomodulatory effects and is
synergistic with dinutuximab. Lenalidomide is also an oral agent that can be given in the
outpatient setting. Natural killer cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that
have the ability to recognize and kill malignant cells, including neuroblastoma.
Dinutuximab and lenalidomide both exert part of their anti-cancer effect through the
activation of natural killer cells. Patients were given these in combination in the NANT
2011-04 study where the safety and immunomodulatory effect were established. The dose
level proposed in this study is based off of these data. Natural killer cells are
dysfunctional and low in number in many cancer patients, and number and function are
further suppressed by chemotherapy and radiation. Investigators hypothesize that
autologous NK cells can be expanded and activated ex vivo and readministered to restore
number and function, and in combination with lenalidomide and dinutuximab will provide an
anti-tumor effect in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.
Investigators will determine the feasibility of centralized expansion, cryopreservation,
and distribution of autologous NK cells. Investigators will then determine the maximum
tolerated dose by assessing the toxicities of autologous expanded NK cells given with
dinutuximab; by assessing the toxicities, cytokinetics and immunomodulatory effects,
Investigators will select the recommended Phase II dose of the two-agent combination
after dose escalation of the NK cells and then adding lenalidomide to the combination to
establish the three-agent combination.
Cytokinetics (persistence of infused NK cells) and immune function studies will be
required for all patients entered on this study. In addition to routine assessment of
response, quantification of rare tumor cell detection in blood and bone marrow using TLDA
will also provide another measure of possible anti-tumor efficacy to support the
rationale for the final schedule chosen.
Gender
All
Age Group
30 Years and under
Accepting Healthy Volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Patients must be less than or equal to 30 years of age when registered on study
2. Patients must have a diagnosis of neuroblastoma either by histologic verification of
neuroblastoma and/or demonstration of tumor cells in the bone marrow with increased
urinary catecholamines.
3. Patients must have a history of high-risk neuroblastoma according to COG risk
classification at the time of study registration. Patients who were initially
considered low or intermediate-risk, but then reclassified as high-risk are also
eligible.
4. All patients must have at least one of the following
a) Recurrent/progressive disease: after the diagnosis of high risk neuroblastoma at
any time prior to enrollment regardless of response to frontline therapy b) No prior
history of recurrent/progressive disease since the diagnosis of high risk
neuroblastoma b1) Refractory disease- a best overall response of no response/stable
disease since diagnosis of high risk neuroblastoma and at least 4 cycles of
induction therapy. No prior history of recurrent/progressive disease since the
diagnosis of high risk neuroblastoma.
b2) Persistent disease- a best overall response of no partial response since
diagnosis of high risk neuroblastoma and at least 4 cycles of induction therapy. No
prior history of recurrent/progressive disease since the diagnosis of high risk
neuroblastoma.
5. Patients must have at least ONE of the following (lesions may have received prior
radiation therapy as long as they meet the other criteria listed below):
1. For recurrent/progressive or refractory disease, at least one MIBG avid bone
site.
2. For persistent disease, if a patient has 3 or more MIBG avid lesions, then no
biopsy is required. If a patients has only 1 or 2 MIBG avid bone lesion sites
then biopsy confirmation of neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma in at least
one MIBG avid site present at the time of enrollment is required to be obtained
at any time point prior to enrollment.
3. For MIBG non-avid tumors, patients must have at least one FDG avid site and a
biopsy confirmation of neuroblastoma and/or ganglioneuroblastoma at any time
prior to enrollment from at least one FDG-avid site.
6. Any amount of neuroblastoma tumor cells in the bone marrow done at the time of study
enrollment based on routine morphology with or without immunocytochemistry in at
least one sample from bilateral aspirates and biopsies.
7. At least one soft tissue lesion that meets criteria for a TARGET lesion as defined
by:
1. SIZE: Lesion can be accurately measured in at least one dimension with a
longest diameter ≥ 10 mm, or for lymph nodes ≥ 15 mm on short axis. Lesions
meeting size criteria will be considered measurable.
2. In addition to size, a lesion needs to meet one of the following criteria
except for patients with parenchymal CNS lesions which only need to meet size
criteria:
b1) MIBG avid. For patients with recurrent/progressive or refractory disease, no
biopsy is required. For patients with persistent disease only: If a patient has only
1 or 2 MIBG avid lesions sites, then biopsy confirmation of neuroblastoma and/or
ganglioneuroblastoma in at least one MIBG avid site present at time of enrollment is
required to be obtained. If a patient has 3 or more MIBG avid lesions, then no
biopsy is required.
b2) MIBG non avid tumors: Patients must have at least one FDG avid site and biopsy
confirmation of neuroblastoma and/or ganglioneuroblastoma in at least one FDG-PET
avid site present at the time of enrollment.
8. At least one non-target soft tissue lesion that is not measurable, but had a biopsy
positive for neuroblastoma and/or ganglioneuroblastoma or is MIBG avid at any time
prior to enrollment.
9. Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks and a Lansky (≤16 years)
or Karnofsky (>16 years) score of at least 50.
10. Prior Therapy 1. Patients must have fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of
all prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy prior to study registration.
2. Patients must not have received the therapies indicated below after disease
evaluation or within the specified time period prior to registration on this study
as follows:
1. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy: must not have received within 2 weeks prior to
registration.
2. Biologic anti-neoplastics- agents not known to be associated with reduced platelet
or ANC counts (including retinoids): must not have received within 7 days prior to
registration.
3. Monoclonal antibodies: must have received last dose at least 7 days or 3 half-lives
whichever is longer, but no longer than 30 days (with recovery of any associated
toxicities), prior to protocol therapy.
4. Cellular Therapy (e.g. modified T cells, NK cells, dentritic cells etc.):
must not have received within 3 weeks and resolution of all toxicities.
5. Radiation: must not have received small port radiation within 7 days prior to
registration.
6. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant:
7. IVIG
11) All patients must have adequate organ function defined as:
- Hematological Function:
1. Absolute Phagocyte count (APC= neutrophils and monocytes): ≥ 1000/µL
2. Absolute Neutrophil count: ≥750/µL
3. Absolute Lymphocyte count ≥ 500/µL
4. Platelet count: ≥ 50,000/µL, transfusion independent (no platelet transfusions
within 1 week)
5. Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (may transfuse)
6. Patients with known bone marrow metastatic disease will be eligible for study as
long as they meet hematologic function criteria above.
- Renal Function: Age-adjusted serum creatinine ≤ to 1.5 x normal for age/gender
OR creatinine clearance or GFR greater than or equal to 60 cc/min/1.73m2
- Liver Function: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x normal for age, AND SGPT (ALT) 135 and
SGOT (AST) ≤ 3 x upper limit of normal. Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)
if present, must be stable or improving clinically
- Cardiac Function: Normal ejection fraction documented by either echocardiogram
or radionuclide MUGA evaluation OR Normal fractional shortening documented by
echocardiogram
- Pulmonary Function: No dyspnea at rest, no oxygen requirement.
12) Reproductive Status: All post-menarchal females must have a negative
beta-HCG. Males and females of reproductive age and childbearing potential
must use effective contraception for the duration of their participation.
13) Patients with other ongoing serious medical issues must be approved by the
study chairprior to registration.
14) Patients may not receive any other anti-cancer agents or radiotherapy
while on protocol therapy.
15) Ability to Swallow Pills
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Pregnancy: Quantitative Serum B-HCG must be negative in girls who are
post-menarchal.
2. Breast feeding women are not eligible.
3. Active or uncontrolled infection
4. CNS metastasis.
5. Hypersensitivity to thalidomide, including history of erythema nodosum if
characterized by a desquamating rash while taking thalidomide or similar drugs (dose
level 4 only).
6. Patient declines participation in NANT 2004-05; unless the institution has been
granted special exemption from mandatory registration on NANT 2004-05 by the NANT
Operations Center.
- Neuroblastoma