Sorafenib + Pembrolizumab for Liver Cancer

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Must not be taking: Warfarin, Heparin, Retrovirals, others

Disqualifiers: HIV, Autoimmune disease, Brain metastases, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 33

Duration: Up to 6 months

37 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase Ib/II trial studies how well sorafenib tosylate and pembrolizumab work in treating patients with liver cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Sorafenib tosylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving sorafenib tosylate and pembrolizumab may work better in treating patients with liver cancer.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Renuka Iyer

Principal Investigator

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with advanced or metastatic liver cancer who have not had prior treatments with sorafenib or PD1 blockers. They must have good physical function, adequate blood counts, and controlled hepatitis if present. Pregnant women, those with HIV, recent chemotherapy or radiotherapy recipients, and individuals with certain heart conditions cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have hepatitis B, but it is under control.

Total bilirubin =< 2.0 mg/dL

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 5 X ULN

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have brain metastases.

I am currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

I've had one treatment for my condition, but not with sorafenib or PD1 blockers.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive sorafenib tosylate orally twice daily and pembrolizumab intravenously every 3 weeks

Up to 6 months

Every 3 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to 3 years

30 days post-treatment, then every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Pembrolizumab
• Sorafenib Tosylate

Trial Overview The study is testing the combination of Sorafenib Tosylate (a drug that blocks tumor growth enzymes) and Pembrolizumab (an antibody that may prevent tumor cells from growing) to see if they are more effective together in treating liver cancer than when used separately.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment (sorafenib tosylate, pembrolizumab) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients receive sorafenib tosylate PO BID on days -28 to -1 and 1-21. Patients also receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Courses repeat every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Pembrolizumab is already approved in United States, European Union, United Kingdom for the following indications:

Approved in United States as KEYTRUDA for:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial carcinoma

Approved in European Union as KEYTRUDA for:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial carcinoma

Approved in United Kingdom as KEYTRUDA for:

• Untreated metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

427

Recruited

40,500+

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Industry Sponsor

Trials

4,096

Recruited

5,232,000+

Chirfi Guindo

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Marketing Officer since 2022

Degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business

Robert M. Davis

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2021

JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University