Nivolumab + Ipilimumab for Rare Cancers

Recruiting at 1132 trial locations

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Must not be taking: Steroids, Immunosuppressive drugs

Disqualifiers: Autoimmune disease, Hepatitis, Heart failure, others

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

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 2 years

818 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase II trial studies nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating patients with rare tumors. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial enrolls participants for the following cohorts based on condition: 1. Epithelial tumors of nasal cavity, sinuses, nasopharynx: A) Squamous cell carcinoma with variants of nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx and trachea (excluding laryngeal, nasopharyngeal cancer \[NPC\], and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck \[SCCHN\]) B) Adenocarcinoma and variants of nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx (closed to accrual 07/27/2018) 2. Epithelial tumors of major salivary glands (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 3. Salivary gland type tumors of head and neck, lip, esophagus, stomach, trachea and lung, breast and other location (closed to accrual) 4. Undifferentiated carcinoma of gastrointestinal (GI) tract 5. Adenocarcinoma with variants of small intestine (closed to accrual 05/10/2018) 6. Squamous cell carcinoma with variants of GI tract (stomach small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas) (closed to accrual 10/17/2018) 7. Fibromixoma and low grade mucinous adenocarcinoma (pseudomixoma peritonei) of the appendix and ovary (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 8. Rare pancreatic tumors including acinar cell carcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma or serous cystadenocarcinoma. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is not eligible (closed to accrual) 9. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 10. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and bile duct tumors (closed to accrual 03/20/2018) 11. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of lung 12. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma lung. This condition is now also referred to as adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma, or invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma 13. Non-epithelial tumors of the ovary: A) Germ cell tumor of ovary B) Mullerian mixed tumor and adenosarcoma (closed to accrual 03/30/2018) 14. Trophoblastic tumor: A) Choriocarcinoma (closed to accrual) 15. Transitional cell carcinoma other than that of the renal, pelvis, ureter, or bladder (closed to accrual) 16. Cell tumor of the testes and extragonadal germ tumors: A) Seminoma and testicular sex cord cancer B) Non seminomatous tumor C) Teratoma with malignant transformation (closed to accrual) 17. Epithelial tumors of penis - squamous adenocarcinoma cell carcinoma with variants of penis (closed to accrual) 18. Squamous cell carcinoma variants of the genitourinary (GU) system 19. Spindle cell carcinoma of kidney, pelvis, ureter 20. Adenocarcinoma with variants of GU system (excluding prostate cancer) (closed to accrual 07/27/2018) 21. Odontogenic malignant tumors 22. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) (formerly named: Endocrine carcinoma of pancreas and digestive tract.) (closed to accrual) 23. Neuroendocrine carcinoma including carcinoid of the lung (closed to accrual 12/19/2017) 24. Pheochromocytoma, malignant (closed to accrual) 25. Paraganglioma (closed to accrual 11/29/2018) 26. Carcinomas of pituitary gland, thyroid gland parathyroid gland and adrenal cortex (closed to accrual) 27. Desmoid tumors 28. Peripheral nerve sheath tumors and NF1-related tumors (closed to accrual 09/19/2018) 29. Malignant giant cell tumors 30. Chordoma (closed to accrual 11/29/2018) 31. Adrenal cortical tumors (closed to accrual 06/27/2018) 32. Tumor of unknown primary (Cancer of Unknown Primary; CuP) (closed to accrual 12/22/2017) 33. Not Otherwise Categorized (NOC) Rare Tumors \[To obtain permission to enroll in the NOC cohort, contact: [e-mail]\] (closed to accrual 03/15/2019) 34. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (closed to accrual 02/06/2018) 35. Vulvar cancer (closed to accrual) 36. MetaPLASTIC carcinoma (of the breast) (closed to accrual) 37. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (closed to accrual 09/26/2018) 38. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) 39. Apocrine tumors/extramammary Paget's disease (closed to accrual) 40. Peritoneal mesothelioma 41. Basal cell carcinoma (temporarily closed to accrual 04/29/2020) 42. Clear cell cervical cancer 43. Esthenioneuroblastoma (closed to accrual) 44. Endometrial carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumors) (closed to accrual) 45. Clear cell endometrial cancer 46. Clear cell ovarian cancer (closed to accrual) 47. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) 48. Gallbladder cancer 49. Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type 50. PD-L1 amplified tumors 51. Angiosarcoma 52. High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor \[PNET\] should be enrolled in Cohort 22; prostatic neuroendocrine carcinomas should be enrolled into Cohort 53). Small cell lung cancer is not eligible (closed to accrual) 53. Treatment-emergent small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-SCNC)

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you must not be on any other investigational agents or systemic anti-cancer therapy at the time of registration. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team to ensure they don't interfere with the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug combination of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab for rare cancers?

Research shows that the combination of Nivolumab (Opdivo) and Ipilimumab (Yervoy) has been effective in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer and advanced melanoma, leading to longer survival and better outcomes compared to other treatments. This suggests potential benefits for other types of cancers as well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the combination of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab safe for humans?

The combination of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab has been used in treating various cancers and is known to cause immune-related side effects, which can be more frequent and severe when used together. These side effects are often manageable with medications like glucocorticoids (a type of steroid), but close monitoring by experienced healthcare providers is necessary to ensure safety. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How is the drug combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab unique for treating rare cancers?

The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is unique because it uses two immunotherapy drugs that work together to boost the body's immune system to fight cancer, which is different from traditional chemotherapy that directly targets cancer cells. This combination has shown durable and long-term efficacy in other cancers like advanced non-small cell lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma, suggesting potential benefits for rare cancers as well. ^{1 2 5 10 11}

Research Team

Sandip P Patel

Principal Investigator

SWOG Cancer Research Network

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients with rare cancers, including various carcinomas and tumors. Eligible participants must have progressed after standard therapy or have no survival-prolonging treatment available. They should not have uncontrolled illnesses or active infections like HBV/HCV, and must agree to use birth control if of reproductive potential. A negative pregnancy test is required for women of childbearing age.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been cancer-free from another type for at least one year.

I have a rare cancer type and can provide samples, except if I have GTD.

My cancer has PD-L1 amplification, confirmed by a study chair.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive nivolumab and ipilimumab intravenously, with treatment repeating every 42 days for up to 17 cycles (2 years) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

2 years

Visits on days 1, 15, and 29 every 42 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment completion

10 years

Regular follow-up visits

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Ipilimumab
• Nivolumab

Trial Overview The study tests nivolumab and ipilimumab, two immunotherapy drugs that may help the immune system fight cancer by stopping tumor cells from growing. It's a phase II trial where patients are grouped based on their specific type of rare tumor to see how well these treatments work.

Participant Groups

Group I: Arm II (nivolumab) Experimental Treatment 5 Interventions

Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 15 and 29. Treatment repeats every 42 days for up to 17 cycles (2 years) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After 17 cycles (2 years) of therapy, patients may receive nivolumab once every 14 or 28 days (2 weeks or 4 weeks) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo ECHO during screening and on study. Patients also undergo MRI or CT throughout the trial. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection throughout the trial.

Group II: Arm I (nivolumab, ipilimumab) Experimental Treatment 6 Interventions

Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 15, and 29 and ipilimumab IV over 60 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 42 days for up to 17 cycles (2 years) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who complete 17 cycles (2 years) of therapy, may continue receiving the same treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab, or receive nivolumab once every 14 or 28 days (2 weeks or 4 weeks) per physician discretion in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who stop treatment prior to the completion of 17 cycles of therapy may receive nivolumab once every 14 or 28 days (2 weeks or 4 weeks) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo ECHO during screening and on study. Patients also undergo MRI or CT throughout the trial. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection throughout the trial.

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

Approved in United States as Yervoy for:

• Advanced melanoma
• Stage III unresectable melanoma
• Stage IV metastatic melanoma

Approved in European Union as Yervoy for:

• Advanced melanoma
• Stage III unresectable melanoma
• Stage IV metastatic melanoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Findings from Research

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed durable and long-term efficacy in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to chemotherapy, regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression levels.

These findings are based on updated results from part 1 of the phase 3 CheckMate 227 trial, indicating that this combination therapy could be a more effective frontline treatment option for NSCLC patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combo Yields Durable Efficacy in Advanced NSCLC. Kahl, KL.[2021]

In a pooled analysis of 1332 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab showed a median overall survival (OS) of 18.6 months and a 3-year OS rate of 35%, indicating significant long-term survival benefits compared to traditional chemotherapy.

The study found that patients who responded to treatment at 6 months had markedly better survival rates, with a 3-year OS of 66% for responders, highlighting the importance of early response in predicting long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term survival with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis. Borghaei, H., Ciuleanu, TE., Lee, JS., et al.[2023]

In a phase 2 trial involving 142 patients with untreated advanced melanoma, the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in a 2-year overall survival rate of 63.8%, compared to 53.6% for those receiving ipilimumab alone, suggesting improved survival outcomes with the combination therapy.

However, the combination treatment was associated with a higher incidence of severe side effects, with 54% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 adverse events compared to 20% in the ipilimumab-only group, indicating a trade-off between efficacy and safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab versus ipilimumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma: 2-year overall survival outcomes in a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. Hodi, FS., Chesney, J., Pavlick, AC., et al.[2022]

In the Asian subpopulation with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and PD-L1 expression ≥1%, patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those receiving chemotherapy, with a 3-year OS rate of 53% versus 37%.

The safety profile of nivolumab plus ipilimumab was manageable, with grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurring in 40% of patients, similar to the 36% in the chemotherapy group, indicating no new safety concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

First-line nivolumab + ipilimumab in advanced NSCLC: CheckMate 227 subpopulation analyses in Asian patients. O'Byrne, KJ., Lee, KH., Kim, SW., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab combined with ipilimumab significantly improves overall survival in adult patients with intermediate/poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma compared to sunitinib, with a hazard ratio of 0.63, indicating a 37% reduction in the risk of death.

In the study involving 1096 patients, the median overall survival was not reached for the nivolumab + ipilimumab group, while it was 25.95 months for the sunitinib group, highlighting the potential of this combination therapy for better long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

European Medicines Agency extension of indication to include the combination immunotherapy cancer drug treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for adults with intermediate/poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma. Ali, S., Camarero, J., Hennik, P., et al.[2021]

In a study of 1255 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), first-line treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) showed a high incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), with 78% experiencing any-grade TRAEs and 34% experiencing severe (grade 3 or 4) TRAEs, but the treatment was generally well tolerated.

Patients who discontinued NIVO+IPI due to TRAEs still had a favorable long-term survival rate, with a 3-year overall survival of 50%, indicating that stopping treatment because of side effects did not negatively impact their long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC: A Pooled Analysis of CheckMate 227, CheckMate 568, and CheckMate 817. Paz-Ares, LG., Ciuleanu, TE., Pluzanski, A., et al.[2023]

Combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) using nivolumab and ipilimumab shows significant efficacy in treating advanced melanoma, but it also leads to a higher frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) compared to single-agent therapies, based on pooled safety data from 1551 patients.

Most immune-related ADRs are reversible with glucocorticoids, but due to the increased risk and rapid onset of these toxicities, clinicians must be well-trained to monitor and manage these side effects effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined immune checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA-4): Evaluation and management of adverse drug reactions. Hassel, JC., Heinzerling, L., Aberle, J., et al.[2022]

Combining nivolumab and ipilimumab shows improved effectiveness in treating metastatic melanoma compared to using either drug alone, based on a retrospective analysis of approximately 7700 patients.

The combination therapy presents a safety profile that includes immune-related adverse events from both drugs, indicating that while the combination is effective, it also carries a heightened risk of toxicity that needs further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Retrospective Side Effect Profiling of the Metastatic Melanoma Combination Therapy Ipilimumab-Nivolumab Using Adverse Event Data. Soldatos, TG., Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss, A., Larribere, L., et al.[2022]

In a study of 69 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab, those who experienced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) had significantly better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival compared to those without irAEs, suggesting that irAEs may be a positive indicator of treatment response.

The study identified three key factors influencing OS: the presence of irAEs, C-reactive protein levels, and performance status, indicating that monitoring these factors could help predict patient outcomes in mRCC treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prognostic Impact of Immune-Related Adverse Events as First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. Nukaya, T., Takahara, K., Yoshizawa, A., et al.[2023]

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (N+I) and nivolumab plus ipilimumab with chemotherapy (N+I+chemotherapy) improve overall survival and progression-free survival for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but both treatments are not cost-effective compared to chemotherapy alone, with high incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of $239,072 and $838,198 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) respectively.

The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that N+I had a very low probability (2.6%) of being considered cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000 per QALY, indicating that while these treatments may improve survival, they come at a significant financial burden to the healthcare system.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost-Effectiveness of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab With and Without Chemotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Yang, SC., Kunst, N., Gross, CP., et al.[2022]

In a phase 1 study involving 78 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab as first-line therapy demonstrated a tolerable safety profile with no treatment-related deaths and manageable adverse events, such as increased lipase and pneumonitis.

The treatment showed promising efficacy, with confirmed objective response rates of 47% in the ipilimumab every-12-weeks cohort and 38% in the every-6-weeks cohort, suggesting potential benefits over anti-PD-1 monotherapy and warranting further investigation in larger trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (CheckMate 012): results of an open-label, phase 1, multicohort study. Hellmann, MD., Rizvi, NA., Goldman, JW., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combo Yields Durable Efficacy in Advanced NSCLC. [2021]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term survival with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab versus ipilimumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma: 2-year overall survival outcomes in a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

First-line nivolumab + ipilimumab in advanced NSCLC: CheckMate 227 subpopulation analyses in Asian patients. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

European Medicines Agency extension of indication to include the combination immunotherapy cancer drug treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for adults with intermediate/poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC: A Pooled Analysis of CheckMate 227, CheckMate 568, and CheckMate 817. [2023]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined immune checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA-4): Evaluation and management of adverse drug reactions. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Retrospective Side Effect Profiling of the Metastatic Melanoma Combination Therapy Ipilimumab-Nivolumab Using Adverse Event Data. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prognostic Impact of Immune-Related Adverse Events as First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. [2023]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost-Effectiveness of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab With and Without Chemotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. [2022]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (CheckMate 012): results of an open-label, phase 1, multicohort study. [2022]