Nivolumab + Cabozantinib for Melanoma

Recruiting at 174 trial locations

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Must not be taking: CYP3A4 inhibitors, CYP3A4 inducers

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, Autoimmune disease, 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

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 17

Duration: 52-104 weeks

99 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether a combination of two drugs, nivolumab and cabozantinib, can effectively treat mucosal melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer. Nivolumab is an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells, while cabozantinib (also known as Cabometyx or Cometriq) targets and blocks proteins that enable cancer cells to grow and spread. The trial includes different groups testing these drugs, either together or with a placebo, to determine if they can prevent the cancer from returning. This trial may suit individuals with mucosal melanoma that has been surgically removed or is non-resectable, and who haven't received certain previous treatments. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures how well the treatment works in an initial, smaller group of people.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking any strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 (a liver enzyme) at least 5 days before starting the study treatment. If you are on such medications, you will need to discontinue them.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib is generally well-tolerated. In other studies, patients experienced some side effects, but these were usually manageable. One study found that this combination reduced the risk of death by 23% for patients with advanced kidney cancer compared to another treatment, suggesting it is effective and relatively safe.

Another study found that 39.1% of patients responded well to the treatment, with their cancer shrinking or disappearing. While some side effects occur, doctors can adjust the dose to help manage them.

Overall, the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib has demonstrated a promising safety profile in other types of cancer, indicating it might also be safe for people with mucosal melanoma. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib for melanoma because it offers a fresh approach to treatment. Unlike traditional options like immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapies used separately, nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that enhances the body's immune response against melanoma cells, while cabozantinib targets multiple pathways involved in tumor growth and blood vessel formation. This dual-action strategy could potentially enhance effectiveness by tackling the cancer from more angles. Additionally, the combination may offer improved outcomes for patients who do not respond to existing treatments, providing a new hope in the fight against this aggressive skin cancer.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for mucosal melanoma?

Research has shown that using nivolumab and cabozantinib together has potential in treating certain cancers. In this trial, some participants will receive this combination, which studies have shown can double the time during which the cancer does not worsen and improve survival rates compared to other treatments. Specifically, 55.7% of patients experienced a reduction or disappearance of their cancer, with some achieving complete remission. This combination aids the immune system in attacking cancer and halts tumor growth. These positive results make this treatment a promising option for further study in mucosal melanoma. Meanwhile, other participants in this trial will receive nivolumab with a placebo, allowing for a comparison of outcomes. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Alexander N Shoushtari

Principal Investigator

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults who've had surgery for mucosal melanoma without distant metastases can join. They must have certain types of primary lesions or lymph node involvement, no recent heart issues, infections, or other cancers needing treatment. Pregnant/nursing women and those with severe liver disease, autoimmune conditions on steroids, untreated spinal cord compression, bleeding disorders or active infections are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

My liver functions well and I don't have severe liver disease.

I do not have any blood disorders.

I haven't had seizures or conditions that could cause them in the last 2 years.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had a condition where lymphocytes grow abnormally.

I haven't had cancer in the last 5 years, except for skin cancer.

I am not on any strong medication that affects liver enzymes.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Patients receive nivolumab and cabozantinib or nivolumab and placebo, with treatment repeating every 28 days for up to 13 or 26 cycles depending on the arm

52-104 weeks

13-26 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment completion, with follow-up every 3 months until disease progression, then every 6 months for up to 5 years

Up to 5 years

Every 3-6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cabozantinib S-malate
• Nivolumab

Trial Overview

The trial is testing if nivolumab combined with cabozantinib prevents mucosal melanoma from returning after surgery. Nivolumab boosts the immune system to fight cancer while cabozantinib blocks enzymes that help tumor cells grow.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm 3 (nivolumab, cabozantinib) Experimental Treatment 8 Interventions

Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes and cabozantinib PO QD of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 26 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo ECHO during screening and as clinically indicated throughout the trial. Patients may undergo CT, MRI, or PET/CT at baseline, CT and MRI may be repeated every 6 months on study. Additionally, patients may undergo bone scans, as well as optional blood and tissue sample collection throughout the trial.

Group II: Arm 1 (nivolumab, cabozantinib) Experimental Treatment 8 Interventions

Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 and cabozantinib PO QD of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 13 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo ECHO during screening and as clinically indicated throughout the trial. Patients may undergo CT, MRI, or PET/CT at baseline, CT and MRI may be repeated every 6 months on study. Additionally, patients may undergo bone scans, as well as optional blood and tissue sample collection throughout the trial.

Group III: Arm 2 (nivolumab, placebo) Active Control 8 Interventions

Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 and placebo PO QD of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 13 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo ECHO during screening and as clinically indicated throughout the trial. Patients may undergo CT, MRI, or PET/CT at baseline, CT and MRI may be repeated every 6 months on study. Additionally, patients may undergo bone scans, as well as optional blood and tissue sample collection throughout the trial.

Nivolumab is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada, Switzerland for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Opdivo for:

• Advanced or metastatic gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Approved in European Union as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Approved in Canada as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Approved in Switzerland as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

Combining nivolumab with ipilimumab results in higher response rates in cancer treatment compared to using nivolumab alone, indicating a potentially more effective therapeutic strategy.

This combination therapy may enhance the immune response against cancer, but specific details on the number of subjects or study duration are not provided in the abstract.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab Achieves Responses in dMMR/MSI-H Tumors. [2019]

In a study of 142 patients with advanced melanoma, the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in a significantly higher objective response rate of 61% compared to 11% for ipilimumab alone, indicating that the combination therapy is much more effective for treating this type of cancer.

While the combination therapy showed promising efficacy, it also had a higher incidence of severe adverse events (54% vs. 24% for monotherapy), but most of these side effects were manageable with immune-modulating medications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab and ipilimumab versus ipilimumab in untreated melanoma. Postow, MA., Chesney, J., Pavlick, AC., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab is shown to be the most cost-effective treatment option for advanced melanoma patients in England, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of £24,483 for BRAF mutation-negative and £17,362 for mutation-positive patients.

The analysis utilized a Markov state-transition model based on patient-level data from clinical trials, indicating that nivolumab provides long-term survival benefits while being economically favorable compared to other treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The cost-effectiveness of nivolumab monotherapy for the treatment of advanced melanoma patients in England. Meng, Y., Hertel, N., Ellis, J., et al.[2020]

In a study of 346 patients receiving cabozantinib (CABO) as second-line therapy after various first-line treatments, the median overall survival was 21.4 months for those who previously received ipilimumab-nivolumab (IPI-NIVO), indicating that CABO is effective regardless of the initial treatment.

The median time to treatment failure for CABO was 7.6 months, suggesting that it provides a clinically meaningful benefit as a second-line option after different first-line therapies, including immunotherapy and VEGF inhibitors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CABOSEQ: The Effectiveness of Cabozantinib in Patients With Treatment Refractory Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC). Navani, V., Wells, JC., Boyne, DJ., et al.[2023]

In a phase 3 trial involving 855 patients with untreated advanced renal-cell carcinoma, the combination of cabozantinib with nivolumab and ipilimumab significantly improved progression-free survival compared to nivolumab and ipilimumab alone, with a 12-month progression-free survival rate of 57% versus 49%.

However, the experimental group experienced a higher incidence of severe adverse events (grade 3 or 4) at 79%, compared to 56% in the control group, indicating a trade-off between efficacy and safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cabozantinib plus Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Renal-Cell Carcinoma. Choueiri, TK., Powles, T., Albiges, L., et al.[2023]

In a phase 3 trial involving 651 patients with untreated advanced renal-cell carcinoma, the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib significantly improved progression-free survival (16.6 months) compared to sunitinib (8.3 months), with a hazard ratio of 0.51, indicating a 49% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death.

Patients receiving nivolumab plus cabozantinib also had a higher overall survival rate at 12 months (85.7%) compared to those on sunitinib (75.6%), and a greater objective response rate (55.7% vs. 27.1%), although adverse events were common in both groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab plus Cabozantinib versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma. Choueiri, TK., Powles, T., Burotto, M., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma compared to dacarbazine, with hazard ratios of 0.42 and 0.43 respectively, based on a trial involving 418 patients.

The most common side effects of nivolumab included fatigue, diarrhea, and rash, but it was still considered to have a favorable benefit-risk profile compared to dacarbazine.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval of Nivolumab for the First-Line Treatment of Patients with BRAFV600 Wild-Type Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma. Beaver, JA., Theoret, MR., Mushti, S., et al.[2018]

In a real-world analysis of adverse events from two combination therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma, cabozantinib (CAB) plus nivolumab (NIVO) showed higher incidence rates of seven types of toxicities compared to ipilimumab (IPI) plus NIVO.

Conversely, IPI + NIVO was associated with higher rates of three types of toxicities and had a greater incidence of serious adverse events, suggesting that both therapies have distinct safety profiles that can guide treatment decisions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events of Cabozantinib Plus Nivolumab Versus Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab. Blas, L., Shiota, M., Tsukahara, S., et al.[2023]

In a study of 71 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib showed promising antitumor activity, with an objective response rate of 17% for the doublet therapy and 29% for the triplet therapy including ipilimumab.

Both treatment combinations had manageable safety profiles, with 50% of patients in the doublet arm and 74% in the triplet arm experiencing grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events, but no treatment-related deaths were reported.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab Plus Cabozantinib With or Without Ipilimumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results From Cohort 6 of the CheckMate 040 Trial. Yau, T., Zagonel, V., Santoro, A., et al.[2023]

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Opdivo in combination with CABOMETYX reduced the risk of death by 23% in the first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma vs. sunitinib.

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