A Study of the Safety and Antitumoral Efficacy of Nivolumab After SIRT for the Treatment of Patients With HCC

NCT ID: NCT03380130

Last Updated: 2020-11-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

41 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-09-11

Study Completion Date

2020-11-04

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) agent nivolumab following selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

SIRT using yttrium90-loaded microspheres is increasingly used to treat patients with HCC, particularly those that are not good candidates for transarterial chemoembolization or TACE. SIRT induces disease control (objective tumor remission or stabilization) in most patients while progression usually results from the growth of new lesions. SIR-Spheres are resin-made microspheres used for SIRT.

On the other hand, nivolumab is under clinical development for the treatment of more advanced HCC. Available data in patients that mostly had progression to other therapies and vascular involvement or metastatic disease show significant systemic antitumor activity that results in durable objective remissions and disease stabilizations.

Therefore, in patients with HCC that has not spread beyond the liver, the systemic action of nivolumab may improve the anti-tumor effect of SIRT. Furthermore, by inducing immunogenic tumor cell death, SIRT may have a synergistic effect with nivolumab.

Detailed Description

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Worldwide, intra-arterial therapies are the mainstay of the treatment of patients with HCC in the intermediate stage or in the advanced stage because of portal vein invasion. While transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most widely applied intra-arterial therapy, not all patients in the intermediate stage are good candidates for this procedure and TACE is formally contraindicated in the presence of portal vein invasion. Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) using yttrium90-loaded microspheres is increasingly used to treat such patients that are not good candidates for TACE. SIR-Spheres are resin-made microspheres extensively used for SIRT and there is consistent level 2 evidence of its activity in HCC. SIRT induces disease control (partial objective remission or tumor stabilization) in the majority of patients while progression usually results from the growth of new lesions.

Nivolumab is under clinical development for the treatment of advanced stage HCC. Preliminary data in a population that mostly had progression to other therapies, vascular involvement or metastatic disease suggest significant systemic antitumor activity that results in durable objective remissions and disease stabilizations. In patients with HCC that has not spread beyond the liver, the systemic action of nivolumab may improve the anti-tumor effect of SIRT by providing eradication or sustained tumor growth control of residual disease in treated lesions and other locations (intrahepatic or extrahepatic micrometastasis). Furthermore, by inducing immunogenic tumor cell death, SIRT may have a synergistic effect with immune checkpoint inhibitors including nivolumab. Besides, SIRT and nivolumab are by and large well tolerated. The sequential use of SIRT and nivolumab could have strong antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile and therefore deserves to be tested in patients with intermediate to advanced tumor stages.

The primary objective of the study is therefore to evaluate the safety of nivolumab in combination with SIRT using SIR-Spheres. The secondary objective is to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of nivolumab in combination with SIRT using SIR-Spheres. Exploratory objectives are to evaluate the role of blood and tissue biomarkers in determining the anti-tumor activity of nivolumab in combination with SIRT using SIR-Spheres; to evaluate the utility of baseline or on-treatment soluble markers that may serve as surrogate markers of efficacy; and to explore the role of the ALBI score in predicting patient outcomes.

SIRT will be performed as a single-day treatment using SIR-Spheres resin microspheres as detailed in Gil-Alzugaray et al. 2013. Three weeks after SIRT, patients will start receiving nivolumab every 2 weeks until completion of 8 courses of 3 bi-weekly nivolumab doses, toxicity, or tumor progression defined using RECIST 1.1 criteria. Patients will be allowed to continue nivolumab treatment beyond progression under strict protocol-defined circumstances. All subjects will undergo tumor assessments at every q6 week for the first year, and then q12 week thereafter until radiographic progression. Patients will complete a follow-up Visit 100 days from the last dose of nivolumab and will then be followed for overall survival.

Patients with all etiologies could be recruited. Those with chronic hepatitis B will be on antiviral therapy per regional standard of care guidelines. Patients with chronic hepatitis C may receive treatment for this condition with direct antiviral agents during the treatment period as per local practice guidelines.

A tumor sample obtained before SIRT and blood samples obtained before SIRT and before and after nivolumab will be used for correlative biomarker studies.

Conditions

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Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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SIRT and Nivolumab

SIRT (selective internal radiation therapy) will be performed in a single session using SIR-Spheres resin microspheres. After 3 weeks, nivolumab 240 mg every 2 weeks will be initiated

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Nivolumab

Intervention Type DRUG

An anti-programmed death 1 monoclonal antibody

SIR-Spheres

Intervention Type DEVICE

Resin microspheres labeled with the radioactive isotope yttrium 90 that serves as a source of beta radiation

Interventions

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Nivolumab

An anti-programmed death 1 monoclonal antibody

Intervention Type DRUG

SIR-Spheres

Resin microspheres labeled with the radioactive isotope yttrium 90 that serves as a source of beta radiation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Opdivo radioembolization, transarterial radioembolization (TARE)

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of HCC based on histology or non-invasive criteria if cirrhotics. Patients with fibrolamellar carcinoma are not excluded.
* Cirrhosis absent, non-viral or due to hepatitis C or B virus infection. Subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection must be on effective antiviral therapy
* Preserved liver function (without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis in Child Pugh Class A).
* ECOG performance status 0 or 1
* Willing to have a liver biopsy pre-treatment
* Considered candidates for locoregional therapy using SIR-Spheres based on

* the absence of extrahepatic disease (patients with regional lymph nodes \< 2 cm in short axis are accepted)
* unsuitability for liver resection or transplantation, or percutaneous ablation
* considered not good candidates for TACE because they have; Single tumors larger than 5 cm. Multiple tumors that cannot be targeted superselectively. Unilobar tumors with segmental or lobar portal vein thrombosis.
* At least one measurable lesion by RECIST 1.1 criteria.
* Adequate organ and marrow function as evidenced by:

* White blood cell count ≥ 2000/μL.
* Neutrophils ≥ 1000/μL.
* Platelets ≥ 60 x 103/μL.
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL.
* Creatinine Clearance \> 40 mL/min.
* AST and ALT ≤ 5 X ULN
* Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL
* INR ≤ 1.8.
* Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL
* Willing and able to comply with immune-monitoring sample collection and required study follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria

* Any history of hepatic encephalopathy
* Any prior (within 6 months) or current clinical ascites.
* Any history of clinically meaningful variceal bleeding within the last three months.
* Active coinfection with both hepatitis B and C or hepatitis D infection in subjects with hepatitis B
* Occlusive main trunk portal vein thrombosis or absence of intrahepatic portal blood flow if patient carries a portocaval shunt.
* Prior malignancy active within the previous 3 years except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured.
* Any autoimmune disease that may require immunosuppressive therapy.
* Any severe organ disease
* Prior therapy with any drug specifically targeting T-cell costimulation or checkpoint pathways.
* Prior organ allograft or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
* Active bacterial or fungal infections within 7 days of study entry.
* Any condition requiring systemic treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study drug administration.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sirtex Medical

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Bristol-Myers Squibb

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Bruno Sangro, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Liver Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra

Locations

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Hospital Universitario de Cruces

Barakaldo, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Clinic

Barcelona, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre

Madrid, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañon

Madrid, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal

Madrid, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias

Oviedo, , Spain

Site Status

Clinica Universidad de Navarra

Pamplona, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario Donostia

San Sebastián, , Spain

Site Status

Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa

Zaragoza, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Sangro B, Salem R. Transarterial chemoembolization and radioembolization. Semin Liver Dis. 2014 Nov;34(4):435-43. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1394142. Epub 2014 Nov 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25369305 (View on PubMed)

Bolondi L, Burroughs A, Dufour JF, Galle PR, Mazzaferro V, Piscaglia F, Raoul JL, Sangro B. Heterogeneity of patients with intermediate (BCLC B) Hepatocellular Carcinoma: proposal for a subclassification to facilitate treatment decisions. Semin Liver Dis. 2012 Nov;32(4):348-59. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329906. Epub 2013 Feb 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23397536 (View on PubMed)

Sangro B, Carpanese L, Cianni R, Golfieri R, Gasparini D, Ezziddin S, Paprottka PM, Fiore F, Van Buskirk M, Bilbao JI, Ettorre GM, Salvatori R, Giampalma E, Geatti O, Wilhelm K, Hoffmann RT, Izzo F, Inarrairaegui M, Maini CL, Urigo C, Cappelli A, Vit A, Ahmadzadehfar H, Jakobs TF, Lastoria S; European Network on Radioembolization with Yttrium-90 Resin Microspheres (ENRY). Survival after yttrium-90 resin microsphere radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma across Barcelona clinic liver cancer stages: a European evaluation. Hepatology. 2011 Sep 2;54(3):868-78. doi: 10.1002/hep.24451. Epub 2011 Jun 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21618574 (View on PubMed)

Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, Schwartz LH, Sargent D, Ford R, Dancey J, Arbuck S, Gwyther S, Mooney M, Rubinstein L, Shankar L, Dodd L, Kaplan R, Lacombe D, Verweij J. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Eur J Cancer. 2009 Jan;45(2):228-47. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2008.10.026.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19097774 (View on PubMed)

Gil-Alzugaray B, Chopitea A, Inarrairaegui M, Bilbao JI, Rodriguez-Fraile M, Rodriguez J, Benito A, Dominguez I, D'Avola D, Herrero JI, Quiroga J, Prieto J, Sangro B. Prognostic factors and prevention of radioembolization-induced liver disease. Hepatology. 2013 Mar;57(3):1078-87. doi: 10.1002/hep.26191. Epub 2013 Feb 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23225191 (View on PubMed)

El-Khoueiry AB, Sangro B, Yau T, Crocenzi TS, Kudo M, Hsu C, Kim TY, Choo SP, Trojan J, Welling TH Rd, Meyer T, Kang YK, Yeo W, Chopra A, Anderson J, Dela Cruz C, Lang L, Neely J, Tang H, Dastani HB, Melero I. Nivolumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 040): an open-label, non-comparative, phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion trial. Lancet. 2017 Jun 24;389(10088):2492-2502. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31046-2. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28434648 (View on PubMed)

De la Torre-Alaez M, Matilla A, Varela M, Inarrairaegui M, Reig M, Lledo JL, Arenas JI, Lorente S, Testillano M, Marquez L, Iserte G, Argemi J, Gomez-Martin C, Rodriguez-Fraile M, Bilbao JI, Pollock RF, Pohlmann J, Agirrezabal I, Sangro B. Health-related quality of life in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with SIRT and nivolumab: a sub-analysis of the NASIR-HCC trial. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2025 Apr 8;9(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s41687-025-00873-6.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40198533 (View on PubMed)

de la Torre-Alaez M, Matilla A, Varela M, Inarrairaegui M, Reig M, Lledo JL, Arenas JI, Lorente S, Testillano M, Marquez L, Da Fonseca L, Argemi J, Gomez-Martin C, Rodriguez-Fraile M, Bilbao JI, Sangro B. Nivolumab after selective internal radiation therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 2, single-arm study. J Immunother Cancer. 2022 Nov;10(11):e005457. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005457.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36450386 (View on PubMed)

Ezponda A, Rodriguez-Fraile M, Morales M, Vivas I, De La Torre M, Sangro B, Bilbao JI. Hepatic Flow Redistribution is Feasible in Patients with Hepatic Malignancies Undergoing Same-Day Work-Up Angiography and Yttrium-90 Microsphere Radioembolization. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2020 Jul;43(7):987-995. doi: 10.1007/s00270-019-02371-x. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 31848672 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NASIR-HCC/CA209-992

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id