Study of Avelumab and/or Radiation Therapy in People With Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Study Purpose

This study will test the use of comprehensive ablative radiation therapy (CART), with the immunotherapy drug avelumab, in people with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) that has progressed after treatment and cannot be removed with surgery. The study researchers want to find out if CART works well when combined with avelumab.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Biopsy proven Merkel cell carcinoma which is unresectable or metastatic, stage III or IV.
  • - Prior first-line treatment with aPD1 monotherapy (defined as at least one dose of pembrolizumab, avelumab, nivolumab, etc.) with evidence of progression of disease ≥10 weeks after starting therapy, in the absence of significant clinical deterioration.
  • - Patients with clinical deterioration during aPD1 monotherapy are eligible ≥6 weeks after starting aPD1 therapy.
  • - Criteria for clinical deterioration to be determined and agreed upon by treating physician and Principal Investigator.
  • - All detectable sites of MCC are amenable to comprehensive ablative radiation therapy in opinion of treating radiation oncologist and principal investigator.
  • - ≥18 years of age.
  • - Performance status ≤2 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Scale.
  • - Able to provide valid written informed consent.
  • - Normal organ and marrow function.
  • - Hematologic: Lymphocyte count ≥800/mm^3, neutrophil count ≥1500/mm^3, platelet count ≥75,000/mm^3, leukocyte count ≥3000/mm^3, hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL.
  • - Hepatic: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, unless Gilbert's syndrome; aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (in the absence of hepatobiliary metastases); ≤ 3.0 times the upper limit of normal (in the presence of hepatobiliary metastases) - Renal: Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Prior systemic therapy for MCC other than first-line aPD1 monotherapy (ie, chemotherapy) - Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • - Adverse events due to prior cancer therapy which are grade 3 or higher and have not resolved.
°Patients with prior grade 3 or higher immune related adverse events are not eligible, even if they have resolved.
  • - Prior severe hypersensitivity reaction (CTCAE version 5.0 grade ≥3) to avelumab.
  • - Prior radiotherapy which precludes the ability to safely deliver comprehensive ablative radiation therapy in the opinion of the treating radiation oncologist and principal investigator.
°Institutional guidelines for reirradiation will be used when making this determination.
  • - Known central nervous system metastases.
  • - Known clinically significant cardiovascular disease, defined as: - Stroke or myocardial infarction within 6 months of first dose of avelumab.
  • - Symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class 2 or higher) - Serious arrhythmia requiring anti-arrhythmic agents.
  • - Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.
  • - Known Hepatitis B or C infection requiring ongoing treatment.
  • - Vaccination within 4 weeks of first dose of avelumab.
°Inactivated vaccines are permissible.
  • - Iatrogenic immunosuppression with daily systemic corticosteroid equivalent of >10 mg of prednisone.
  • - Active autoimmune disease that may cause clinical deterioration during immunotherapy.
°Including, but not limited to:
  • - Inflammatory bowel disease or immune colitis.
  • - Immune mediated pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis.
  • - History of solid organ or hematopoietic transplant.
  • - Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • - Active suicidal ideation or behavior.
  • - Comorbid or diagnostic abnormalities which would interfere with interpretation of study results.
- Known hematopoietic cancer or dysfunction (i.e., leukemia, lymphoma) - Known non-MCC solid tumor with known metastasis or estimated risk of metastasis >20% within 3 months

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT04792073
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 2
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Christoper Barker, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other, Industry
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Study Website: View Trial Website
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Avelumab and Radiation Therapy

Will receive avelumab at the FDA approved dose and schedule of 800 mg IV over 60 minutes every 2 weeks (+/- 3 days) until treatment intolerance or disease progression occurs or 2 years of study therapy have been administered; standard of care Avelumab therapy after 2 years is permitted. Comprehensive Ablative Radiation Therapy (CART) will be initiated between the first and second dose of Avelumab. Comprehensive ablative radiation therapy will be given according to guidelines.

Interventions

Drug: - Avelumab

Avelumab 800 mg given intravenously over 60 minutes every 2 weeks (+/- 3 days)

Radiation: - Comprehensive Ablative Radiation Therapy

Comprehensive ablative radiation therapy 24 Gy in 3 fractions every 2-3 days

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All Protocol Activities)

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

Middletown, New Jersey

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All Protocol Activities)

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

Montvale, New Jersey

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (All Protocol Activities)

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

Commack, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack (All Protocol Activities)

Commack, New York, 11725

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

Harrison, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities)

Harrison, New York, 10604

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

New York, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)

New York, New York, 10065

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

Uniondale, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (All Protocol Activities)

Uniondale, New York, 11553

Site Contact

Christopher Barker, MD

barkerc@mskcc.org

212-639-8168

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