A phase II trial of ipilimumab with and without nivolumab in patients with relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma
Trial Description
This study is looking at the effects of Ipilimumab when it is given alone or in
combination with Nivolumab to patients with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's
lymphoma (cHL).
The names of the study drugs involved in this study are:
- Ipilimumab
- Nivolumab
Eligibility Requirements
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients must have histologically determined classic Hodgkin lymphoma with
pathologic review at the participating institution.
- Participants must have measurable disease, defined as a lymph node or tumor mass
≥1.5 cm in at least one dimension by CT, PET/CT, or MR. Imaging must have been
completed no greater than 6 weeks prior to study enrollment. Measurable disease that
has previously been irradiated is permissible only if there has been evidence of
progression since the radiation.
- Patients must have progressed after two or more lines of systemic treatment,
including autologous stem cell transplantation, if eligible.
- Progression of disease or relapse following treatment with nivolumab or
pembrolizumab. Intervening treatments with between PD-1 mAb therapy and the trial
are permitted.
- Patients may have had a prior autologous stem cell transplant and may have been
treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells).
- Age ≥18 years.
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 (see Appendix A)
- Adequate hematologic and organ function as defined below:
- Absolute neutrophil count > 1.0x109/L unless due to marrow involvement by
lymphoma in which case ANC must be >0.75x109/L. Growth factor support is
allowed provided it is received at least 5 days prior to enrollment labs.
- Platelets > 75 x109/L, unless due to marrow involvement by lymphoma, in which
case platelets must be >50 x109/L
- Estimated GFR (by Cockroft-Gault equation) > 40ml/min
- Total bilirubin < 1.5 X ULN
- AST/ALT < 2.5 X ULN
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent
document.
- Willingness to provide pre-treatment tumor sample by core needle or excisional
surgical biopsy. An archival sample is acceptable in the following situations: the
sample was acquired within 90 days of initiation of PD-1 therapy AND the following
provisions are met: 1) availability of a tumor-containing formalin fixed, paraffin
embedded (FFPE) tissue block, 2) if the tumor containing FFPE tissue block cannot be
provided in total, sections from this block should be provided that are freshly cut
and mounted on positively charged glass slides (SuperFrost Plus are recommended).
Preferably, 25 slides should be provided; if not possible, a minimum of 15 slides is
required. Exceptions to this criterion may be made with approval of the Study Chair.
- Willingness to use contraception during and after study treatment. Women of
child-baring potential (WOCBP) will be instructed to adhere to contraception for a
period of 5 months following last dose of nivolumab and 6 months following the last
dose of ipilimumab. Men receiving nivolumab and who are sexually active with WOCBP
will be instructed to adhere to contraception for a period of 7 months after last
dose of nivolumab and 6 months after the last dose of ipilimumab.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients currently receiving anticancer therapies or who have received anticancer
therapies within 28 days of the start of study drug (including chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, antibody-based therapy, etc.), or 56 days for radioimmunotherapy.
Steroids for symptom palliation are allowed but must be either discontinued or on
stable doses of < 10mg daily of prednisone (or the equivalent) at the time of
initiation of protocol therapy.
- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents or have received
investigational agents within 4 weeks (or 3 half-lives, whichever is longer) of
beginning treatment.
- History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to monoclonal antibody therapy
unless in consultation with an allergy specialist they are deemed eligible for
retreatment with desensitization.
- Patients who have undergone prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation
- Patients with a history of or active autoimmune disease (except controlled asthma,
Hashimoto thyroiditis, atopic dermatitis, or vitiligo), or requiring systemic
corticosteroids at a dose of 10mg prednisone equivalent daily. Patients with a
history of autoimmune disease who never required corticosteroids and with no
evidence of disease activity, and in whom the risk of reactivation is felt not to be
serious, may be enrolled after discussion with the overall study chair. Exceptions
to this are patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative
colitis and Crohn's disease). These patients are excluded regardless of whether
their disease is active or inactive.
- Patients who experienced grade 4 immune-related adverse events (irAEs) during
treatment with a PD-1 mAb.
- Patients with active pneumonitis or colitis, or patients with cirrhosis.
- Patients, who have had a major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4
weeks of start of study drug, patients who have not recovered from the side effects
of any major surgery (defined as requiring general anesthesia).
- Patients with known HIV infection or hepatitis B or C infection. Testing for HIV is
optional. Testing for hepatitis B and C is mandatory. Patients with hepatitis B core
Ab positivity but negative surface antigen and negative viral load may be enrolled
if they can be treated with a prophylactic agent (eg, entecavir); patients with
hepatitis C seropositivity who have a negative viral load can also be enrolled.
- Patients with a systemic fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection not controlled
(defined as exhibiting ongoing signs/symptoms related to the infection and without
improvement, despite appropriate antibiotics or other treatment).
- Prior history of another malignancy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ
cervical or breast cancer) unless disease free for at least 2 years. Patients with
prostate cancer are allowed if PSA is less than 1.
- Patients should not have received immunization with attenuated live vaccine within
one week of study entry or during study period.
- History of noncompliance to medical regimens.
- Patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other
conditions that could affect their participation in the study.
- Patients with any one of the following currently on or in the previous 6 months will
be excluded: myocardial infarction, congenital long QT syndrome, torsade de pointes,
left anterior hemiblock, unstable angina, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft,
or cerebrovascular accident.
- Other uncontrolled intercurrent illness that would limit adherence to study
requirements.