A phase II study of oral azacitidine (CC-486) in combination with pembrolizumab (PEMBRO) in patients with metastatic melanoma (MM).

Abstract

TPS9594 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have impressive response rates and improved survival for many pts with MM, offering durable responses in up to 35% of pts while others have short-lived or no response ( > 40%). A potentially targetable mechanism for immune escape is for cancers to subvert the cellular epigenetic machinery, affecting multiple aspects of the immune response from suppression of tumor antigen expression [such as Cancer Testis Antigens (CTA)] to antigen processing and presentation, thus allowing tumor proliferation to continue undetected. In preclinical models, decitabine (DAC), a DNA hypomethylating agent (HMA), has been able to revert heterogeneous CTA expression profiles, increasing cancer cell immunogenicity. HMAs also increased TH1-chemokine expression, T cell tumor infiltration, T cell-mediated tumor killing, and have been shown to be synergistic with checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models. This suggests that epigenetic therapy with checkpoint inhibition is a rational combination to target MM. Clinical advantages of the HMA CC-486 over DAC include oral bioavailability and potential versatility in dosing and schedule. We hypothesize that CC-486 + PEMBRO will be tolerated at biologically relevant doses; enhance response to PEMBRO in pts with mm who are PD-1 naïve; and reverse resistance to immunotherapy in pts refractory/resistant to PD-1 directed therapy. Methods: This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of CC-486 + PEMBRO defined by Objective Response Rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1 in pts with MM. Pts who are PD-1 naïve (Arm A, n = 36) and pts who have progressed on prior PD-1 directed therapy (Arm B, n = 35) will be enrolled. Unlimited prior systemic therapies will be allowed. Pts will receive 300mg PO of CC-486 on days 1-14 and 200mg IV of PEMBRO every 3 weeks. Continuous monitoring for toxicity and futility will be performed and assumes an ORR of > 35% and > 15% for Arms A and B, respectively (95% power). Tumor biopsies at baseline and post treatment are required. Effects of CC-486 + PEMBRO on CTAs, MDSCs and Tregs, and correlation between mutation burden and response will be studied. This study is open for enrollment. Clinical trial information: NCT02816021.