Bemcentinib (BGB324) in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With TNBC

• Bemcentinib; pembrolizumab (Drug), also known as BGB324; Keytruda: Bemcentinib is a selective Axl kinase inhibitor; pembrolizumab is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor.

Primary outcomes

• Objective Response Rate (ORR) [Until disease progression or death or withdrawal of consent whichever comes first, up to end of study (Up to 1 year)]: ORR is defined as the percentage of evaluable participants who had at least one confirmed overall response of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. CR: Disappearance of all target lesions (TLs) since baseline, any pathological lymph nodes selected as TLs must have a reduction in short axis to less than (<) 10 millimeter (mm). PR: At least a 30 percent decrease in the sum of the diameters of TLs, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters.

Secondary outcomes

• Duration of Response (DOR) [Until disease progression or death or withdrawal of consent whichever comes first, up to end of study (Up to 1 year)]: DOR is defined as the time from the date of first documented response until date of documented progression or death in the absence of disease progression (PD); the end of response should coincide with the date of progression or death from any cause. PD per modified RECIST 1.1 defined as: at least a 20 percent increase in the sum of diameters of TLs and an absolute increase of at least 5 mm, taking as reference the smallest sum on study (this includes the baseline sum if that is the smallest on study).
• Disease Control Rate (DCR) [Until disease progression or death or withdrawal of consent whichever comes first, up to end of study (Up to 1 year)]: DCR is defined as the percentage of participants with a confirmed CR, PR, or stable disease (SD). CR: Disappearance of all target lesions (TLs) since baseline, any pathological lymph nodes selected as TLs must have a reduction in short axis to < 10 mm. PR: At least a 30 percent decrease in the sum of the diameters of TLs, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters. SD per modified RECIST 1.1 defined as: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD.
• Progression-free Survival (PFS) [Until disease progression or death or withdrawal of consent whichever comes first, up to end of study (Up to 1 year)]: PFS was defined as the duration from start of treatment until the date of radiological disease progression (the date on which the confirmed progression was initially observed) or the date of death (regardless of cause of death), whichever was earlier.
• Overall Survival (OS) [Until disease progression or death or withdrawal of consent whichever comes first, up to end of study (Up to 1 year)]: OS was defined as the time from the first dose of study treatment until the date of death (from any cause and irrespective of any subsequent anti-cancer treatment given).

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provision of signed informed consent.
2. Male and non-pregnant females who are aged 18 years or older at the time of provision of informed consent.
3. Histopathologically or cytologically documented TNBC or TN-IBC. Tumors must have been confirmed negative for ER and partial response (PR) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) (<1% positive tumor nuclei, as per ASCO-CAP guideline recommendations) and negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) by IHC or fluorescent or chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH or CISH). Patients with equivocal HER2 results by IHC should have their negativity status confirmed by FISH.
4. Locally advanced and unresectable or metastatic TNBC or triple negative inflammatory breast cancer.
5. Received one or more prior therapies for TNBC or inflammatory breast cancer in the metastatic setting, and prior treatment (metastatic or (neo) adjuvant) must have included a prior taxane and/or anthracycline-based therapy.
6. Has measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1 on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as determined by the site study team. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
7. Provision of suitable tumor tissue for the analysis of Axl kinase expression and PD-L1 expression.
8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 0 or 1.
9. Life expectancy of at least 3 months.
10. Adequate organ function confirmed at Screening and within 10 days of initiating treatment, as evidenced by:

    * Platelet count ≥100,000 /mm3;
    * Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL (≥5.6 mmol/L);.
    * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1,500 /mm\^3;
    * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), or ≤5 times the ULN for patients with liver metastases;
    * Total bilirubin ≤1.5 times the ULN, or direct bilirubin <ULN for patients with total bilirubin levels >1.5xULN;
    * Creatinine ≤1.5 times the ULN and calculated creatinine clearance >60 mL/min (by Cockcroft Gault formula);
    * International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT) ≤1.5 times the ULN and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≤1.5 times the ULN. Note: If patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy, then PT or PTT must be within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants;
    * Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≤2.5 times the ULN.
11. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (either urine or serum pregnancy test) within 72 hours prior to the first dose of study treatment. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
12. Have resolution of toxic effect(s) of the most recent prior chemotherapy to Grade 1 or less (except alopecia). If the patient received major surgery or radiation therapy of >30 Gy, they must have recovered from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention.
13. Patients of reproductive potential must be willing to practice highly effective methods of contraception throughout the study and for 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle of the patient.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has disease that is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent.
2. More than 3 previous lines of therapy in the metastatic setting.
3. Has received prior therapy with an immunomodulatory agent.
4. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Note: Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
5. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
6. History of the following cardiac conditions:

   * Congestive cardiac failure of >Grade II severity according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA);
   * Ischemic cardiac event including myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to first dose;
   * Uncontrolled cardiac disease, including unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension (i.e. sustained systolic BP >160 mmHg or diastolic BP >90 mmHg), or need to change medication due to lack of disease control within 6 weeks prior to the provision of consent;
   * History or presence of sustained bradycardia (≤55 BPM), left bundle branch block, cardiac pacemaker or ventricular arrhythmia. Note: Patients with a supraventricular arrhythmia requiring medical treatment, but with a normal ventricular rate are eligible;
   * Family history of long QTc syndrome; personal history of long QTc syndrome or previous drug-induced QTc prolongation of at least Grade 3 (QTc >500 ms).
7. Abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction on echocardiography or Multi Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) (less than the lower limit of normal for a patient of that age at the treating institution or <45%, whichever is lower).
8. Current treatment with any agent known to cause Torsades de Pointes which cannot be discontinued at least five half-lives or two weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
9. Screening 12-lead ECG with a measurable QTc interval according to Fridericia's correction >450 ms.
10. Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of study treatment.
11. Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤Grade 1 or at baseline) from AEs due to a previously administered agent.
12. Received an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment or who has not recovered (i.e. ≤Grade 1 or baseline) from AEs due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
13. Major surgery within 28 days prior to start of study treatment and failure to have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to the first dose of study treatment.
14. Received transfusion of blood products (including platelets or red blood cells) or administration of colony stimulating factors (including granulocyte-colony stimulating factor \[G-CSF\], Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor \[GM-CSF\] or recombinant erythropoetin) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
15. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
16. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
17. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1/2 antibodies)
18. Has known active infection with Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (qualitative) is detected).
19. Has received a live-virus vaccination within 30 days of planned treatment start. Note: Seasonal flu vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted.
20. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
21. Has a history of interstitial lung disease.
22. Inability to swallow or tolerate oral medication.
23. Existing gastrointestinal disease affecting drug absorption such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease, or previous bowel resection which is considered to be clinically significant or could interfere with absorption.
24. Known lactose intolerance.
25. Requires vitamin K antagonists. Note: Patients receiving low doses prescribed to maintain the patency of venous access devices may be included. Factor Xa antagonists are permitted.
26. Treatment with any of the following: histamine receptor 2 inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors or antacids within 7 days of start of study treatment.
27. Treatment with any medication which is predominantly metabolized by CYP3A4 and has a narrow therapeutic index.
28. Known severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to bemcentinib, pembrolizumab, and/or any of their excipients.
29. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy (apart from cutaneous infections).
30. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the patient's participation and compliance in the trial, or means it is not in the best interests of the patient to participate.
31. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting from Screening through to 120 days after the last dose of study treatment.
32. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.

Participant flow

Outcome results

• Objective Response Rate (ORR) (Primary), Number, percentage of participants: Bemcentinib + Pembrolizumab 0
• Duration of Response (DOR) (Secondary)
• Disease Control Rate (DCR) (Secondary), Number, percentage of participants: Bemcentinib + Pembrolizumab 3.4
• Progression-free Survival (PFS) (Secondary), Median, Weeks: Bemcentinib + Pembrolizumab 13.1 (12.4 to 18.3)
• Overall Survival (OS) (Secondary), Median, Weeks: Bemcentinib + Pembrolizumab 32.0 (13.6 to 37.1)

Adverse events

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Serious adverse events by term

Other adverse events by term

61 more terms not shown.

Limitations and caveats: None of the participants achieved CR or PR. As there were no responses, the study was terminated. It was planned to terminate the trial in favor of the null hypothesis of futility when 5 or fewer responses were observed in 28 participants.

• Study Protocol (PDF, 2017-06-13)
• Statistical Analysis Plan (PDF, 2017-12-14)

NIH grants: 2016