Study of Durvalumab and Tremelimumab as First-line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HIMALAYA)

Overview

About this study

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of durvalumab plus tremelimumab combination therapy and durvalumab monotherapy versus sorafenib in the treatment of patients with no prior systemic therapy for advanced HCC. The patients cannot be eligible for locoregional therapy.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years at the time of screening.
  • Body weight >30 kg.
  • Written informed consent and any locally required authorization (e.g., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in the US, European Union [EU] Data Privacy Directive in the EU) obtained from the patient/legal representative prior to performing any protocol-related procedures, including screening evaluations.
  • Confirmed HCC based on histopathological findings from tumor tissues.
  • Must not have received prior systemic therapy for HCC.
  • Must not be eligible for locoregional therapy for unresectable HCC. For patients who progressed after locoregional therapy for HCC, locoregional therapy must have been completed ≥28 days prior to the baseline scan for the current study.
  • Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B (that is not eligible for locoregional therapy) or stage C.
  • Child-Pugh Score class A.
  • ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 at enrollment.
  • Patients with HBV infection, characterized by positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBcAb) with detectable HBV DNA (≥10 IU/ml or above the limit of detection per local lab standard), must be treated with antiviral therapy, as per institutional practice, to ensure adequate viral suppression (HBV DNA ≤2000 IU/mL) prior to enrollment. Patients must remain on antiviral therapy for the study duration and for 6 months after the last dose of study medication. Patients who test positive for anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) with undetectable HBV DNA (<10 IU/ml or under the limit of detection per local lab standard) do not require anti-viral therapy prior to enrollment. These subjects will be tested at every cycle to monitor HBV DNA levels and initiate antiviral therapy if HBV DNA is detected (≥10 IU/ml or above the limit of detection per local lab standard). HBV DNA detectable subjects must initiate and remain on antiviral therapy for the study duration and for 6 months after the last dose of study medication.
  • Patients with HCV infection must have confirmed diagnosis of HCV characterized by the presence of detectable HCV RNA or anti-HCV antibody upon enrollment (management of this disease is per local institutional practice).
  • At least 1 measurable lesion, not previously irradiated, that can be accurately measured at baseline as ≥10 mm in the longest diameter (except lymph nodes, which must have a short axis ≥15 mm) with computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and that is suitable for accurate repeated measurements as per RECIST 1.1 guidelines. A lesion which progressed after previous ablation or TACE could be measurable if it meets these criteria.
  • Adequate organ and marrow function, as defined below. Criteria “a,” “b,” “c,” and “f” cannot be met with transfusions, infusions, or growth factor support administered within 14 days of starting the first dose:
    • Hemoglobin ≥ g/dL;
    • Absolute neutrophil count ≥000/μL;
    • Platelet count ≥5000/μL;
    • Total bilirubin (TBL) ≤.0× upper limit of normal (ULN);
    • AST and ALT ≤×ULN;
    • Albumin ≥.8 g/dL.
  • International normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.6.
    • Note: INR prolongation due to anticoagulants for prophylaxis (e.g., atrial fibrillation) in patients without liver cirrhosis could be exception.
  • Calculated creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/minute as determined by Cockcroft-Gault (using actual body weight) or 24-hour urine creatinine clearance.
  • Evidence of post-menopausal status or negative urinary or serum pregnancy test for female pre-menopausal patients. Women will be considered post-menopausal as described in Section 3.8.
  • Must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:

 

  • Involvement in the planning and/or conduct of the study (applies to both AstraZeneca staff and/or staff at the study site).
  • Previous study drug(s) assignment in the present study.
  • Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study, unless it is an observational (non-interventional) clinical study or during the follow-up period of an interventional study.
  • Have received an investigational product within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug(s).
  • Any unresolved toxicity National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) Grade ≥2 from previous anticancer therapy with the exception of alopecia, vitiligo, and the laboratory values defined in the inclusion criteria:
    • Patients with Grade ≥2 neuropathy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the Study Physician;
    • Patients with irreversible toxicity not reasonably expected to be exacerbated by treatment with durvalumab or tremelimumab may be included only after consultation with the Study Physician.
  • Any concurrent chemotherapy, study drug, or biologic or hormonal therapy for cancer treatment. Concurrent use of hormonal therapy for non-cancer-related conditions (e.g., hormone replacement therapy) is acceptable.
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or any of the study drug excipients.
  • Radiotherapy treatment to more than 30% of the bone marrow or with a wide field of radiation within 28 days of the first dose of study drug(s).
  • Major surgical procedure (as defined by the Investigator) within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug(s).
    • Note: Local surgery of isolated lesions for palliative intent is acceptable.
  • History of allogeneic organ transplantation (eg, liver transplant).
  • History of hepatic encephalopathy within past 12 months or requirement for medications to prevent or control encephalopathy (e.g., no lactulose, rifaximin, etc. if used for purposes of hepatic encephalopathy).
  • Clinically meaningful ascites, defined as any ascites requiring non-pharmacologic intervention (e.g., paracentesis) to maintain symptomatic control, within 6 months prior to the first scheduled dose. Subjects on stable doses of diuretics for ascites for ≥ 2 months are eligible.
  • Patients with main portal vein thrombosis (i.e., thrombosis in the main trunk of the portal vein, with or without blood flow) on baseline imaging.
  • Active or prior documented GI bleeding (e.g., esophageal varices or ulcer bleeding) within 12 months.
    • Note: For patients with a history of GI bleeding for more than 12 months or assessed as high risk for esophageal variceal by the Investigator, adequate endoscopic therapy according to institutional standards is required.
  • Patient currently exhibits symptomatic or uncontrolled hypertension defined as diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg or systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg.
  • Any condition interfering with swallowing pills, uncontrolled diarrhea, or other contraindication to oral therapy.
  • Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (including inflammatory bowel disease [e.g., colitis or Crohn's disease], diverticulitis [with the exception of diverticulosis], systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis syndrome, or Wegener syndrome [granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis, etc.]). Patients without active disease in the last 5 years are excluded unless discussed with the Study Physician and considered appropriate for study participation. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
    • Patients with vitiligo or alopecia;
    • Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g., following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement;
    • Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy;
    • Patients with celiac disease controlled by diet alone.
  • Patients co-infected with HBV and HCV, or co-infected with HBV and hepatitis D virus (HDV). HBV positive (presence of HBsAg and/or anti-HBcAb with detectable HBV DNA); HCV positive (presence of anti-HCV antibodies); HDV positive (presence of anti-HDV antibodies).
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, ILD, serious chronic GI conditions associated with diarrhea, inferior vena cava thrombosis, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirement, substantially increase the risk of incurring AEs, or compromise the ability of the patient to give written informed consent.
  • History of another primary malignancy except for:
    • Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease ≥ 5 years before the first dose of study drug(s) and of low potential risk for recurrence;
    • Patients with a history of prostate cancer of stage ≤ T2cN0M0 without biochemical recurrence or progression and who in the opinion of the Investigator are not deemed to require active intervention;
    • Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease;
    • Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease.
  • History of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
  • History of, or current, brain metastases or spinal cord compression. Patients with suspected brain metastases at screening should have an MRI (preferred) or CT, each preferably with IV contrast of the brain prior to study entry.
  • Known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC.
  • History of active primary immunodeficiency.
  • Active infection including tuberculosis (TB) (clinical evaluation that includes clinical history, physical examination and radiographic findings, and TB testing in line with local practice), or human immunodeficiency virus (positive human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] 1/2 antibodies).
  • Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of study drug(s). The following are exceptions to this criterion:
    • Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (e.g., intra-articular injection);
    • Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent;
    • Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication).
  • Receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug(s).
    • Note: Patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine while receiving study drug(s) and up to 30 days after the last dose of study drug(s).
  • Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or male or female patients of reproductive potential who are not willing to employ effective birth control from screening to 90 days after the last dose of durvalumab monotherapy or 180 days after the last dose of durvalumab plus tremelimumab combination therapy. Not engaging in sexual activity, as per the patient’s preferred and usual lifestyle, for the total duration of the treatment and washout periods is an acceptable practice.
  • Prior randomization or treatment in a previous durvalumab and/or tremelimumab clinical study regardless of treatment arm assignment.
  • Patients who have received anti-PD-1, anti PD-L1, or anti CTLA-4 prior to the first dose of study drug(s).

 

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status Contact

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Zhaohui Jin, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

(855) 776-0015

Jacksonville, Fla.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Hani Babiker, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

(855) 776-0015

Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Mitesh Borad, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

(855) 776-0015

More information

Publications

Publications are currently not available

Additional contact information

Cancer-related trials contact form

Phone: 855-776-0015 (toll-free)

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