Immunotherapy With Non-Ablative Radiation in Previously Untreated Patients With Stage IV NSCLC

A Phase II Trial of Immunotherapy With Non-Ablative Radiation in Previously Untreated Patients With Stage IV NSCLC

The purpose of this study is to test if low dose radiation, which is routinely used in treating patients with lung cancer for symptom control, can improve the results from the standard treatment with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. In this study, only individuals who have NSCLC that is advanced (Stage IV), or has come back (recurred), will be able to participate.

This is a phase II open-label trial of pembrolizumab sequentially following upfront non-ablative focal therapy to up to five distinct metastatic subsites in de novo stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The primary goal of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy defined by time to progression or death with upfront non-ablative focal radiation (RT) to index lesions as a way of enhancing the anti-tumor immune response to pembrolizumab. Adult patients with metastatic NSCLC, with at least 2 measurable lesions and those Patients with metastatic NSCLC who are previously untreated are eligible for the study if they meet all inclusion criteria, and do not satisfy any exclusion criteria. Participants will receive standard of care immunotherapy of Pembrolizumab in addition to non-ablative radiation. The intervention is the low dose fractionation, 4Gy x 5, in the upfront treatment of de novo stage IV NSCLC in up to five distinct subsites of metastatic NSCLC.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
2. Histologically documented, metastatic NSCLC with no previous systemic therapy
3. At least 2 distinct measurable metastatic sites, which are 1 cm or larger; patients can have radiation to multiple measurable disease sites as clinically indicated, however, there must be at least 1 measurable non-radiated target lesion for response assessment.
4. Agreeable to provide archival tissue for correlative studies; if no archival tissue available may obtain an exemption by the study team.
5. Be at least 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
6. Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1.
7. Have a performance status of ≤1 ECOG Performance Scale.
8. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 2, all screening labs should be performed within 10 days of treatment initiation
9. Have one measurable lesion of at least 1 cm outside the planned radiation field (defined as not receiving direct beam from any of the treatment portals).
10. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
11. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception as outlined in Section - Contraception, for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.
12. Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception as outlined in Section- Contraception, starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. 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 treatment.
2. 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 trial treatment.
3. Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
4. Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
5. Has had prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy within 6 months prior to study Day 1.
6. Patient who have previously received radiation overlapping, as determined by the treating radiation oncologist, with the current planned radiation treatment fields are ineligible.
7. Patient's treated with whole brain radiation therapy are ineligible.
8. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
9. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases (with SRS and/or neurosurgery) may participate provided they are clinically stable and, have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases and also are off steroids 3 days prior to dosing with study medication.
10. Patients who have not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 2 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. *Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy. Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
11. Has history of autoimmune disorders, (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
12. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
13. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
14. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
15. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
16. Patients with prior history of chemoradiation for lung cancer
17. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
18. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
19. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.