Dinutuximab With Chemotherapy, Surgery and Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Children With Newly Diagnosed High Risk Neuroblastoma

A Phase 3 Study of Dinutuximab Added to Intensive Multimodal Therapy for Children With Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Neuroblastoma

This phase III trial tests how well the addition of dinutuximab to Induction chemotherapy along with standard of care surgical resection of the primary tumor, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy works for treating children with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma. Dinutuximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to a molecule called GD2, which is found on the surface of neuroblastoma cells, but is not present on many healthy or normal cells in the body. When dinutuximab binds to the neuroblastoma cells, it helps signal the immune system to kill the tumor cells. This helps the cells of the immune system kill the cancer cells, this is a type of immunotherapy. When chemotherapy and immunotherapy are given together, during the same treatment cycle, it is called chemoimmunotherapy. This clinical trial randomly assigns patients to receive either standard chemotherapy and surgery or chemoimmunotherapy (chemotherapy plus dinutuximab) and surgery during Induction therapy. Chemotherapy drugs administered during Induction include, cyclophosphamide, topotecan, cisplatin, etoposide, vincristine, and doxorubicin. These drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing or by stopping them from spreading. Upon completion of 5 cycles of Induction therapy, a disease evaluation is completed to determine how well the treatment worked. If the tumor responds to therapy, patients receive a tandem transplantation with stem cell rescue. If the tumor has little improvement or worsens, patients receive chemoimmunotherapy on Extended Induction. During Extended Induction, dinutuximab is given with irinotecan, temozolomide. Patients with a good response to therapy move on to Consolidation therapy, when very high doses of chemotherapy are given at two separate points to kill any remaining cancer cells. Following, transplant, radiation therapy is given to the site where the cancer originated (primary site) and to any other areas that are still active at the end of Induction. The final stage of therapy is Post-Consolidation. During Post-Consolidation, dinutuximab is given with isotretinoin, with the goal of maintaining the response achieved with the previous therapy. Adding dinutuximab to Induction chemotherapy along with standard of care surgical resection of the primary tumor, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy may be better at treating children with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine if the event-free survival (EFS) of patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma assigned to early chemoimmunotherapy during Induction differs from that of patients who are not assigned to treatment that includes early chemoimmunotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine if early chemoimmunotherapy during Induction therapy improves end of Induction (EOI) response rates and overall survival (OS) for patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma.

II. To determine response rates, EFS, and OS following an Extended Induction regimen with chemoimmunotherapy in patients with progressive disease or a poor response to Induction therapy.

III. To compare the toxicities experienced by patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy during Induction versus those experienced by patients treated with standard Induction and to describe toxicities experienced during Extended Induction.

IV. To determine GD2 expression on tumor tissue and tumor cells in bone marrow and assess for associations with response and outcome.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To describe the association between tumor and host factors and outcomes in patients receiving protocol therapy.

II. To evaluate circulating biomarkers and markers of minimal residual disease at baseline and during therapy, and assess for associations with response and outcome.

III. To compare patterns of failure between patients treated with and without dinutuximab during induction.

IV. To determine the effect of telomere maintenance mechanisms on end of Induction response rates, EFS, and OS.

V. To explore the impact of high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNBL) and its therapy, including the addition of dinutuximab to Induction chemotherapy, on functional and quality of life outcomes in patients with HRNBL, as measured by caregiver (parent/legal guardian) and patient questionnaires.

VI. To describe the adequacy of diagnostic biopsy specimens, including those obtained by percutaneous core needle biopsy.

VII. To explore the associations between family-reported adverse social determinants of health and both clinical outcomes and biology.

VIII. To develop and validate deep learning predictors of Induction response based on diagnostic MIBG scans. (Imaging Objective) IX. To compare institutional versus central determination of overall response, individual response components (primary tumor, soft tissue and bone metastatic disease, and bone marrow metastatic disease), and poor end of induction response (PEIR) and good end of induction response (GEIR) determination. (Imaging Objective) X. To describe late toxicities (including impaired organ function, neuropsychiatric toxicity, and incidence of secondary malignancy) in patients treated with dinutuximab during Induction or Extended Induction to late toxicities in patients who have not received dinutuximab during these phases of therapy.

XI. To evaluate whether reduced dose radiotherapy to the primary site clinical target volume (CTV) in patients with complete response of the primary site at EOI results in comparable local control relative to historical cohorts.

XII. To compare post-transplant complications between treatment arms, and assess for associations with outcome.

XIII. To assess for associations between EOI response (including good end of Induction response [GEIR] and poor end of Induction response [PEIR]) and individual response components (primary tumor, soft tissue and bone metastatic disease, and bone marrow metastatic disease) with outcome (EFS and OS).

XIV. To describe and compare the changes in image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) between patients treated with and without dinutuximab during Induction and associate with surgical outcomes and local failure rates following primary tumor resection.

XV. To bank serial samples of blood, bone marrow, and tumor tissue for future research.

OUTLINE: Patients receive Induction cycle 1 and are then randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

INDUCTION CYCLE 1: Patients receive cyclophosphamide intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes and topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

ARM A:

INDUCTION CYCLES 2-5: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30 minutes and topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5 of cycle 2 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo stem cell harvest via apheresis. Patients then receive cisplatin IV over 4 hours and etoposide IV over 2 hours on days 1-3 of cycles 3 and 5, and vincristine IV on day 1, doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes, and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on days 1-2 of cycle 4 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo primary tumor resection after Induction cycle 4 or 5. Following Induction cycle 5, patients undergo testing to determine response to Induction therapy. Patients with a good tumor response proceed to Consolidation, while patients with a poor tumor response proceed to Extended Induction.

EXTENDED INDUCTION: Patients with a poor tumor response or progression during Induction receive temozolomide orally (PO), via nasogastric tube (NG), or via gastric tube (G-tube) on days 1-5, irinotecan IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5, and dinutuximab IV over 10 hours. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to a maximum of 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. If at any time during Extended Induction testing shows a good tumor response, patients proceed to Consolidation. If after 6 cycles of Extended Induction or if at any time progression is noted, patients are removed from the study.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients undergo two autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs) during Consolidation. Patients receive thiotepa IV over 2 hours on days -7 to -5 and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on days -5 to -2 during HSCT 1. Patients then receive stem cell infusion IV on day 0. Between 6 and 10 weeks after stem cell infusion, patients receive melphalan IV over 30 minutes on days -7 to -5, etoposide IV over 24 hours on days -7 to -4, and carboplatin over 24 hours on days -7 to -4 during HSCT 2. Patients receive stem cell infusion IV on day 0. Between day +42 and day +80 after HSCT 2. Patients receive radiation daily for 12 treatments in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

POST CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive dinutuximab IV over 10 hours on days 4-7 and isotretinoin PO twice daily (BID) on days 11-24 of cycles 1-5. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive isotretinoin PO BID on days 15-28 for 1 additional cycle, cycle 6.

Patients undergo blood and urine sample collection, echocardiogram (ECHO) or multigated acquisition scan (MUGA), bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), iodine-123 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) scan and possible fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan throughout the study.

ARM B:

INDUCTION CYCLES 2-5: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30 minutes, topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5, and dinutuximab IV over 10 hours on days 2-5 of cycle 2 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo stem cell harvest via apheresis. Patients receive cisplatin IV over 4 hours and etoposide IV over 2 hours on days 1-3 and dinutuximab IV over 10 hours on days 2-5 of cycles 3 and 5, and vincristine IV on day 1, doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes, and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on days 1-2, and dinutuximab IV over 10 hours on days 2-5 of cycle 4 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo primary tumor resection after Induction cycle 4 or 5. Following Induction cycle 5, patients undergo testing to determine response to Induction therapy. Patients with a good tumor response proceed to Consolidation, while patients with a poor tumor response proceed to Extended Induction.

EXTENDED INDUCTION: Patients with a poor tumor response or progression during Induction receive temozolomide PO, via NG tube, or via G-tube on days 1-5, irinotecan IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5, and dinutuximab IV over 10 hours. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to a maximum of 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. If at any time during Extended Induction testing shows a good tumor response, patients proceed to Consolidation. If after 6 cycles of Extended Induction or if at any time progression is noted, patients are removed from the study.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients undergo two autologous HSCTs during Consolidation. Patients receive thiotepa IV over 2 hours on days -7 to -5 and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on days -5 to -2 during HSCT 1. Patients then receive stem cell infusion IV on day 0. Between 6 and 10 weeks after stem cell infusion patients receive melphalan IV over 30 minutes on days -7 to -5, etoposide IV over 24 hours on days -7 to -4, and carboplatin over 24 hours on days -7 to -4 during HSCT 2. Patients receive stem cell infusion IV on day 0. Between day +42 and day +80 after HSCT 2, patients receive radiation daily for 12 treatments in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

POST CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive dinutuximab IV over 10 hours on days 4-7 and isotretinoin PO BID on days 11-24 of cycles 1-5. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive isotretinoin PO BID on days 15-28 for 1 additional cycle, cycle 6.

Patients undergo blood and urine sample collection, ECHO or MUGA, bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy, CT scan, MRI, I-MIBG scan and possible FDG-PET scan throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3, 6, 9,12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, and 60 months and then periodically for up to 10 years from enrollment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must be enrolled on APEC14B1 and have consented to testing through the Molecular Characterization Initiative (MCI), prior to enrollment on ANBL2131

• ≤ 30 years at the time of initial diagnosis with high-risk disease

• * Must have a diagnosis of neuroblastoma (NBL) or ganglioneuroblastoma (nodular) verified by tumor pathology analysis or demonstration of clumps of tumor cells in bone marrow with elevated urinary catecholamines

  • Newly diagnosed, high risk neuroblastoma (HRNBL) defined as one of the following:

    • Any age with International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Stage L2, MS, or M and MYCN amplification
    • Age ≥ 547 days and INRG stage M regardless of biologic features (clinical MYCN testing not required prior to enrollment)
    • Any age initially diagnosed with INRG Stage L1 MYCN amplified NBL who have progressed to stage M without systemic chemotherapy
    • Age ≥ 547 days of age initially diagnosed with INRG Stage L1, L2, or MS who have progressed to stage M without systemic chemotherapy (clinical MYCN testing not required prior to enrollment)

• Patients must have a body surface area (BSA) ≥ 0.25 m^2

• No prior anti-cancer therapy except as outlined below:

  • Patients initially recognized to have high-risk disease treated with topotecan/cyclophosphamide initiated on an emergent basis and within allowed timing, and with consent
  • Patients observed or treated with a single cycle of chemotherapy per a low or intermediate risk neuroblastoma regimen (e.g., as per ANBL0531, ANBL1232 or similar) for what initially appeared to be non-high-risk disease but subsequently found to meet the criteria
  • Patients who received localized emergency radiation to sites of life threatening or function-threatening disease prior to or immediately after establishment of the definitive diagnosis

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial

• A serum creatinine based on age/sex as follows:

  • 1 month to < 6 months: Male 0.4 mg/dL and female 0.4mg/dL

  • 6 months to < 1 year: Male 0.5 mg/dL and female 0.5 mg/dL

  • 1 to < 2 years: Male 0.6 mg/dL and female 0.6 mg/dL

  • 2 to < 6 years: Male 0.8 mg/dL and female 0.8 mg/dL

  • 6 to < 10 years: Male 1 mg/dL and female 1 mg/dL

  • 10 to < 13 years: Male 1.2 mg/dL and female 1.2 mg/dL

  • 13 to < 16 years: Male 1.5 mg/dL and female 1.4 mg/dL

  • ≥ 16 years: Male 1.7 mg/dL and female 1.4 mg/dL

    • The threshold creatinine values were derived from the Schwartz formula for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) utilizing child length and stature data published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

  • or a 24-hour urine creatinine clearance ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m^2 or

  • or a GFR ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m^2. GFR must be performed using direct measurement with a nuclear blood sampling method or direct small molecule clearance method (iothalamate or other molecule per institutional standard)

    • Note: Estimated GFR (eGFR) from serum creatinine, cystatin C or other estimates are not acceptable for determining eligibility

• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age

• Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (Alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) ≤ 10 x ULN*

  • Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L

• * Shortening fraction of ≥ 27% by echocardiogram, or

  • Ejection fraction of ≥ 50% by echocardiogram or radionuclide angiogram

• Ability to tolerate Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) collection:

No known contraindication to PBSC collection. Examples of contraindications might be a weight or size less than the collecting institution finds feasible, or a physical condition that would limit the ability of the child to undergo apheresis catheter placement (if necessary) and/or the apheresis procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are 365-546 days of age with INRG Stage M and MYCN non-amplified NBL, irrespective of additional biologic features
• Patients ≥ 547 days of age with INRG Stage L2, MYCN non-amplified NBL, regardless of additional biologic features
• Patients with known bone marrow failure syndromes
• Patients on chronic immunosuppressive medications (e.g., tacrolimus, cyclosporine, corticosteroids) for reasons other than prevention/treatment of allergic reactions and adrenal replacement therapy are not eligible. Topical and inhaled corticosteroids are acceptable
• Patients with a primary immunodeficiency syndrome who require ongoing immune globulin replacement therapy
• Female patients who are pregnant since fetal toxicities and teratogenic effects have been noted for several of the study drugs. A pregnancy test is required prior to enrollment for female patients of childbearing potential
• Lactating females who plan to breastfeed their infants
• Sexually active patients of reproductive potential who have not agreed to use an effective contraceptive method for the duration of their study participation
• All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent
• All institutional, food and drug administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met