Pembrolizumab in the Treatment of Advanced, Progressive Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Last updated: March 28, 2025
Sponsor: Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Adrenal Cancer

Carcinoma

Treatment

Pembrolizumab 25 MG/ML [Keytruda]

Clinical Study ID

NCT05563467
PEMBR-01
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This study is a national, multicenter, interventional, phase II clinical trial on the use of pembrolizumab in advanced adrenocortical carcinoma, with confirmed progression within 6 months, following EDP or EDP-M ( etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin- mitotan) chemotherapy.

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a very rare entity with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Only radical surgical treatment of the early stages gives a chance for complete cure, however the risk of recurrence still remains high.

The results of clinical trials conducted outside Poland indicate a possible potential role of immunotherapy as a rescue treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma after standard therapeutic methods have been exhausted.

This study will evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in locally advanced, non-operable or metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma after first line chemotherapy failure.

The study population will include adult patients (>18 years of age) with histopathologically confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma and confirmed progression according to RECIST 1.1 within 6 months, after first line chemotherapy with the EDP and EDP-M scheme. Patients must meet the inclusion criteria and must not meet the exclusion criteria described in the PEMBR-01 study protocol. The planned number of patients in the study is 24.

The treatment regimen will be based on Pembrolizumab administered intravenously in 3 weeks cycles at a dose of 200mg. For hormonally active tumors producing cortisol, it is hypothesized that the use of pembrolizumab in combination with effective steroidogenesis inhibition may enhance the effect of immunotherapy. In the study, metyrapone or ketoconazole will be used for this purpose.

The primary endpoint of the study will be the objective response rate to the treatment. The secondary endpoints will be progression-free survival, duration of response, overall survival, and treatment safety as well as the effect of therapy on patients' quality of life.

Concurrently, the analysis of biomarkers in tumor tissue will be carried out, including tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, expression of programmed death ligand, microsatellite instability and tumour mutation burden.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Signing the informed consent form to participate in the study

  2. Age over 18 years of age

  3. Histopathologically confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma

  4. The general condition of the patient was assessed according to the EasternCooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale <2

  5. Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1

  6. Confirmed progression according to RECIST 1.1 within the last 6 months in patients,who received at least one line chemotherapy according to the EDP or EDP-M

  7. Adequate function of the marrow and internal organs:

  8. hemoglobin ≥ 9g%, neutrophils> 1500 / mm3, platelets> 100 thousand / mm3

  9. bilirubin ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal (UNL), Alat, Aspat ≤ 3 x UNL (iflivermetastases are present ≤ 5 x UNL)

  10. creatinine clearance > 40 ml / min

  11. coagulation parameters: INR, PT, APTT <1.5 x UNL (exception: patientsundergoing anticoagulation therapy, where INR, PT, APTT remain within thetherapeutic range recommended for the patient)

  12. For women of reproductive age : confirmed negative pregnancy test result, and therequirement of dual barrier contraception

  13. For men of reproductive age: the requirement of dual barrier contraception

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pre-treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor

  2. Any cancer therapy within the last 7 days (including mitotane)

  3. Persistent side effects of previous anti-cancer therapy in the> G1 stage or aftersurgical treatment (exception: alopecia)

  4. Immunosuppressive therapy present or conducted within the last 4 weeks

  5. Glucocorticoid therapy in a dose higher than the replacement dose (subject to thepermitted use: inhaled or topical steroids, single administration of a steroid, e.g.in case of an allergic reaction to contrast, use of mineralocorticosteroids,steroids in the course of asthma or COPD)

  6. Previous allograft marrow or organ transplant

  7. Current or diagnosed in the last 2 years autoimmune disease with the exception ofvitiligo, psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, autoimmune disease of thethyroid gland

  8. Active or previously documented inflammatory disease of the large intestine

  9. Previous non-infectious pneumonia requiring steroid therapy

  10. Hepatitis B or C

  11. Active tuberculosis

  12. Current active infection requiring systemic treatment

  13. Symptomatic, untreated central nervous system (CNS) metastases (exception: patientswith asymptomatic CNS metastases with prior surgery or radiotherapy and no historyof intracranial bleeding)

  14. Circulatory failure NYHA ≥3

  15. Corrected QT interval> 500 ms

  16. Significant coexisting disease, including neoplastic, except for basal cellcarcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ: prostate, cervix, breast

  17. Other significant comorbid disease that, in the investigator's opinion, would poserisks to the patient during therapy

  18. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

  19. Patients requiring dialysis

  20. The patient's inability to meet the requirements specified in the study protocol

  21. Vaccination with live vaccine within 3 months before starting treatment

Study Design

Total Participants: 24
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Pembrolizumab 25 MG/ML [Keytruda]
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
January 31, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
May 31, 2027

Connect with a study center

  • Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology

    Gliwice, Śląskie 44-102
    Poland

    Active - Recruiting

  • Samodzielny Publiczny Zaklad Opieki Zdrowotnej Szpital Uniwersytecki W Krakowie

    Cracow,
    Poland

    Active - Recruiting

  • Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny W Poznaniu

    Poznań,
    Poland

    Active - Recruiting

  • Medical University Of Warsaw

    Warsaw,
    Poland

    Active - Recruiting

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