Naltrexone and Propranolol Combined With Immunotherapy

Last updated: November 14, 2023
Sponsor: Ryan Stephenson
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1

Condition

Metastatic Melanoma

Melanoma

Treatment

Naltrexone

Propranolol

Clinical Study ID

NCT05968690
092302
Pro2023001214
NCI-2023-06872
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Various forms of stress can promote cancer development and growth and negatively impact the immune system's response to tumors. Beta-adrenergic and opioid receptors co-exist in many cells including immune cells and are integral components of the body's response to stress. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that dual blockade of these receptors can decrease tumor growth and modulate the anti-tumor immune response. This clinical trial investigates the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of combining a beta-adrenergic blocker (propranolol) and an opioid receptor antagonist (naltrexone) with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced melanoma.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age of 18 years or older and able to understand and sign the informed consent form.
  • Histologically confirmed diagnosis of unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma.
  • Candidate for standard of care therapy with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg + nivolumab 1 mg/kg.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
  • Treatment-naïve or has received any number of prior lines of therapy. Prior targetedtherapy is allowed, but small molecule inhibitors must be discontinued within twoweeks before starting the study.
  • Life expectancy of at least 6 months.
  • Presence of at least one accessible site of disease to provide an on-study biopsy fortumor tissue. The biopsy may be waived after discussion with the PrincipalInvestigator (PI) if it is deemed unfeasible. The site may be a target lesion as longas it will not be rendered unmeasurable by the biopsy procedure.
  • Willingness to undergo tumor biopsy (if archival tumor is not available) prior toinitiation of therapy and while on the study.
  • Willingness to provide an archival specimen block, if available, for researchpurposes.
  • Normal organ function, defined as:
  1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1500/mcL
  2. Platelets >100,000/mcL
  3. Hemoglobin (Hb) >9 g/dL
  4. Albumin >2.5 mg/dL
  5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <2.5 timesthe upper limit of normal (ULN)
  6. Serum total bilirubin <1.5 times ULN or direct bilirubin < ULN for subjects withtotal bilirubin levels >1.5 times ULN.
  • Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancytest within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication.
  • Female participants of childbearing potential should be willing to use a highlyeffective form of contraception (hormonal or intrauterine device) along with a condomin their male partner, or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activityfor a period of at least six months after the last dose of study medication.
  • Male participants should agree to use an adequate method of contraception startingwith the first dose of study therapy through at least six months after the last doseof study drug.
  • Participants must have at least one measurable lesion at baseline by computedtomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as per Response EvaluationCriteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 criteria. Tumor sites situated in a previouslyirradiated area or in an area subjected to other loco-regional therapy are notconsidered measurable unless there has been demonstrated progression in the lesion.
  • Prior focal radiotherapy is allowed.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of untreated brain metastases, unless discussed with the PrincipalInvestigator (PI) and meet specific criteria for inclusion (treatment-naïve patientswith brain metastases <10 mm, asymptomatic, without significant edema, hemorrhage,shift, or requirement for steroids or anti-seizure medications, and not in eloquentareas). These patients may potentially forego initial local treatment of the brainmetastases and have them reassessed after consultation with the Neurosurgery andRadiation Oncology teams.
  • Use of corticosteroids to control immune-related adverse events at enrollment.Participants who previously required corticosteroids for symptom control must be offsteroids for at least two weeks. Low-dose steroid use (=10 mg of prednisone orequivalent) as corticosteroid replacement therapy for primary or secondary adrenalinsufficiency is allowed.
  • Failure to recover (i.e., Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to priortreatment.
  • History of grade 3-4 neurologic or cardiac toxicity or life-threatening liver toxicitypoorly responsive to steroids with prior anti-PD-1 therapy.
  • Presence of leptomeningeal disease.
  • Active autoimmune disease unrelated to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors thathas required systemic treatment in the past year (e.g., use of disease-modifyingagents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g.,thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal orpituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Contraindications to the use of propranolol, including:
  1. Cardiogenic shock.
  2. Sinus bradycardia greater than first-degree block.
  3. Severe bronchial asthma.
  4. Known hypersensitivity to propranolol.
  5. Requirement for current use of an alternative beta-blocker.
  6. Uncontrolled diabetes.
  7. Uncontrolled depression.
  8. Unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 3 months of Day 1 Cycle 1.
  • For enrollment into Cohort 2-4 ONLY: Contraindications to the use of naltrexone,including:
  1. Participants currently receiving opioid analgesics or anticipated to requireopioid analgesics in the near future.
  2. Participants currently dependent on opioids, including those currently maintainedon opiate agonists (e.g., methadone) or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine).
  3. Participants in acute opioid withdrawal.
  4. Individuals with a history of sensitivity to naltrexone.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If a woman becomes pregnant or suspects she is pregnantwhile participating in this study, she should inform her treating physicianimmediately. Breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is enrolled in thistrial due to the potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants.
  • Receipt of any other investigational agents or participation in a study of aninvestigational agent or use of an investigational device within four weeks of thefirst dose of treatment.
  • Concurrent condition (including medical illness, active infection requiring treatmentwith intravenous antibiotics, or presence of laboratory abnormalities) or history of aprior condition that places the patient at unacceptable risk if treated with the studydrug or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study.
  • Concurrent, active malignancies in addition to those being studied, except forcutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.
  • Active (non-infectious) pneumonitis.
  • Hepatitis B (HBV) or Hepatitis C (HCV) acute or chronic infection.
  • Receipt of a live vaccine

Study Design

Total Participants: 12
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Naltrexone
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
September 11, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
September 30, 2025

Study Description

This is an open-label, single institution, phase I clinical trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of dose-escalated naltrexone (NTX) in combination with propranolol (PRO), ipilimumab (IPI), and nivolumab (NIVO) in patients with advanced melanoma.

Connect with a study center

  • Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

    New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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