Cemiplimab as Maintenance Treatment for Advanced Adrenocortical Cancer

Last updated: October 1, 2025
Sponsor: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Adrenal Cancer

Treatment

Cemiplimab

Clinical Study ID

NCT07085572
NP 6502
2024-520449-21-00
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This clinical trial is a single-arm, non-randomized, prospective phase II study.

The study aims to evaluate if the maintenance immunotherapy with cemiplimab in patients with AdrenoCortical Carcinoma (ACC), who obtained disease response or stabilization after first-line chemotherapy, may delay/prevent disease progression.

The study will be conducted at ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia - Italy.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Male and females >18 years of age;

  2. Patients with histologically confirmed ACC;

  3. Previous induction therapy with EDP-M followed by cytoreductive surgery ifindicated;

  4. No disease progression after first line 4-6 EDP-M cycles;

  5. An ECOG PS of 0, 1;

  6. Adequate organ and bone marrow function documented by:

  7. Hemoglobin >9.0 g/dL

  8. ANC >1.5 x 109/L

  9. Platelet count >75 x 109/L

  10. Serum creatinine <1.5 ULN or estimated CrCl >30 mL/min

  11. Adequate hepatic function:

  • Total bilirubin <1.5 x ULN;
  • AST and ALT both <3 x ULN;
  • ALP <2.5 x ULN; Note: For patients with Gilbert's syndrome, totalbilirubin ≤3x ULN. Gilbert's syndrome must be documented appropriately aspast medical history.
  1. Women of child-bearing potential (physiologically capable of becoming pregnant) thatmust agree to follow instructions for methods of contraception (including at leastone highly effective contraception method, see study protocol) for the duration oftreatment with study drug, and after discontinuation of treatment as long asmitotane plasma levels are detectable and, in any case, at least for 6 months posttreatment completion; must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 24hours prior to the start of study drug;

  2. Women must not be breastfeeding;

  3. Males that must agree to follow instructions for methods of contraception (see studyprotocol) for the duration of treatment with study drug, and then for a total of 6months post treatment completion. In addition, male patients must not donate spermfor the time period specified above;

  4. Willing and able to comply with clinic visits and study-related procedures;

  5. Willing and able to provide informed consent signed by study patient or legallyacceptable representative;

  6. Able to understand and complete study-related questionnaires.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of recent or active prior malignancy, except for cured non-melanoma skincancer, cured in situ cervical carcinoma, breast ductal carcinoma in situ, or othertreated malignancies where there has been no evidence of disease for at least 5years;

  2. Prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agentdirected to another co-inhibitory T-cell receptor;

  3. Administration of a live vaccine within 30 days of the first dose of studytreatment;

  4. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressivedrugs);

  5. Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or systemic steroid therapy (i.e., dosing exceeding 10mg of prednisone or equivalent). In case of mitotane treatment, a maximum steroidsupplementation of 75 mg of cortone acetate (or equivalent hydrocortisone dose) willbe accepted;

  6. Uncontrolled HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (see protocol for details);

  7. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or currentpneumonitis;

  8. Active infection requiring systemic therapy;

  9. Significant cardiovascular disease, such as: history of myocardial infarction, acutecoronary syndrome or coronary angioplasty / stenting / bypass grafting within thelast 6 months OR CHF NYHA Class II-IV or history of CHF NYHA Class III or IV;

  10. Pregnancy or breastfeeding;

  11. Continued sexual activity in women of childbearing potential (physiologicallycapable of becoming pregnant) or sexually active men who are unwilling to practicehighly effective contraception (including at least one highly effectivecontraception method, see study protocol) prior to the initial dose/start of thefirst treatment, during the study, and for at least 6 months after the last dose;

  12. History of active tuberculosis (TB, Bacillus Tuberculosis);

  13. Untreated brain metastasis that may be considered active.

  14. Known hypersensitivity or allergy to any of the excipients in the cemiplimab drugproduct.

  15. Patients with a history of solid organ transplant (exception: corneal transplant)

  16. Prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation, or autologous stem cell transplantation.

  17. ECOG PS ≥ 2

Study Design

Total Participants: 31
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Cemiplimab
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
September 18, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
July 31, 2028

Study Description

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy affecting around 0.7-2 persons per one million population per year.

The only pharmacological approach approved by FDA and EMA for the treatment of ACC is mitotane, which has an adrenolytic effect causing adrenocortical insufficiency. So, the drug should be administered in association with glucocorticoid replacement for the purpose only of restoring the daily cortisol requirement.

Few therapeutic alternatives are available for metastatic ACC patients failing one to two lines of systemic treatment, so immunotherapy could represent a potential new treatment. The immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most promising immunotherapy agents in cancer pharmacology and have been also investigated in ACC. Bases on results of some clinical studies, immunotherapy has achieved long-term control in a small proportion of patients with metastatic ACC. We need to identify the patient subset destined to benefit most from this therapy and at what point in the therapeutic sequence of adrenal carcinoma should immunotherapy be introduced. We also need to implement strategies to overcome the intrinsic immuno-resistance of ACC.

The current strategy in the management of advanced ACC is the administration of the EDP (etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin) scheme associated with mitotane followed by maintenance mitotane in patients not progressing on chemotherapy. Maintenance immunotherapy could be administered in combination with mitotane, enhancing its efficacy. In addition, the powerful adrenolytic effect of mitotane could keep cortisol production inhibited, facilitating the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Maintenance therapy with cemiplimab in ACC patients after first-line chemotherapy may result in enhanced antitumor activity while avoiding potential interactions, including cross-resistance and cumulative toxicity.

Connect with a study center

  • S.C. Oncologia - ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia

    Brescia 3181554, Brescia 25123
    Italy

    Active - Recruiting

  • S.C. Oncologia - ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia

    Brescia, 25123
    Italy

    Site Not Available

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