This is a phase I/II clinical trial of a single dose of CD40L-augmented TIL administered in patients with advanced melanoma (Cohort 1: Cutaneous acral melanoma, cutaneous non-acral melanoma, (n=26); Cohort 2: Mucosal melanoma, uveal melanoma, (n=10)). Patients will undergo an excision of a readily accessible tumor for preparation of TIL. Eligible patients with progressive disease after standard of care therapy will undergo lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine followed by CD40L-augmented TIL and standard of care bolus dose interleukin-2 (short-course IL-2).
Participants must have histologically confirmed, unresectable (Stage III/IV) or metastatic melanoma as follows: Cutaneous, non-acral, melanoma (including melanoma of unknown primary); Cutaneous acral melanoma; Mucosal melanoma; Ocular melanoma (including uveal, iris, conjunctival melanoma).
Participants must have failed, be refractory to, or unable to tolerate at least one line of standard of care in the opinion of the Investigator. For participants with cutaneous non-acral melanoma, standard of care therapy includes a PD-1/L1 or combination therapy with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 or combination therapy of anti-PD1 and anti-LAG3 or if BRAF V600 activating mutation positive, a BRAF ± MEK inhibitor. Participants are allowed to be enrolled in this trial if they failed one line of any of those standards of care therapy regimens.
Any systemic therapy, including anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies, must have been completed at least 4 weeks from the start of lymphodepleting therapy, and any prior therapy-related AEs must have resolved to Grade ≤ 1 except for alopecia and vitiligo.
Participants must be ages ≥18. Additionally, participants who are ≥ 65 years of age may need to undergo a cardiology evaluation including a cardiac stress test or coronary computed tomography after which they must be deemed to be low/acceptable risk. This cardiac evaluation may be omitted for patients who underwent testing within 6 months and have no interval change in cardiopulmonary clinical status. Note 1: Cardiac stress test may be omitted for patients ≥65 years old (y/o) who are fully functional with no relevant medical comorbidities and are able to carry ≥4 METS activities at baseline. For patients who demonstrate abnormal cardiac stress test cardiac evaluation by cardiologist will be done and if deemed low acceptable risk, will be allowed to participate in this trial per PI discretion. Cardiac stress test may be indicated for any patient <65 y/o who have relevant medical comorbidities or demonstrate clinically worrisome symptoms. Note 2: While age preference will be between 18-75 years, this study allows age >75 years if the patient meets eligibility criteria and demonstrates no significant medical comorbidities per PI.
Participants, regardless of age, who have a current or past medical history of ischemic heart disease, or clinically significant atrial or ventricular rhythm abnormality are excluded unless they undergo a cardiac stress test and cardiology clearance examination and are determined to be low or acceptable risk.
Participants with either a primary immunodeficiency disorder (i.e., severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome) or acquired immunodeficiency disorders (such as HIV/AIDS).
Pregnant women are excluded from this study because the agents used in this study have teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with CD40L-augmented TIL or the other agents in the study, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is enrolled in the study.
Participants taking systemic steroid therapy (other than replacement therapy or prednisone equivalent of ≤10mg daily) or therapy with any immunosuppressive medications such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Participants who require more than 10mg of prednisone or equivalent other steroid therapy should taper their steroid therapy to 10 mg prednisone 1 week prior to planned first interventional drug therapy (lymphodepleting therapy). Participants who are on baseline replacement therapy or prednisone equivalent of ≤10mg daily and require stress doses of steroid therapy will be allowed to receive stress dose steroids during the trial interventions. Participants who require dapsone for pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis during TIL therapy are eligible.
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead sponsor