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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04662710

Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) Plus Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Chemotherapy in Participants With Advanced/Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma (MK-7902-015/E7080-G000-321/LEAP-015)

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) plus pembrolizumab (MK-3475) plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in participants with advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal cancer.

The primary study hypotheses are that lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone for both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR), in participants with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1 and in all participants.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

IDIM Instituto de Diagnostico e Investigaciones Metabolicas ( Site 0202), Caba, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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About this study

There will be 2 parts to the study: a Safety Run-in (Part 1) and the Main Study (Part 2). In Part 1 (Safety Run-in), approximately 12 participants will be treated with lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy with either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX), or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6). Participants will be closely followed for dose-limiting toxicities for 21 days after the first dose of study intervention.

In Part 2, up to 878 eligible participants (not including those participating in Part 1) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6) or Chemotherapy alone (CAPOX or mFOLFOX6).

Participants can receive up to 18 infusions (up to 2 years) of pembrolizumab in the first course. Participants may be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab (approximately 1 year) at the investigator's discretion.

As of Amendment 8 (Effective 06/10/2025), Second Course will no longer be offered. Any participant currently receiving Second Course retreatment will be able to continue treatment as planned. Imaging will be performed per local standard of care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Has histologically and/or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of previously untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Is not expected to require tumor resection during the treatment course
  • Has gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma that is not human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu positive
  • Has measurable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 by scan with IV contrast as determined by the local site investigator
  • Male participants agree to refrain from donating sperm and agree to either remain abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle OR agree to use contraception, during the intervention period and for ≥7 days after last dose of lenvatinib or 90 days after last dose of chemotherapy-whichever comes last
  • Female participants not pregnant or breastfeeding are eligible to participate if not a women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), or if a WOCBP they either use a contraceptive method that is highly effective OR remain abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle, and do not donate eggs (ova, oocytes) to others or freeze/store for their own use, and abstain from breastfeeding during the intervention period through 120 days after last dose of pembrolizumab, 30 days after last dose of lenvatinib, or 180 days after last dose of chemotherapy-whichever occurs last
  • Has a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale within 3 days prior to the first dose of study treatment
  • Has adequately controlled blood pressure with or without antihypertensive medications
  • Has adequate organ function

Exclusion criteria

  • Has had previous therapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Has had major surgery within 28 days prior to first dose of study interventions
  • Has had radiotherapy within 14 days of randomization
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 5 years
  • Has known central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to treatment with an monoclonal antibody (mAb) or known sensitivity or intolerance to any component of lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, study chemotherapy agents and/or to any excipients, murine proteins, or platinum containing products
  • Has had an allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant
  • Has perforation risks or significant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
  • Has GI obstruction, poor oral intake (CAPOX participants), or difficulty in taking oral medication (CAPOX participants)
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or coinhibitory T-cell receptor
  • Has received prior therapy with anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor or anti-VEGF mAb
  • Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study drug
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs)
  • Has radiographic evidence of encasement or invasion of a major blood vessel, or of intratumoral cavitation
  • Has inadequate cardiac function
  • Has a history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease
  • Has poorly controlled diarrhea
  • Has accumulation of pleural, ascitic, or pericardial fluid requiring drainage or diuretic drugs within 2 weeks prior to enrollment
  • Has peripheral neuropathy ≥Grade 2
  • Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or HIV 1/2 antibodies
  • Has a known history of hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg reactive) or known active hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) [qualitative] is detected) infection
  • Has weight loss of >20% within the last 3 months

Treatment and study plan

Pembrolizumab

Biological

400 mg Q6W by IV infusion

Other names: MK-3475, Keytruda®

Lenvatinib

Biological

Administered PO QD, 8 mg induction/20 mg consolidation.

Other names: MK-7902, E7080

Oxaliplatin

Drug

130 mg/m^2 administered by IV infusion on Day 1 of Weeks 1 and 4 of each Q6W cycle as part of CAPOX chemotherapy, or 85 mg/m^2 administered by IV infusion on Day 1 and Week 1, 3 and 5 of each Q6W cycle as part of mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.

Capecitabine

Drug

1000 mg/m^2 administered PO twice daily (BID) on Days 1-14, 22-35 of each Q6W cycle as part of CAPOX chemotherapy.

Leucovorin (or Levoleucovorin)

Drug

Administered by IV infusion at 400 mg/m^2 (leucovorin) or 200 mg/m^2 (levoleucovorin) on Day 1, and Week 1, 3 and 5 of each Q6W cycle as part of mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.

5-FU

Drug

400 mg/m^2 bolus IV infusion followed by 2400 mg/m^2 continuous IV infusion administered on Day 1, and Week 1, 3, 5, of each Q2W cycle as part of mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Part 1: Number of Participants With Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs)

    Time frame: Up to ~21 days

    A DLT was defined as a specific adverse event graded for toxicity using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Hematologic DLTs included Grade 4 neutropenia lasting for ≥7 days, Grade 3 or Grade 4 febrile neutropenia, Grade 3 thrombocytopenia with bleeding, Grade 4 thrombocytopenia, or Grade 4 anemia. Nonhematologic DLTs included any other Grade 4 or Grade 5 toxicity, Grade 3 toxicities lasting >3 days (excluding nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea controlled by medical intervention within 72 hours, and Grade 3 rash in the absence of desquamation with no mucosal involvement), Grade 3 hypertension not able to be controlled by medication, ≥ Grade 3 gastrointestinal perforation, ≥Grade 3 wound dehiscence requiring medical or surgical intervention, any grade thromboembolic event, or any Grade 3 nonhematologic laboratory value if medical intervention was required or the abnormality led to hospitalization. The number of participants in Part 1 with DLTs is reported.

  2. Part 1: Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)

    Time frame: Up to ~44 months

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 1 with AEs is reported

  3. Part 1: Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AE

    Time frame: Up to ~29 months

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 1 that discontinued study treatment due to an AE is reported.

  4. Part 2: Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. OS is reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

  5. Part 2: OS in All Participants

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. OS is reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

  6. Part 2: Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥1

    Time frame: Up to ~29 months

    PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. PFS is reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

  7. Part 2: PFS Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All Participants

    Time frame: Up to ~29 months

    PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented PD per RECIST 1.1 by BICR or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. PFS is reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Part 2: Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥1

    Time frame: Up to ~29 months

    ORR is defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and assessed by BICR. ORR is reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

  2. Part 2: ORR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All Participants

    Time frame: Up to ~29 months

    ORR is defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or a PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and assessed by BICR. ORR is reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

  3. Part 2: Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥1

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    For participants who demonstrated confirmed CR or PR, DOR is defined as the time from the first CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) to subsequent PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. DOR is reported by treatment arm for PD-L1 CPS ≥1 participants in Part 2.

  4. Part 2: DOR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in All Participants

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    For participants who demonstrated confirmed CR or PR, DOR is defined as the time from the first CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) to subsequent PD or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1 modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. DOR is reported by treatment arm for all participants in Part 2.

  5. Part 2: Number of Participants With AEs

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 2 with AEs is reported by treatment arm.

  6. Part 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AE

    Time frame: Up to ~41 months

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants in Part 2 that discontinued study treatment due to an AE is reported by treatment arm.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Industry

Collaborators

  • Eisai Inc.

Registry information

Official study title

Phase 3, Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) Plus Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Chemotherapy Compared With Standard of Care Therapy as First-line Intervention in Participants With Advanced/Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma (LEAP-015)

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 10, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 28, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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