INFORM2 Study Uses Nivolumab and Entinostat in Children and Adolescents With High-risk Refractory Malignancies

Compared to adult cancers, most pediatric cancers carry a relatively low mutational burden. HDAC inhibition (HDACi) modifies T-cell regulation and can augment response to checkpoint inhibition by reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and creating an immunogenic tumor microenvironment including induction of MHCI and neo-antigens. In vitro and in vivo models showed enhanced anti-tumor activity of the combination of checkpoint inhibition and HDACi compared to either agent alone. This provides a strong rationale to combine these drug classes. Checkpoint inhibition results in activation of tumor-associated T cells. It is now becoming increasingly evident that patients with tumors with a high number of tumor infiltrating T cells at baseline show an increased response rate. Additionally, recent clinical data on immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) for melanoma patients detected tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) as indicators of an activated adaptive immune response. Their presence has been linked to objective treatment responses in patients with different cancer entities receiving ICI.

Furthermore, MYC- or NMYC-driven (referred to as MYC(N)) malignancies like very high-risk medulloblastomas or very high-risk neuroblastomas still have a dismal outcome. MYC is not only reported to upregulate PD-L1 and thereby a possible biomarker for checkpoint inhibition but also very compelling recent preclinical data strongly suggests that HDAC inhibitors are active against MYC amplified medulloblastoma in vitro and in vivo. In NMYC amplified neuroblastoma cell lines similar observations were made in vitro. In addition, it has been shown recently that the molecular MYC subgroup of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) exhibit a strong T-cell infiltrate in contrast to the SHH-ATRT subtype and are considered immunological "hot" tumors. Taken together, our results suggest that MYC(N)-driven tumors depend on HDAC and we hypothesize that MYC(N) status can serve as a biomarker for response prediction to a combinatorial treatment of checkpoint inhibition and HDAC inhibition.

Pediatric patients aged 2-21 years with refractory/relapsed/progressive high-risk malignancies with a high mutational load (group A), with MYC(N) amplification or from the ATRT-MYC subgroup (group C) as well as patients with high TILs and/or TLS positive (group E) are eligible for this trial. Phase I determines the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) for the combination of the HDACi entinostat and the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab for the age groups 6-11 and 12-21 years, respectively. Phase II investigates activity in 3 groups A, C, E for patients in the two age cohorts 2-11 and 12-21 years. The duration of treatment is 12 cycles (1 cycle = 28 days), preceded by 1 priming week.

In addition, a comprehensive accompanying research program investigates PD biomarkers for immune checkpoint and HDAC inhibition.

Clinical trials investigating the combination of nivolumab and entinostat in children have not been reported so far.

Inclusion criteria

• Children and adolescents with refractory/relapsed/progressive high-risk

• CNS tumors: medulloblastoma, ependymoma, ATRT, ETMR, pediatric high grade glioma (including DIPG) or other pediatric embryonal CNS tumors OR
• solid tumors: neuroblastoma, nephroblastoma, rhabdoid tumor, embryonal or alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, other embryonal small round blue cell tumors including pediatric type (bone) sarcoma or other pediatric type solid tumors OR
• Children and adolescents with newly diagnosed high grade glioma (HGG) in the context of a constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome after maximum safe surgical resection with no established standard of care treatment option with curative intention available. In addition in France: ineligible to radiotherapy
• No standard of care treatment available
• Age at registration ≥ 2 to ≤ 21 years
• Molecular analysis for biomarker identification (SNV load, MYC/N amplification, high TILs or TLS positive) in laboratories complying with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 or similar via INFORM molecular diagnostic platform or equivalently valid molecular pipeline
• Biomarker determined using whole exome sequencing (SNV load), whole genome- or whole exome sequencing (MYC/N amplification), IHC (high TILs or TLS positive)
• In case molecular analysis was not performed via INFORM Registry molecular pipeline: transfer of molecular data (whole exome sequencing)
• Time between biopsy/puncture/resection of the current refractory/relapsed/progressive tumor and registration ≤ 24 weeks. In patients receiving therapy not impacting biomarker stratification, time between biopsy/puncture/resection of the current refractory/relapsed/progressive tumor and registration of ≤ 36 weeks is allowed
• Disease that is measurable as defined by RANO criteria or RECIST v1.1 (as appropriate).
• Life expectancy > 3 months, sufficient general condition score (Lansky ≥ 70 or Karnofsky ≥ 70). Transient states like infections requiring antibiotic treatments can be accepted, and also stable disabilities resulting from disease/surgery (hemiparesis, amputations etc.) can be accepted and will not be considered for Lansky/Karnofsky assessments.
• Laboratory requirements:

• Hematology:

• absolute granulocytes ≥ 1.0 × 109/l (unsupported)
• platelets ≥ 100 × 109/l & stable
• hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dl or ≥ 4.96 mmol/L
• Biochemistry:

• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST(SGOT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN
• ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN
• serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN for age
• ECG: normal QTc interval according to Bazett formula < 440ms
• Patient is able to swallow oral study medication
• Ability of patient and/or legal representative(s) to understand the character and individual consequences of clinical trial
• Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days prior to initiation of treatment. Sexually active women of childbearing potential must agree to use acceptable and appropriate contraception during the study and for at least 6 months after the last study treatment administration. Sexually active male patients must agree to use a condom during the study and for at least 3 months after the last study treatment administration.
• Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial
• Before patient screening and registration, written informed consent, also concerning data and blood transfer, must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations.
• No prior therapy with the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and HDACi
• Phase I: molecular analysis performed and biomarker status known (mutational load, high TILs or TLS positive AND MYC(N) amplification status).
• Phase II: molecular analysis performed, biomarker status known (mutational load, high TILs or TLS positive AND MYC(N) amplification status) and stratification according to the following criteria:

• Group A: high mutational load (defined as > 100 somatic SNVs/exome) based on whole exome sequencing OR
• Group C: Focal MYC(N) amplification based on whole genome sequencing or whole exome sequencing ot ATRT-MYC subgroup OR
• Group E: high TILs or TLS positive (defined as cells per mm² > 600 or presence of tertiary lymphoid structure) based on IHC analysis.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with CNS tumors or metastases who are neurologically unstable despite adequate treatment (e.g. convulsions).
• Patients with low-grade gliomas or tumors of unknown malignant potential are not eligible
• Evidence of > Grade 1 recent CNS hemorrhage on the baseline MRI scan.
• Participants with bulky CNS tumor on imaging are ineligible; bulky tumor is defined as:

• Tumor with any evidence of uncal herniation or severe midline shift
• Tumor with diameter of > 6 cm in one dimension on contrast-enhanced MRI
• Tumor that in the opinion of the investigator, shows significant mass effect
• Previous allogeneic bone marrow, stem cell or organ transplantation
• Diagnosis of immunodeficiency
• Diagnosis of prior or active autoimmune disease
• Evidence of interstitial lung disease
• Any contraindication to oral agents or significant nausea and vomiting, malabsorption, or significant small bowel resection that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude adequate absorption.
• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies). Known active hepatitis B (e.g., hepatitis B surface antigen-reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid [qualitative]). Patients with past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody [HBc Ab] and absence of HBsAg) are eligible. HBV DNA test must be performed in these patients prior to study treatment. Patients positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
• Clinically significant, uncontrolled heart disease
• Major surgery within 21 days of the first dose. Gastrostomy, ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, endoscopic ventriculostomy, tumor biopsy and insertion of central venous access devices are not considered major surgery, but for these procedures, a 48 hour interval must be maintained before the first dose of the investigational drug is administered.
• Any anticancer therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, HDACi (including valproic acid), DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, other immunotherapy, targeted therapy, biological response modifiers, endocrine anticancer therapy or radiotherapy) within 2 weeks or at least 5 half- lives (whichever is longer) of study drug administration.
• Radiologically confirmed radiotherapy induced pseudoprogression in CNS tumors
• Traditional herbal medicines; these therapies are not fully studied and their use may result in unanticipated drug-drug interactions that may cause or confound the assessment of toxicity. As part of the enrollment/informed consent procedures, the patient will be counseled on the risk of interactions with other agents, and what to do if new medications need to be prescribed or if the patient is considering a new over-the- counter medicine or herbal product. For information on CYP substrates and P-gp inhibitors or inducers see section 5.8.
• History of hypersensitivity to the investigational medicinal product or to any drug with similar chemical structure or to any excipient present in the pharmaceutical form (including benzamide) of the investigational medicinal product
• Participation in other ongoing clinical trials.
• Pregnant or lactating females.
• Presence of underlying medical condition (e.g. gastrointestinal disorders or electrolyte disturbances) that in the opinion of the Investigator or Sponsor could adversely affect the ability of the subject to comply with or tolerate study procedures and/or study therapy, or confound the ability to interpret the tolerability of combined administration of entinostat and nivolumab in treated subjects
• Patients receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment. The use of physiologic doses of corticosteroids (up to 5 mg/m2/day prednisone equivalent) may be approved after consultation with the Sponsor. No patient will be allowed to enroll in this trial more than once.