Radiation Therapy, Plasma Exchange, and Immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab or Nivolumab) for the Treatment of Melanoma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine the kinetics of soluble (s)PD-L1 removal and regeneration by plasma exchange in patients with melanoma.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To observe response at 3 months after plasma exchange plus immunotherapy. II. To observe ongoing response at approximate 3 month intervals after plasma exchange plus immunotherapy.

CORRELATIVE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the effects of plasma exchange on immune cell function. II. To observe the kinetics of extracellular vesicles (EVs) after plasma exchange in patients with melanoma.

OUTLINE:

Patients undergo radiation therapy daily on days 1-5 (weekdays). Patients then undergo therapeutic plasma exchange over 1-2 hours on the first session starting on the last day of radiation therapy and the last session ending prior to immunotherapy. Beginning day 5, patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) or nivolumab IV. Treatment with pembrolizumab continues every 3 weeks or treatment with nivolumab continues every 2 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo blood sample collection throughout the study and standard of care (SOC) computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans as clinically indicated during follow-up.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3 weeks and then for up to 2 years.

Inclusion criteria

• Histological confirmation of melanoma. Patients may have completed biopsy outside of Mayo Clinic, but there must be an internal review done to confirm diagnosis prior to confirming eligibility
• Measurable or non-measurable disease
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) =< 3
• sPD-L1 levels > 1.7 ng/ml by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Negative pregnancy test done =< 7 days prior to radiation therapy, for women of childbearing potential only
• Provide written informed consent
• Willing to return to enrolling institution for follow-up (during the Active Monitoring Phase of the study)
• Willing to provide blood samples for correlative research purposes

Exclusion criteria

• Persons taking a biotin supplement
• sPD-L1 level < 1.7 ng/ml by ELISA
• Pregnant or nursing women
• Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception