The Miami "EMPIRE" Trial - Eradication of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer With Immuno-Radiation

Launched by BENJAMIN SPIELER · Feb 20, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Miami "EMPIRE" Trial is a clinical study looking at a new treatment approach for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, specifically a type called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The researchers want to find out if combining radiation therapy, which uses strong energy to target cancer cells, with immune checkpoint inhibitors—medications that help the immune system recognize and fight cancer—can be effective in treating this difficult-to-treat cancer. The study is currently not recruiting participants, but it aims to include adults aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and have already tried at least one other treatment.

To be eligible for the trial, patients must have measurable cancer that has not improved with previous therapy and must meet specific health criteria, such as having certain blood test results and a life expectancy of at least three months. Participants will receive the combined treatment and will be monitored closely throughout the study. It's important to note that there are certain health conditions and previous treatments that could prevent someone from joining the trial. If you or a loved one are considering this study, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your healthcare provider to see if it might be a suitable option.

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. ≥18 years old
• • 2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
• • 3. Microsatellite stable (MSS) disease by pathologic assessment.
• • 4. Patients must have measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1.
• • 5. Progression on ≥1 line of systemic therapy.
• • 6. No concomitant therapy with any of the following: interleukin (IL)-2, interferon, non study immunotherapy regimens, cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunosuppressive agents, other investigational therapies, and/or chronic use of systemic corticosteroids.
• • 7. No known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active infection with Hepatitis B.
• • 8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
• • 9. Life expectancy ≥3 months.
• 10. Patients must have the following lab values obtained \<4 weeks prior to starting protocol treatment:
• • 1. absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1,000 cells/μL
• • 2. white blood count (WBC) ≥2,000 cells/μL
• • 3. platelets ≥75,000 per μL
• • 4. hemoglobin ≥8.0 g/dL
• • 5. creatinine clearance ≥40 mL/min)
• • 6. serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
• • 7. aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤3 × ULN (or ≤5 × ULN in patients with liver metastases)
• • 8. international normalized ratio or prothrombin time ≤1.5 × ULN
• • 9. activated partial thromboplastin time ≤2.5 × ULN
• • 10. absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥1000 cells/μL at baseline
• • 11. At least 1 previously unirradiated lesion amenable to pre-treatment biopsy.
• • 12. No limit on overall numbers of lesions, but liver tumor burden ≤25% of total liver volume.
• • 13. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative serum pregnancy test (within 7 days prior to Day 1 of protocol therapy)
• • a. Females of non-childbearing potential are defined as: i. ≥ 50 years of age and has not had menses for greater than 1 year ii. Amenorrheic for ≥ 2 years without a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy and a follicle-stimulating hormone value in the postmenopausal range upon pre-study (screening) evaluation iii. Status is post-hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation.
• • 14. Male and female patients of reproductive potential must use effective methods of contraception or abstain from sexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of balstilimab and/or botensilimab. See Section 4.11, Contraception.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Liver tumor burden exceeding 25% of total liver volume.
• • 2. Active, untreated central nervous system (CNS) metastases.
• • 3. Active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment within 2 years of the start of study treatment (i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents or immunosuppressive drugs).
• • 4. Participants with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) within 14 days or another immunosuppressive medication within 30 days of randomization. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses (≤ 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
• • 5. Previous external beam radiation therapy to the liver or radioisotope therapy directed to the liver or any liver embolization.
• • 6. Clinically significant ascites requiring a paracentesis in the last 4 weeks, or clinically significant history of liver failure defined as any prior episode of hepatic encephalopathy and/or any prior history of an elevated serum ammonia level.
• • 7. Partial or complete bowel obstruction within the last 3 months prior to study enrollment, signs/symptoms of bowel obstruction, or known radiologic evidence of impending obstruction.
• • 8. Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke or myocardial infarction within 6 months of study enrollment, unstable angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class ≥ III), or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.
• • a. QT interval corrected using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) of \> 480 ms.
• • 9. Prior allogeneic organ transplantation.
• • 10. Treatment with chemotherapy or targeted therapy within 2 weeks prior to initiating EMPIRE treatment.
• • 11. Persistent grade ≥2 adverse events (aEs) from prior therapy (except neuropathy).
• • 12. Known additional malignancy requiring active treatment.
• • 13. History of non-infectious pneumonitis.
• • 14. Active infection requiring antibiotic.
• • 15. Live vaccine within 30 days of protocol treatment.
• • 16. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (CoV 2) (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine or booster \< 7 days before Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1). For vaccines requiring more than 1 dose, the full series should be completed prior to C1D1, when feasible. Booster shot not required but also must be administered \> 7 days from C1D1 or \> 7 days from future cycle on study.
• • 17. History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to monoclonal antibody.
• • 18. Participants with impaired decision-making capacity.