NeoLIPA: a Single Center Phase II Open Label Study of Neoadjuvant LTX-315 in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Patients with Clinically Detectable and Resectable Stage III-IV Melanoma
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment approach for patients with stage III or IV melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body but can still be surgically removed. The study combines two treatments: LTX-315 and pembrolizumab. Melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body can often be treated with surgery. Despite surgery, there is a high risk of the cancer coming back. Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, can reduce this risk when given after surgery. Recent studies have shown that giving pembrolizumab before surgery, along with post-surgery treatment, might be more effective than giving it only after surgery. However, many patients still experience cancer recurrence. Combining pembrolizumab with LTX-315, which triggers a different immune response, might improve the treatment\'s effectiveness and reduce the risk of cancer progression before surgery. This is an open-label Phase II study, meaning both the researchers and participants will know which treatments are being given. The study will be conducted at a single center and will involve about 27 participants. They will receive LTX-315 and pembrolizumab before their planned surgery to see if this combination could be more effective than pembrolizumab alone. The primary goal is to assess the tumors response to the neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) treatment, specifically looking at the rate of pathological complete response (pCR), where no cancer is detected in the removed tumor tissue.
• Participant must be 18 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
• Histologically confirmed, clinically detectable stage III-IV(M1a) melanoma, judged fully resectable and eligible for neoadjuvant treatment by consensus at a multidisciplinary tumor board. Patients with melanoma of cutaneous (including acral) or mucosal (including conjunctival) origin are eligible. Clinically detectable is defined as being apparent and measurable by radiological assessments or physical examination.
• Measurable disease as per RECIST version 1.1 criteria.
• Judged medically fit to undergo the planned surgery by the surgical team.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
• Have at least one superficial cutaneous, subcutaneous or lymph node lesion available for injection with a maximum mean longest perpendicular diameter (LPD) of 3.0 cm.
• Willing to undergo an additional tumor biopsy and submit biopsy and surgical specimens
• Adequate organ function as defined below:
‣ Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL
⁃ Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.0 x 109/L
⁃ Platelet count ≥ 80 x 109/L
• e. Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) f. AST and ALT ≤2.5 x ULN g. Albumin \>30 g/L h. Serum creatinine ≤1.5 X ULN OR measured creatinine clearance (CL) \>30 mL/min
• Female participants are willing to use contraceptive measures as prescribed by the protocol from study visit 1 to 120 days after the last dose of study intervention. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours of first study intervention.
• Capable of giving signed informed consent as described in section 10.1 which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.