NCT06029270

Testing the Addition of BMS-986016 (Relatlimab) to the Usual Immunotherapy After Initial Treatment for Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer

A Randomized Phase II Study of Nivolumab Versus Nivolumab and BMS-986016 (Relatlimab) as Maintenance Treatment After First-Line Treatment With Platinum-Gemcitabine-Nivolumab for Patients With Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (REMAIN)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 156 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NIH
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This phase II trial tests the addition of BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to the usual immunotherapy after initial treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Relatlimab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. The usual approach of treatment is initial treatment with chemotherapy such as the combination of cisplatin (or carboplatin) and gemcitabine, along with immunotherapy such as nivolumab. After the initial treatment is finished, patients may continue to receive additional immunotherapy. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. Giving BMS-986016 in addition to the usual immunotherapy after initial treatment may extend the time without the tumor cells growing or spreading longer than the usual approach in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance therapy shows a signal of improved progression-free survival (PFS) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 in patients who do not progress following treatment with platinum-gemcitabine-nivolumab combination in the first-line treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance improves overall survival (OS) compared to nivolumab maintenance alone. II. To compare patterns of failure (local-regional relapse and distant metastasis) between treatment arms. III. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance improves objective response, duration of response, and disease control rate compared to nivolumab maintenance alone. IV. To evaluate the tolerability of nivolumab-BMS-986016 (relatlimab) maintenance and assess and compare toxicity between arms based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) criteria. V. To evaluate baseline plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA (\< 2000 copies/mL versus \[vs.\] \>= 2000 copies/mL) as a prognostic biomarker. VI. To validate post-induction plasma EBV DNA (detectable \[\>= 1 copies/mL\] vs. undetectable \[0 copies/mL\]) as a prognostic biomarker. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To collect blood and tissue specimens for future translational science studies. II. To assess post-induction plasma EBV DNA (detectable \[\>= 1 copies/mL\] vs. undetectable \[0 copies/mL\]) as a predictive biomarker. OUTLINE: INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle, cisplatin IV or carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of each cycle and gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood sample collection during screening and on study. MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients who do not progress radiologically are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes. Cycles repeat every 4 weeks for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or MRI on study. Patients also undergo positron emission tomography (PET)/CT or bone scan as clinically indicated. ARM II: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes and relatlimab IV over 30-90 minutes. Cycles repeat every 4 weeks for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or MRI on study. Patients also undergo PET/CT or bone scan as clinically indicated. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 4 months for 2 years, every 6 months in years 3-5, and then annually.

Conditions

• Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Biospecimen Collection	Undergo blood sample collection
PROCEDURE	Bone Scan	Undergo bone scan
DRUG	Carboplatin	Given IV
DRUG	Cisplatin	Given IV
PROCEDURE	Computed Tomography	Undergo CT or PET/CT
DRUG	Gemcitabine	Given IV
PROCEDURE	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	Undergo MRI
BIOLOGICAL	Nivolumab	Given IV
PROCEDURE	Positron Emission Tomography	Undergo PET/CT
BIOLOGICAL	Relatlimab	Given IV

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-15
• Primary completion: 2029-04-30
• Completion: 2029-04-30
• First posted: 2023-09-08
• Last updated: 2026-04-13

Locations

77 sites across 5 countries: United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study