NCT05947500

Brief Summary

This phase II trial compares tuvusertib in combination with avelumab to tuvusertib alone to determine whether the combination therapy will lengthen the time before the cancer starts getting worse in patients with Merkel cell cancer that has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). Tuvusertib is a drug that inhibits an enzyme called ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) kinase, which is an enzyme that plays a role in repair of damaged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as well as tumor cell replication and survival. It may lead to tumor cell death by inhibiting ATR kinase activity. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as avelumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving tuvusertib in combination with avelumab may lengthen the time before Merkel cell cancer starts getting worse compared to giving avelumab alone.

Trial Health

78
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
20mo left

Started May 2024

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
2 countries

51 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress54%
May 2024Jan 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 13, 2023

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 17, 2023

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 21, 2024

Completed
3.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2028

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

May 4, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

July 13, 2023

Last Update Submit

May 1, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Composite progression-free survival (PFS)

    The stratified (on disease, acquired versus primary immune checkpoint inhibitor-refractory disease) log-rank test will be used to compare PFS between arms. The primary analysis will be done on an intent-to-treat basis. An as-treated analysis will also be done as a sensitivity analysis.

    From registration to progressive disease or death whichever occurs first, assessed up to 2 years

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Overall response rate (ORR)

    Up to 2 years

  • Duration of response

    From the time measurement criteria are met for complete or partial response (whichever is first recorded) until the first date that recurrent or progressive disease is objectively documented, assessed up to 2 years

  • Overall survival (OS)

    Up to 2 years

  • Gene expression-based immunologic signatures predictive of response

    Up to 2 years

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Biomarker levels

    Up to 2 years

Study Arms (2)

Arm 1 (tuvusertib)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients receive tuvusertib PO QD on days 1-14 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, PET/CT, or MRI, biopsy, and collection of blood and stool at screening and on study. Patients with documented progression may cross over to Arm 2. (CLOSED TO ACCRUAL 5/12/2025)

Procedure: Biopsy ProcedureProcedure: Biospecimen CollectionProcedure: Computed TomographyProcedure: Magnetic Resonance ImagingProcedure: Positron Emission TomographyDrug: Tuvusertib

Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients receive tuvusertib PO QD on days 1-14 of each cycle and avelumab IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, PET/CT, or MRI, biopsy, and collection of blood and stool at screening and on study.

Drug: AvelumabProcedure: Biopsy ProcedureProcedure: Biospecimen CollectionProcedure: Computed TomographyProcedure: Magnetic Resonance ImagingProcedure: Positron Emission TomographyDrug: Tuvusertib

Interventions

Undergo collection of blood and stool

Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Specimen Collection
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Undergo CT or PET/CT

Also known as: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type, tomography
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Given IV

Also known as: Bavencio, MSB 0010718C, MSB-0010718C, MSB0010718C
Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Undergo biopsy

Also known as: Biopsy, BIOPSY_TYPE, Bx
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Undergo PET/CT

Also known as: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, PET, PET Scan, Positron emission tomography (procedure), Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Positron-Emission Tomography, PT
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Undergo MRI

Also known as: Magnetic Resonance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan, Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, MR, MR Imaging, MRI, MRI Scan, MRIs, NMR Imaging, NMRI, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging, sMRI, Structural MRI
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Given PO

Also known as: ATR Kinase Inhibitor M1774, M 1774, M-1774, M1774
Arm 1 (tuvusertib)Arm 2 (tuvusertib, avelumab)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Patients must have a history of pathologically confirmed locally advanced/unresectable Merkel cell carcinoma or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Patients must have evaluable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v)1.1
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Patients must have had prior treatment with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L-1 antibody (e.g., pembrolizumab, avelumab, etc.) and have experienced progressive disease during treatment or within 120 days from the last dose of anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. Anti-PD-(L)1 therapy administered in combination with other agent(s) including ipilimumab is also allowed as prior therapy, if patients experienced progressive disease during treatment or within 120 days from the last dose of anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. The last dose of anti-PD-(L)1 antibody must be ≥ 14 days prior to planned C1D1. If participants are receiving or received cytotoxic chemotherapy as most recent therapy prior to screening for this trial, there must be clinically and/or radiologically documented progressive disease on or after chemotherapy prior to being eligible for this study. If the patient is receiving bridging chemotherapy, the most recent administration must be ≥ 14 days prior to planned cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1) of the clinical trial to be eligible
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Age \>= 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of M1774/tuvusertib in combination with avelumab in patients \< 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%)
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,000/mcL
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Total bilirubin =\< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 1.5 x ULN for subjects with Gilbert's disease
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)(serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 3 x institutional ULN
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 x institutional ULN
  • (If serum creatinine is \> 1.5 x ULN, creatinine clearance needs to be ≥ 50 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault calculation or by a measured 24-hour urine collection for the participant to be eligible.)
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Hemoglobin \>= 9.0 g/dL
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY: Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
  • +22 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Because the lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated medical reference for a list of drugs to avoid or minimize use of. One example of such a reference is here (https://go.drugbank.com/categories/DBCAT003956)
  • 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

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (51)

UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care

Irvine, California, 92612, United States

Location

UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

La Jolla, California, 92093, United States

Location

Keck Medicine of USC Koreatown

Los Angeles, California, 90020, United States

Location

Los Angeles General Medical Center

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

Location

USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

Location

USC Norris Oncology/Hematology-Newport Beach

Newport Beach, California, 92663, United States

Location

UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Orange, California, 92868, United States

Location

Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto

Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States

Location

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Location

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

Location

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20016, United States

Location

UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Aventura

Aventura, Florida, 33180, United States

Location

UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Coral Gables

Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, United States

Location

UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Deerfield Beach

Deerfield Beach, Florida, 33442, United States

Location

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Sylvester Cancer Center

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

Location

UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Kendall

Miami, Florida, 33176, United States

Location

UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Plantation

Plantation, Florida, 33324, United States

Location

Moffitt Cancer Center - McKinley Campus

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

Location

Moffitt Cancer Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

Location

Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

Location

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

Memorial Hospital East

Shiloh, Illinois, 62269, United States

Location

HaysMed

Hays, Kansas, 67601, United States

Location

University of Kansas Cancer Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

Location

Lawrence Memorial Hospital

Lawrence, Kansas, 66044, United States

Location

The University of Kansas Cancer Center - Olathe

Olathe, Kansas, 66061, United States

Location

University of Kansas Cancer Center-Overland Park

Overland Park, Kansas, 66210, United States

Location

University of Kansas Hospital-Indian Creek Campus

Overland Park, Kansas, 66211, United States

Location

Salina Regional Health Center

Salina, Kansas, 67401, United States

Location

University of Kansas Health System Saint Francis Campus

Topeka, Kansas, 66606, United States

Location

University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center

Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States

Location

Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

Location

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Siteman Cancer Center at Saint Peters Hospital

City of Saint Peters, Missouri, 63376, United States

Location

Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital

Creve Coeur, Missouri, 63141, United States

Location

University Health Truman Medical Center

Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States

Location

University of Kansas Cancer Center - North

Kansas City, Missouri, 64154, United States

Location

University of Kansas Cancer Center - Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 64064, United States

Location

Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

Location

Siteman Cancer Center-South County

St Louis, Missouri, 63129, United States

Location

Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital

St Louis, Missouri, 63136, United States

Location

Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone

New York, New York, 10016, United States

Location

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States

Location

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States

Location

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States

Location

UT Southwestern/Simmons Cancer Center-Dallas

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

Location

Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

Location

University of Virginia Cancer Center

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, United States

Location

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States

Location

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

Location

University Health Network-Princess Margaret Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Carcinoma, Merkel Cell

Interventions

avelumabBiopsySpecimen HandlingMagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Polyomavirus InfectionsDNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesInfectionsTumor Virus InfectionsCarcinoma, NeuroendocrineNeuroendocrine TumorsNeuroectodermal TumorsNeoplasms, Germ Cell and EmbryonalNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsAdenocarcinomaCarcinomaNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms, Nerve Tissue

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

CytodiagnosisCytological TechniquesClinical Laboratory TechniquesDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisDiagnostic Techniques, SurgicalSurgical Procedures, OperativeInvestigative TechniquesSpectrum AnalysisChemistry Techniques, Analytical

Study Officials

  • Paul Nghiem

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
NIH
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 13, 2023

First Posted

July 17, 2023

Study Start

May 21, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

May 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

More information

Locations