DISCERN: Dual Versus Single ICB in PDL-1 Negative NSCLC

NCT06364917 | Recruiting Phase 2 DMC FDA Drug

• 2 other identifiers: IRB-300012781 (UAB2432)Robert Award
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study, known as DISCERN, is to compare two different treatments for a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that does not show a marker known as PD-L1. This study will help us understand if using two types of immune therapy together with chemotherapy is better than using one type of immune therapy with chemotherapy. We're doing this by looking at changes in the subject's cancer's DNA in the blood after starting treatment.

Conditions

Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Rate of Molecular Response in Patients with PD-L1 Negative Advanced NSCLC Treated with Dual vs. Single ICB Plus CT Regimens

  To assess and quantify the rate of molecular response, defined as the complete disappearance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from baseline levels, by Cycle 4 Day 1 (C4D1). This study compares patients with PD-L1 negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are treated with a dual immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) plus chemotherapy (CT) strategy against those receiving a single ICB plus CT regimen. The objective explores whether the addition of a second ICB enhances the molecular response when integrated into standard chemoimmunotherapy protocols in this specific patient population.

  Baseline to 64 days (C4D1)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Efficacy Evaluation

  Baseline up to 24 months

• Correlation Analysis

  Baseline up to 24 months

Other Outcomes (3)

• Progression-Free Survival (PFS)

  Baseline to 24 months

• Median Overall Survival (OS)

  Baseline to 24 months

• Tolerability Assessment

  Baseline to 24 months

Study Arms (2)

single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

EXPERIMENTAL

200 mg of Pembrolizumab will be administered intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks (Q3W) for 4 cycles. Combination chemotherapy: For squamous NSCLC: Carboplatin (dose according to area under the curve (AUC) 6) + paclitaxel 200 mg/m². For non-squamous NSCLC: Carboplatin (AUC 5) + pemetrexed 500 mg/m². Maintenance Therapy for Non-Squamous NSCLC: Pembrolizumab 200 mg + pemetrexed 500 mg/m² Q3W for up to 2 years.

Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Carboplatin; Drug: Paclitaxel; Drug: Pemetrexed

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Drug 1: 360 mg of Nivolumab will be administered intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks (Q3W). Drug 2: 1 mg/kg of Ipilimumab will be administered intravenously (IV) every 6 weeks (Q6W) for 2 cycles. Combination Chemotherapy: For squamous NSCLC: Carboplatin (AUC 6) + paclitaxel 200 mg/m². For non-squamous NSCLC: Carboplatin (AUC 5) + pemetrexed 500 mg/m². Maintenance Therapy for Non-Squamous NSCLC: Nivolumab 360 mg Q3W + Ipilimumab 1mg/kg Q6W for up to 2 years.

Drug: Carboplatin; Drug: Paclitaxel; Drug: Pemetrexed; Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab

Interventions

Pembrolizumab DRUG

The dosing regimens for Pembrolizumab (200 mg Q3W), are based on established FDA-approved dosages for the treatment of NSCLC, ensuring a balance between efficacy and tolerability. These doses are selected based on extensive clinical experience indicating optimal response rates with manageable safety profiles in the target population. The route of administration (intravenous) is chosen for its direct delivery into the bloodstream, ensuring maximum bioavailability and consistency of dosing.

single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Carboplatin DRUG

The combination therapy dosages for Carboplatin are aligned with standard chemotherapy protocols for NSCLC, tailored to minimize toxicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. This dosing strategy is justified by previous phase 3 trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of these regimens in advanced NSCLC patients.

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT); single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Paclitaxel DRUG

The combination therapy dosages for Paclitaxel are aligned with standard chemotherapy protocols for NSCLC, tailored to minimize toxicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. This dosing strategy is justified by previous phase 3 trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of these regimens in advanced NSCLC patients.

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT); single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Pemetrexed DRUG

The combination therapy dosages for Pemetrexed are aligned with standard chemotherapy protocols for NSCLC, tailored to minimize toxicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. This dosing strategy is justified by previous phase 3 trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of these regimens in advanced NSCLC patients.

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT); single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Nivolumab DRUG

The dosing regimens for Nivolumab (360 mg Q3W) are based on established FDA-approved dosages for the treatment of NSCLC, ensuring a balance between efficacy and tolerability. These doses are selected based on extensive clinical experience indicating optimal response rates with manageable safety profiles in the target population. The route of administration (intravenous) is chosen for its direct delivery into the bloodstream, ensuring maximum bioavailability and consistency of dosing.

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Ipilimumab DRUG

The dosing regimens for Ipilimumab (1 mg/kg Q6W) are based on established FDA-approved dosages for the treatment of NSCLC, ensuring a balance between efficacy and tolerability. These doses are selected based on extensive clinical experience indicating optimal response rates with manageable safety profiles in the target population. The route of administration (intravenous) is chosen for its direct delivery into the bloodstream, ensuring maximum bioavailability and consistency of dosing.

dual agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) + chemotherapy (CT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 89 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• Male or female aged 18 years or older.
• Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer which is stage IV
• Participants should not have a known sensitizing mutation for which an FDA-approved.
• targeted therapy for NSCLC exists in first line (e.g., EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, RET, NTRK, and MET sensitizing mutations
• Participants should not have received prior systemic anticancer therapy for advanced or metastatic disease. For patients who are recently diagnosed and received one cycle of chemotherapy while awaiting NGS/PDL-1 testing are allowed on study after discussion with medical monitor.
• Participants should have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the local site investigator/radiology assessment. Target lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
• Participants should have a life expectancy of at least 3 months.
• Participants should have a performance status of 0, 1 or 2 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status
• Participants should have provided tumor tissue from locations not radiated prior to biopsy; fresh formalin fixed specimens or archival samples which have been determined as PD-L1 status \<1% or negative prior to randomization.
• Participants should have been evaluated for circulating tumor DNA at baseline which has been determined to be detected, present or positive.
• Participants with CNS metastases are eligible if all metastases have been treated and have remained stable without growth for at least 2 weeks post-treatment, the participant's neurological status has returned to baseline or remained stable for at least 2 weeks, and any use of corticosteroids for CNS metastases is at a dose of ≤10 mg daily prednisone (or an equivalent dose of another corticosteroid) and has been stable for at least 2 weeks before enrollment.
• Participants should have adequate organ function to be able to safely receive the approved standard of care regimens per the current FDA approved package insert, treating investigators discretion and institutional guidelines.
• For females of reproductive potential: Negative urine and serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, serum pregnancy test will be required. Participants should be willing to use an adequate method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after last dose of study medication or through 180 days after last dose of chemotherapeutic agents. Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.

You may not qualify if:

• Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy within 4 weeks prior to administration of study regimen.
• Has received a live-virus vaccination within 30 days of planned treatment start. Seasonal flu vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted.
• Has clinically active diverticulitis, intra-abdominal abscess, GI obstruction, abdominal carcinomatosis.
• Prior treatment or history of allergy/hypersensitivity with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA-4, or other specific T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint targeting drugs.
• Has a known sensitivity to any component of cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel or pemetrexed
• Participants with carcinomatous meningitis
• Participants with active or suspected autoimmune diseases are excluded, with the following exceptions allowed: vitiligo, well-controlled type I diabetes mellitus, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition requiring hormone replacement, psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger.
• Individuals who have received systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications within the last 14 days prior to enrollment are excluded. Exceptions are made for topical, inhaled, nasal, ophthalmic steroids, or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or an equivalent corticosteroid.
• Participants with a history of ILD, or those who are suspected of having symptomatic ILD, or those with pneumonitis.
• Individuals with a positive test for HIV, Hep B or Hep C are excluded unless it is well-controlled with no increased risk of immunosuppression and with no potential drug interactions with current antiviral therapy.
• Participants with a history of other malignancies are excluded, except for those with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, carcinoma in situ of the breast, or any cancer in situ that has been treated curatively, and the participant has been in complete remission for more than two years with any cancer prior to the start of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

Interventions

pembrolizumab; Carboplatin; Paclitaxel; Pemetrexed; Nivolumab; Ipilimumab

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Coordination Complexes; Organic Chemicals; Taxoids; Cyclodecanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons; Diterpenes; Terpenes; Guanine; Hypoxanthines; Purinones; Purines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Glutamates; Amino Acids, Acidic; Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins

Study Officials

• Aakash Desai, MD

  University of Alabama at Birmingham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Aakash Desai, MD, MPH

CONTACT

(205) 934-3411; aakashdesai@uabmc.edu

Margaret Thomas, MPH

CONTACT

margaretannthomas@uabmc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 10, 2024
• First Posted: April 15, 2024
• Study Start: May 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 27, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Last Updated: September 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

US (1)