A Phase II Study of sEphB4-HSA in Kaposi Sarcoma

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Investigational drug late phase More information Active drug More information Started >3 years ago More information High burden on patient More information

Trial Details

Sponsor: Vasgene Therapeutics, Inc (industry)

Phase: 2

Start date: Sept. 17, 2020

Planned enrollment: 65

Trial ID: NCT03993106
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More trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov More info

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chevron Show for: sEphB4-HSA (Vas-01)

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Goal: Evaluate whether the EphB4–EphrinB2 pathway inhibitor sEphB4-HSA reduces the number and/or size of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lesions and to characterize its safety at a dosing schedule of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks.

Patients: Adults ≥18 years with biopsy-confirmed cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma, with or without visceral involvement; may be treatment-naïve or previously treated, including refractory or intolerant to prior systemic therapy (e.g., liposomal doxorubicin). Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals are eligible; if HIV-positive, patients must be on a stable antiretroviral regimen and any CD4 count is permitted. Key requirements include ECOG 0–2 (or KPS ≥50%), adequate organ function, and no evidence of recent improvement in KS unless progression in the 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Major exclusions include brain metastases, need for frontline cytotoxic therapy for symptomatic visceral/pulmonary KS, significant cardiovascular risks (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, QTcF >480 ms, recent major infarct or bleed), full-dose anticoagulation, recent anti-neoplastic KS therapy, and pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Design: Single-arm, open-label, phase II treatment study with non-randomized allocation. Up to 65 participants will receive study therapy in repeated 28-day cycles and may continue until progression or unacceptable toxicity, or other protocol-defined discontinuation criteria. Serial clinical assessments and correlative studies are planned.

Treatments: sEphB4-HSA administered as an intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. sEphB4-HSA (Vas-01) is a recombinant fusion protein of the extracellular domain of human EphB4 linked to human serum albumin that binds EphrinB2 to block EphB4–EphrinB2 signaling, a pathway implicated in tumor angiogenesis, survival, and immune microenvironment modulation. Across prior early- and mid-phase studies in solid tumors, including urothelial carcinoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma—often in combination with pembrolizumab—antitumor activity was enriched in EphrinB2-positive disease; hypertension has been the most characteristic toxicity. The mechanism provides biological rationale in vascular tumors such as KS, where angiogenic signaling is central.

Outcomes: Primary: Proportion with clinical response and rate of unacceptable toxicity at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks; time-to-event endpoints (time to response, progression, relapse, and death) analyzed by Kaplan-Meier. Secondary: Pharmacodynamic and translational endpoints including tumor apoptosis and proliferation by IHC, immune profiling in blood and tumor (flow cytometry, cytokines, immune infiltration), effects on HHV-8 replication and endothelial gene expression, changes in VEGF–Notch–EphrinB2 pathway markers, pharmacokinetics (trough and Cmax by ELISA), patient-reported quality of life, and biobanking of PBMCs and tissues. HIV-positive participants will have serial plasma viral loads and T-cell counts assessed.

Burden on patient: Moderate-to-high. Patients receive IV infusions twice per 28-day cycle with frequent clinic visits early on. There are multiple protocol-specified blood draws for safety labs, immunologic assays, HHV-8 testing, and pharmacokinetic sampling on Days 1 and 15 of cycles 1–2 and periodically thereafter. Optional tumor biopsies at baseline and around weeks 8–12 add procedural burden and potential discomfort. Ongoing vitals and ECGs are expected given hypertension and QTc monitoring needs. Travel and time commitments are greater than standard surveillance alone due to biweekly infusions and serial correlative studies.

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Sites (3)

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AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Beverly Hills, California, 90211, United States

[email protected] / 323-913-1033

Status: Recruiting

CAN (Community AIDS Network) Community Health

Sarasota, Florida, 34237, United States

[email protected] / 941-366-0134

Status: Recruiting

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

[email protected] / 214-590-0611

Status: Recruiting

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