Avelumab and Trabectedin in Treating Patients With Liposarcoma or Leiomyosarcoma That is Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03074318 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Terminated due to PI leaving institution)
First Posted : March 8, 2017
Results First Posted : April 29, 2022
Last Update Posted : April 29, 2022
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma Metastatic Liposarcoma Unresectable Leiomyosarcoma Unresectable Liposarcoma | Drug: Avelumab Drug: Trabectedin | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To assess the safety and tolerability of the combination of trabectedin and avelumab in subjects with advanced leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma.
II. To assess the objective response rate of advanced L-type sarcoma patients receiving the combination regimen of avelumab and trabectedin.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To further explore the clinical activity and safety profile of avelumab and trabectedin as a combination therapy.
OUTLINE:
Avelumab will be administered every 2 weeks. Trabectedin will be administered every 3 weeks for the first two doses (Week 1 and Week 4), and then every four weeks (Week 7, Week 11,…) moving forward. After Cycle 2 of trabectedin, dosing may extend to every 5 weeks at investigator discretion, for management of trabectedin-associated toxicity only. Delays of trabectedin beyond 5 weeks may be allowed but require written approval from the Sponsor-Investigator. On days where both drugs are scheduled to be administered, avelumab will be administered first. This will continue until unacceptable toxicity or confirmed disease progression.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 and 90 days, then every 12 weeks for 2 years.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 35 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Sequential Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Subjects were enrolled into Phase 1, first into 1.5 mg/m^2 trabectedin dose, then 1.0 mg/m^2 trabectedin, then 1.2 mg/m^2 trabectedin. Once the recommended Phase 2 dose was selected at 1.0 mg/m^2 trabectedin, all subsequent subjects were enrolled into Phase 2. |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase I/II Trial Combining Avelumab and Trabectedin for Advanced Liposarcoma and Leiomyosarcoma |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 28, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 15, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 15, 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Phase 1 (1.5 mg/m^2 trabectedin + avelumab)
Avelumab will be administered every 2 weeks. Trabectedin will be administered every 3 weeks for the first two doses (Week 1 and Week 4), and then every four weeks (Week 7, Week 11,…) moving forward. After Cycle 2 of trabectedin, dosing may extend to every 5 weeks at investigator discretion, for management of trabectedin-associated toxicity only. Delays of trabectedin beyond 5 weeks may be allowed but require written approval from the Sponsor-Investigator. On days where both drugs are scheduled to be administered, avelumab will be administered first. This will continue until unacceptable toxicity or confirmed disease progression.
|
Drug: Avelumab
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Trabectedin Given IV
Other Names:
|
Experimental: Phase 1 (1.0 mg/m^2 trabectedin + avelumab)
Avelumab will be administered every 2 weeks. Trabectedin will be administered every 3 weeks for the first two doses (Week 1 and Week 4), and then every four weeks (Week 7, Week 11,…) moving forward. After Cycle 2 of trabectedin, dosing may extend to every 5 weeks at investigator discretion, for management of trabectedin-associated toxicity only. Delays of trabectedin beyond 5 weeks may be allowed but require written approval from the Sponsor-Investigator. On days where both drugs are scheduled to be administered, avelumab will be administered first. This will continue until unacceptable toxicity or confirmed disease progression.
|
Drug: Avelumab
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Trabectedin Given IV
Other Names:
|
Experimental: Phase 1 (1.2 mg/m^2 trabectedin + avelumab)
Avelumab will be administered every 2 weeks. Trabectedin will be administered every 3 weeks for the first two doses (Week 1 and Week 4), and then every four weeks (Week 7, Week 11,…) moving forward. After Cycle 2 of trabectedin, dosing may extend to every 5 weeks at investigator discretion, for management of trabectedin-associated toxicity only. Delays of trabectedin beyond 5 weeks may be allowed but require written approval from the Sponsor-Investigator. On days where both drugs are scheduled to be administered, avelumab will be administered first. This will continue until unacceptable toxicity or confirmed disease progression.
|
Drug: Avelumab
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Trabectedin Given IV
Other Names:
|
Experimental: Phase 2 (1.0 mg/m^2 trabectedin + avelumab)
Avelumab will be administered every 2 weeks. Trabectedin will be administered every 3 weeks for the first two doses (Week 1 and Week 4), and then every four weeks (Week 7, Week 11,…) moving forward. After Cycle 2 of trabectedin, dosing may extend to every 5 weeks at investigator discretion, for management of trabectedin-associated toxicity only. Delays of trabectedin beyond 5 weeks may be allowed but require written approval from the Sponsor-Investigator. On days where both drugs are scheduled to be administered, avelumab will be administered first. This will continue until unacceptable toxicity or confirmed disease progression.
|
Drug: Avelumab
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Trabectedin Given IV
Other Names:
|
- Incidence of Adverse Events [ Time Frame: up to 2 years 7 months total ]Measured by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0.
- Overall Response Rate (ORR) [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years 7 months total ]Rate of Partial Response (PR) + Complete Response (CR), which is the best response for each subject determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 for target lesions and assessed by Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. Partial response is defined as a decrease in 30% or more in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, and complete response is defined as disappearance of all evaluable disease. No subjects had a complete response on this study so the ORR represents subjects who had a partial response only.
- Time to Response [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years 7 months total ]
Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Time to response is defined as the amount of time from when the subject first received study treatment (Cycle 1, Day 1) to when they achieved a partial response on trial.
With such small numbers, this data is not necessarily representative of what a larger study would report.
- Duration of Response [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years 7 months total ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Duration of response is defined as the amount of time a subject responded to study treatment with either a partial response or complete response until the date of last follow-up (if response ongoing at data cutoff) or the date until they progressed on study.
- Progression-free Survival (PFS) [ Time Frame: At 12 weeks ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Progression is defined using RECIST v1.1, as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, appearance of new lesions while on study, or clear growth of a non-target lesion.
- Complete Response Rate (CR) [ Time Frame: At 12 weeks ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Complete Response is defined as disappearance of all evaluable disease.
- Partial Response Rate (PR) [ Time Frame: At 12 weeks ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Partial response is defined as a decrease in 30% or more in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions.
- Stable Disease (SD) [ Time Frame: At 12 weeks ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Stable Disease is defined as neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for a Partial Response (PR) nor sufficient increase to qualify for Progressive Disease (PD).
- Clinical Benefit Rate [ Time Frame: At 12 weeks ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Clinical Benefit Rate is defined as the percentage of subjects who achieved a Complete Response (CR) + Partial Response (PR) + Stable Disease (SD).
- Median Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years post End of Treatment, for a total of 3 years ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1.
- Adverse Event Profile - All Treatment-Related Grade 3-5 Adverse Events [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years 7 months total ]Assessed by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Must have a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced (metastatic or unresectable) soft tissue sarcoma with one of the following subtypes:
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
- Subject must be clinically indicated to receive trabectedin therapy as part of routine care. Subjects may be first line, or have received any number of prior systemic therapies
- Total bilirubin level =< 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) mg/dL
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =< 2.5 x ULN and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 x ULN
- Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 x ULN
- Serum creatinine =< 1.5 x ULN
- Calculated creatinine clearance >= 30 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula may be included
- Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) =< 2.5 x ULN
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1.5 x 10^9/L
- Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3 (100 x 10^9/L)
- Hemoglobin >= 9 g/dL
- Subject must demonstrate a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 45% by echocardiography (ECHO) or multigated acquisition scan (MUGA)
-
Male or non-pregnant and non-breast feeding female:
- Females of child-bearing potential must agree to use highly effective contraception without interruption from initiation of therapy and while on study medication and have a negative serum pregnancy test (beta - human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG]) result at screening and agree to ongoing pregnancy testing during the course of the study, and at the end of study treatment; a highly effective method of contraception is defined as one that results in a low failure rate (that is, < 1% per year), when used consistently and correctly, such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine contraceptive devices, sexual abstinence, or a vasectomized partner
- Male subjects must practice abstinence or agree to use a condom during sexual contact with a pregnant female or a female of childbearing potential while participating in the study
- All ongoing toxicities related to prior therapies must be resolved to grade 1 or better (except alopecia)
- Subject must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 1 or Karnofsky performance scale >= 70
- Subjects must have one or more measurable lesions, as determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v)1.1 assessed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Subjects must have a life expectancy of >= 6 months, as determined by the treating physician
- Ability to understand and sign informed consent document
- Willingness and ability to comply with the scheduled visits, laboratory tests, and other study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known active, uncontrolled, or symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases; a subject with controlled and asymptomatic CNS metastases may participate in this study; as such, the subject must have completed any prior treatment for CNS metastases >= 28 days (including radiotherapy and/or surgery) prior to the start of treatment in this study and should not be receiving chronic corticosteroid therapy in excess of 10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent) for CNS metastases; subjects with known CNS metastases must be confirmed radiographically stable by at least one imaging study, at least 28 days from last treatment
- Receipt of any type of cytotoxic, biologic, or other systemic anticancer therapy (including investigational) within 2 weeks of enrollment
- Prior organ transplantation, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation
- Prior treatment with trabectedin
-
Significant acute or chronic infections including, among others:
- Known history of testing positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- Known active infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C
-
Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immunostimulatory agent:
- Subjects with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroid disease not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible
- Subjects requiring hormone replacement with corticosteroids are eligible if the steroids are administered only for the purpose of hormonal replacement and at doses =< 10 mg or 10 mg equivalent prednisone per day
- Administration of steroids through a route known to result in a minimal systemic exposure (topical, intranasal, introocular, or inhalation) are acceptable
- Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (grade >= 3 National Cancer Institute [NCI] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] version [v] 5.0), any history of anaphylaxis, or uncontrolled asthma (that is, 3 or more features of partially controlled asthma)
- Pregnant or lactating females
- Known, active alcohol or drug abuse
- All other significant diseases (for example, inflammatory bowel disease, uncontrolled asthma), which, in the opinion of the investigator, might impair the subject's tolerance of trial treatment
-
Any vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of avelumab, with the following exceptions:
* Administration of inactivated vaccines, including inactivated flu vaccines, are allowable; however, they should not be given within 2 weeks prior to starting study treatment
- Clinically significant cardiovascular disease including cerebral vascular accident/stroke (< 6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (< 6 months prior to enrollment), congestive heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or greater or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
- Severe (requiring active treatment) acute or chronic medical conditions including: colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, pneumonitis, or pulmonary fibrosis
- Recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03074318
United States, Washington | |
Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium | |
Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109 |
Principal Investigator: | Seth Pollack | Northwestern University |
Documents provided by Seth Pollack, Northwestern University:
Responsible Party: | Seth Pollack, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), Northwestern University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03074318 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
9717 NCI-2017-00234 ( Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program) ) 9717 ( Other Identifier: Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium ) P30CA015704 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) RG9217009 ( Other Identifier: Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium ) |
First Posted: | March 8, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | April 29, 2022 |
Last Update Posted: | April 29, 2022 |
Last Verified: | April 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Leiomyosarcoma Liposarcoma Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Sarcoma Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue Avelumab |
Trabectedin Antibodies, Monoclonal Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological Antineoplastic Agents Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating Alkylating Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs |