Clinical trial • Phase II | Phase IV • Oncology

Atorvastatin for Non-small cell lung cancer | Triple-negative breast cancer

Phase II | Phase IV trial of Atorvastatin for Non-small cell lung cancer | Triple-negative breast cancer.

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Oncology
Trial Disease
Non-small cell lung cancer | Triple-negative breast cancer
Trial Stage
Phase II | Phase IV
Drug Modality
Small molecule | Monoclonal antibody

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
16-04-2025
First CTIS Authorization Date
16-07-2025

Trial design

Randomised, open-label, cohort 1: arm a — carboplatin (auc 1.5 weekly) + paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 weekly) for 12 weeks, followed by doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 q3w) or epirubicin (90 mg/m2 q3w) plus cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2 q3w) for 4 cycles, all in combination with pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w); arm b — same chemotherapy + pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w) plus atorvastatin 80 mg/day orally (continued until 3 weeks after last i.v. infusion). cohort 2: arm a — pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w) or atezolizumab (1200 mg q3w) or cemiplimab (350 mg q3w) for 6 weeks; arm b — same ici regimen plus atorvastatin 80 mg/day orally for 6 weeks.-controlled Phase II | Phase IV trial in Italy.

Randomised
Yes
Open Label
Yes
Comparator
Cohort 1: Arm A — Carboplatin (AUC 1.5 weekly) + Paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 weekly) for 12 weeks, followed by Doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 q3w) or Epirubicin (90 mg/m2 q3w) plus Cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2 q3w) for 4 cycles, all in combination with Pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w); Arm B — same chemotherapy + Pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w) plus Atorvastatin 80 mg/day orally (continued until 3 weeks after last i.v. infusion). Cohort 2: Arm A — Pembrolizumab (200 mg q3w) or Atezolizumab (1200 mg q3w) or Cemiplimab (350 mg q3w) for 6 weeks; Arm B — same ICI regimen plus Atorvastatin 80 mg/day orally for 6 weeks.
Target Sample Size
90
Trial Duration For Participant
168

Eligibility

Recruits 90 Vulnerable populations not selected. Participants must have the ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document; age ≥18 years is required, so consent is provided by adult participants (no assent provisions for minors)..

Pregnancy Exclusion
19) Current pregnancy and/or lactation
Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable populations not selected. Participants must have the ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document; age ≥18 years is required, so consent is provided by adult participants (no assent provisions for minors).

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- 1)\tAbility to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.\n- 10)\tFemale patients are not of childbearing potential if they meet at least one of the following criteria: a. Have undergone a documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy b. Have medically confirmed ovarian failure c. Achieved post-menopausal status, defined as: ≥ 12 months of non- therapy-induced amenorrhea or surgically sterile (absence of ovaries); in women <45 years of age FSH level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy.\n- 2)\tWillingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.\n- 3)\tWillingness and consent to undergo biologic samples collection scheduled by the protocol.\n- 4)\tAge ≥18 years at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF).\n- 5)\tEastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) 0-1.\n- 6)\tAdequate organ and marrow function as defined below, unless the investigator deems the deviation to be clinically insignificant and after discussion with the Study Sponsor: o\tAbsolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1.5x109/L o\tPlatelets ≥ 100x109/L o\tHemoglobin ≥ 9 g/L o\tTotal Bilirubin < 1.5 institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) except for patients with Gilbert syndrome who may only be included if the total bilirubin is < 3.0 x institutional ULN or direct bilirubin < 1.5 x institutional ULN o\tTransaminases (AST/ALT) <3x institutional ULN or ≤5x institutional ULN in presence of liver metastases o\tCreatinine < 1.5 x institutional ULN\n- 7)\tCohort 1 (TNBC) i)\tPathologically documented breast cancer: locally assessed HER2-negative (Immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0-1, 2+ with In Situ Hybridization (ISH)-), estrogen receptor [ER] and progesterone receptor [PgR] negative ii)\tUntreated stage II-III iii)\tIntended to definitive breast surgery after neoadjuvant therapy. iv)\tCandidate to receive neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, according Clinical practice v)\tAvailable T0 tumor sample (FFPE tumor specimen (1 block)) collected before the initiation of the study treatment.\n- 8)\tCohort 2 (NSCLC) i)\tPathologically documented lung cancer: Histologically confirmed diagnosis of Stage IIIB−not amenable to radical treatment or Stage IV lung carcinoma. ii)\tNon-oncogene addicted (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, MET, RET, KRAS wild type) NSCLC. Patients must have undergone molecular testing to confirm the absence of these mutations before inclusion. iii)\tNo prior treatment for advanced NSCLC iv)\tPatients with measurable or non-measurable disease are eligible. Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria is not required for enrollment. v)\tPD-L1 highly positive (≥50%) as assessed by local pathology vi)\tCandidate to receive first-line ICI according to clinical practice. vii)\tAvailable T0 tumor sample (FFPE tumor sample - at least 1 block or 12 slices – has to be collected during screening period. Archival T0 tumor sample may be eligible if the tumor specimen was obtained within 12 months prior to enrollment provided there have been no anticancer therapies given after the sample was obtained. In case the tumor sample will be freshly collected, at least 1 core of the tumor tissue will be snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at –80°C).\n- 9)\tMale patients and Female patients of childbearing potential must agree to sexual abstinence or to use two highly effective methods of contraception throughout the study. Abstinence is only acceptable if it is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Examples of contraceptive methods with a failure rate of < 1% per year include tubal ligation, male sterilization, hormonal implants, established, proper use of combined oral or injected hormonal contraceptives, and certain intrauterine devices. Alternatively, two methods (e.g., two barrier methods such as a condom and a cervical cap) may be combined to achieve a failure rate of < 1% per year. Barrier methods must always be supplemented with the use of a spermicide. A patient is of childbearing potential if, in the opinion of the Investigator, she is biologically capable of having children and is sexually active."}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- 1)\tPrior treatment with any anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor within 12 months from randomization.\n- 10)\tActive B or C hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or occasional finding of active hepatitis B/C infection during screening tests before chemotherapy initiation, as defined as positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA and qualitative PCR for HIV-RNA, or requiring active treatment at study enrollment\n- 11)\tLack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract, clinically significant malabsorption syndrome, or inability to take oral medications.\n- 12)\tKnown hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any excipients of atorvastatin. Conditions of rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactose deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption\n- 13)\tAnticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the trial, with the exclusion of definitive breast surgery in Cohort 1.\n- 14)\tCurrently taking, or have taken at any point within the 6 months prior to study entry, any cholesterol-lowering therapy (such as red yeast rice, supplements, statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors)\n- 15)\tPatients who, based individual cardiovascular risk factors, require immediate initiation of statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.\n- 16)\tAny known forms of Familial hypercholesterolemia\n- 17)\tCurrent or recent therapy with known strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (abbreviated CYP3A4) (e.g., clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, and itraconazole). See for reference https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-interactions-labeling/healthcare-professionals-fdas-examples-drugs-interact-cyp-enzymes-and-transporter-systems and Section 10.1.3.1 in this protocol)\n- 18)\tCurrent therapy with drugs that increase risk of statin induced myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (i.e., Niacin, protease inhibitors, verapamil, cyclosporine, clofibrate/fenofibrate or any CYP3A4 inhibitor)\n- 19)\tCurrent pregnancy and/or lactation\n- 2)\tSubjects assessed by the investigator to be unable or unwilling to comply with the requirements of the protocol.\n- 20)\tRefusal to adopt adequate contraception methods.\n- 3)\tCo-existing active infection or concurrent illness that, at the judgment of the investigator, contra-indicate the inclusion of the patient in the study.\n- 4)\tKnown severe hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or excipients or known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies.\n- 5)\tAny medical or other condition that in the Investigator’s opinion renders the patient unsuitable for this study due to unacceptable risk.\n- 6)\tPsychiatric disorders or altered mental status precluding understanding of the informed consent process and/or completion of the necessary study assessment and procedures.\n- 7)\tHistory of allogenic organ transplantation.\n- 8)\tSubjects with a condition requiring systemic treatment (e.g. corticosteroids > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent or other immunosuppressive drugs) within 14 days of treatment initiation. Corticosteroids with minimal systemic absorption (e.g. budesonide) and adrenal replacement steroid doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.\n- 9)\tSubjects with active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease. Subjects with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll."}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- In Cohort 1, the immunomodulatory role of Atorvastatin will be assessed by comparing the relative change in the density (cells/mm2) of CD8+/PD-1+ cells from T0 to T1 (Cohort 1) between treatment arms, as assessed by multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) on tumor samples.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in density (cells/mm2) of CD8+/PD-1+ cells from T0 to T1 measured by multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) on tumour samples; comparison of relative change between treatment arms."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- In Cohort 2, the proportion of patients with a decrease of at least 50% in the percent change of maximum VAF (maxVAF) in ctDNA in the first 6 weeks of treatment (maximum VAFT1−maximum VAFT0/maximum VAFT0) will be compared between treatment arms as a surrogate measure of treatment efficacy.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion of patients achieving ≥50% decrease in percent change of max VAF in ctDNA within first 6 weeks (calculation: (maxVAF_T1 − maxVAF_T0) / maxVAF_T0); compared between treatment arms as surrogate efficacy measure."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Efficacy endpoints focused on assessing the impact of adding Atorvastatin to ICI therapy on response rates and survival metrics, such as pathological complete-response rate (pCR) for Cohort 1 and Overall Response Rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for Cohort 2.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Measures include pathological complete-response rate (pCR) in Cohort 1; ORR, PFS and OS in Cohort 2 as defined by standard oncology response/survival criteria (e.g., RECIST for ORR/PFS where applicable)."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Safety objectives will evaluate the risks associated with Atorvastatin and ICI-based therapy, including the incidence and severity of adverse events, graded according to NCI CTCAE v5.0.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Incidence and severity of adverse events graded by NCI CTCAE v5.0."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Translational objectives aimed to identify prognostic and predictive immune-metabolic markers influenced by Atorvastatin and ICI therapies, using technologies such as spatial profiling, RNA-sequencing (RNAseq), plasma metabolomics by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)/Mass Spectrometry (MS) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Identification and analysis of immune-metabolic markers using spatial profiling, RNA-seq, plasma metabolomics (UPLC/MS) and PBMC analyses as described in translational objectives."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
90
Recruitment Window Months
36
Consent Approach
Written informed consent (ICF) required; inclusion criterion: "Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document." Participants must be ≥18 years and provide consent themselves. Subject information and ICF documents for Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 are listed among trial documents; materials available in Italian (protocol translations and ICFs present).

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
4
Total Number Of Participants
90

Italy

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
19-06-2025
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
16-07-2025
Processing Time Days
27
Number Of Sites
4
Number Of Participants
90

Sites

Site Name
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori
Department Name
Medical Oncology
Contact Person Name
Claudio Vernieri
Site Name
Istituto Oncologico Veneto
Department Name
Oncology 2
Contact Person Name
Maria Vittoria Dieci
Contact Person Email
mariavittoria.dieci@unipd.it
Site Name
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga
Department Name
SSD Thoracic Oncology - Oncology Department
Contact Person Name
Paolo Bironzo
Contact Person Email
pbironzo@gmail.com
Site Name
Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni Xxiii
Department Name
SC Oncologia
Contact Person Name
Alberto Zambelli
Contact Person Email
azambelli@asst-pg23.it

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Universita Degli Studi Di Padova
Organisation Type
Educational Institution
Country Of Registered Address
Italy

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
TORVAST 40 mg compresse rivestite con film
Active Substance
Atorvastatin
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
Oral
Route
Oral
Authorisation Status
Authorised (marketing authorisation present; MarketingAuthNumber 033007067, authorisation country IT)
Starting Dose
80 mg once daily (oral)
Dose Levels
80 mg
Frequency
Once daily
Maximum Dose
80 mg/day
Combination Treatment
Yes

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