ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02736565Updated Nov 13, 2023

Pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 LPX in Subjects With Advanced Ewing's Sarcoma

A Phase 1 interventional study of pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex in Ewing's Sarcoma, Ewing Family of Tumors and Ewing's Tumor Metastatic, sponsored by Gradalis, Inc.. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 8 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-13.

Sponsored by Gradalis, Inc. · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Aug 2019, 7 years 2 months ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
7
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
8 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and the maximum tolerated dose of of pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 lipoplex in patients with advanced Ewing's sarcoma.

Read the detailed description

Eligible participants with advanced Ewing's sarcoma will be accrued in 3-subject dose escalation cohorts using the following escalation schema (50%→33%→25%→25%→25%) at a starting IV dose of 0.04 mg/kg and up to a dose of 0.156mg/kg.

For this first in class study of pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 lipoplex, Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) will be defined as any ≥ Grade 3 toxicity reported within the four weeks following the first administration of the investigational product, regardless of attribution. Any other ≥ Grade 3 toxicity encountered after the first four weeks post Dose 1 on Cycle 1 will be reported according to the CTCAE Version 4.0 but not defined as DLTs.

If 1 of 3 subjects within a dose cohort experiences a DLT, that dose cohort will be expanded to six subjects provided no further subjects experience a DLT. If no further subjects experience a DLT, dose-escalation may continue. If ≥2 subjects within a dose cohort experiences a DLT, this will define the DLT dose level and the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) will have been exceeded.

The preceding dose level will be expanded to a total of 6 subjects and, if ≤1 subject experiences a DLT, that dose level will be considered the MTD. If no further subjects experience a DLT, dose-escalation may resume per escalation schema. Once the presumptive MTD is reached, an additional 6 subjects will be treated at that dose, designated the expanded MTD dose cohort.

Participants who experience an unrelated Grade ≥3 toxicity that normalizes within 1 week may continue study treatment when the adverse event returns to Grade 1 or better at 50% of their assigned cohort dose. Delay in dosing of >24 hours will require that the next dose is skipped.

As of protocol Amendment No. 5, two subjects met the definition of dose limiting toxicity at Cohort 1, 0.04mg/kg, therefore the dose reduced by 50% and subsequent lipoplex administrations were given at 0.02mg/kg. Administration of 0.02mg/kg is defined as Cohort -1. An additional 6 subjects will be treated at Cohort -1, designated the expanded MTD dose cohort. If no further subjects experience a DLT at Cohort -1, dose re-escalation may continue to Cohort 0. The dose administered for subjects in Cohort 0 is 0.03mg/kg and would be defined as the optimal dose.

All study agent administrations will cease for the occurrence of any of the following events at any time point over the four weeks following the first study agent dose administration to a participant: death, hospitalization for reasons other than those related to the participant's malignancy (excluding preplanned hospitalization and/or hospitalization for observation during the participant's first infusion), or any Grade ≥3 liver toxicity or Grade ≥4 pulmonary toxicity. All Grade ≥3 liver toxicities or Grade ≥4 pulmonary toxicities will be considered Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI).

Participants will receive an intravenous infusion twice a week for 4 weeks for a total of 8 infusions per cycle followed by 2 weeks of rest. Treatment with investigational product may continue as long as there is clinical benefit, no evidence of disease progression, and no other withdrawal criteria are met.

Safety assessments will include physical examinations, performance status, laboratory assessments, and vital signs. Toxicity (Adverse Events) will be recorded for the duration of the participant's study treatment (following the first dose), and for up to 60 days following the last study treatment. Toxicities and AEs will be graded and reported using the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 4.0.

Efficacy assessments (response and progression) will be evaluated by local investigators using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) Version 1.1.

02

Conditions studied

  • Ewing's Sarcoma
  • Ewing Family of Tumors
  • Ewing's Tumor Metastatic
  • Ewing's Sarcoma Metastatic
  • Ewing's Tumor Recurrent
  • Rare Diseases
  • Sarcoma

Keywords

  • bone cancer
  • EWS gene
  • neuroectodermal tumor
  • pNET
  • sarcoma
  • soft tissue
  • ESFT
  • Immunotherapy
03

In context

Sarcoma, Ewing

250 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcoma, Ewing; 69 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 7 is below the median of 36 across 204 interventional studies indexed under Sarcoma, Ewing.

Browse Sarcoma, Ewing studies →

Lead sponsor

Gradalis, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (80%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
8 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Subjects will be eligible for registration if they meet all of the following inclusion criteria:

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. confirmed Ewing's Sarcoma Family of Tumors (ESFT).
  2. Age ≥8 years.
  3. Evidence of EWS translocation fusion by FISH or RT-PCR or NGS.
  4. Evidence of Type 1 fusion by molecular diagnostics.
  5. or intolerant to standard of care. Subjects must have failed surgery (if resectable), radiation (if no function-preserving surgical approach at primary site, unresectable primary following induction chemotherapy, residual microscopic or gross disease after surgery or inadequate margins), and the following chemotherapy agents: doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, etoposide.
  6. performance status (PS) = 0-2, or PS ≥60% or Lansky PS ≥60%.
  7. Normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

    Absolute granulocyte count ≥1,000/mm3 Absolute lymphocyte count ≥400/mm3 ≥100,000/mm3 Total ≤ institutional (SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤2x institutional upper limit of normal Creatinine \<1.5 mg/dL

  8. Normal pulmonary function as defined as /FVC greater than 70% in adults or greater than 80% in individuals between 8 and 18 years of age.
  9. Subject has recovered to Grade 1 or better from all adverse events associated with prior therapy or surgery. Pre-existing motor or sensory neurologic pathology or symptoms must be recovered to CTCAE Grade 2 or better.
  10. If female of , has a negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a negative serum test will be required for study entry.
  11. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed protocol specific consent. Pediatric patients must sign an assent with a parent or legal guardian sign a written , per institutional guidelines.

Subjects will NOT be eligible for study registration and enrollment if meeting any of the following criteria:

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Anti-cancer chemotherapy, biologic therapy or immunotherapy within 3 weeks or radiation therapy within 2 weeks of first infusion.
  2. Known history of other unless having undergone curative intent therapy without evidence of that disease for ≥ 3 years except cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, in situ cervical cancer or other in situ cancers are allowed if definitively resected.
  3. Patients with PET avid disease only will be excluded.
  4. unless treated with curative intent (gamma knife or surgical resection) and without evidence of progression for ≥ 2 months.
  5. History of or current evidence of thrombosis.
  6. History of or current evidence of any condition (including medical, psychiatric or substance abuse disorder), therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the Investigator.
  7. Known or chronic or C infection.
  8. Have signs and symptoms consistent with an active infection.
  9. for the prevention of infectious disease administered \<30 days prior to the start of study therapy or inactivated vaccination \<14 days prior to the start of study therapy.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(17)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Relapsed and refractory

Relapsed: the illness came back after treatment had worked. Refractory: it did not respond to treatment, or stopped responding while still on it.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Karnofsky performance status (KPS)

A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.

Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

FEV1

From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.

CTCAE grade

The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.

1
Mild.
2
Moderate.
3
Severe.
4
Life-threatening.
5
Death due to the event.

“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Brain metastases

Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).

Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Sequential assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
7 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cohort -1

    0.02mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 0

    0.03mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 1

    0.04mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 2

    0.06mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 3

    0.08mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 4

    0.10mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 5

    0.125mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

  • Experimental
    Cohort 6

    0.156mg/kg pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FL/I1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Biological: pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

Interventions

  • Biologicalpbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 Lipoplex

    Lipoplex is given intravenously as a single administration twice a week for 4 weeks for a total of 8 infusions per cycle followed by 2 weeks of rest. Treatment may continue as long as there is clinical benefit, no evidence of disease progression, and no other withdrawal criteria are met. First dose started on Cycle 1 Week 1 Day 1 followed by observation and safety assessment for 13 days. If no toxicity was observed, then another single administration of study agent was given at Cycle 1 Week 3 Day 1 followed by observation and safety for 6 days. If no toxicity was observed, then study agent was given twice a week on Days 1 and 4 over 3 weeks, for a total of 8 infusions per cycle, followed by a 2-week washout before starting each subsequent cycle. Cycle 1 = 8 weeks. Each subsequent cycles = 6 weeks.

    Also known as: Lipoplex

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants with Treatment-Related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    Adverse events(AEs) will be recorded for the duration of the participant's study treatment (following the first dose of the investigational product), and for up to 60 days following the last study treatment. AEs will be graded and reported using the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 4.03. The relationship of each event to the investigational product will be assessed by the Treating Physician.

    Time frame: From first dose and up to 60 days following the last treatment, up to approximately 13 months.

  2. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of intravenous administration of lipoplex

    By observing the Dose Limiting Toxicities, including ≥ Grade 3 toxicity encountered within the four weeks following the first administration of the investigational product the MTD will be determined.

    Time frame: From first subject, first dose and after an additional 6 subjects have been treated at the MTD, up to 4 weeks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. To assess disease response for different cohorts following pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 lipoplex administration at different dose(s).

    Radiological assessment of tumors, chest, abdomen, and pelvis to include, at a minimum, CT (or MRI), used to evaluate measurable or non-measurable disease. To be obtained at baseline and quarterly thereafter (+/- 4 weeks) until progressive disease is noted. For those subjects with CT or MRI evidence of response following the administration of the study agent, a confirmatory scan will be performed one month later.

    Time frame: From Baseline and quarterly thereafter until progressive disease is noted, up to approximately 12 months.

  2. To assess the pharmacokinetics of pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 plasmid.

    Serum for pharmacokinetics (PK) analysis will be collected on Cycle 1 Week 1 Day 1, Cycle 1 Week 6 Day 4, and Cycle 2 Week 1 Day 1 at the following time points (±10%): 30 minutes prior to study agent administration and at the following time points after the initiation of study agent administration: 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours.

    Time frame: From Cycle 1 Week 1 Day 1 and until Cycle 2 Week 1 Day 1, approximately 8 weeks.

  3. To assess ctDNA (EWSR-FLI1) levels and compare to tumor burden and disease response prior to and following pbi-shRNA™ EWS/FLI1 Type 1 lipoplex administration.

    Blood for circulating tumor DNA analysis will be collected at Cycle 1 Week 1 Day 1, Cycle 1 Week 3 Day 1, Cycle 2 Week 1 Day 1 prior to product infusion and every even cycle thereafter at Week 1 Day 1 prior to product infusion.

    Time frame: From Cycle 1 Week 1 Day 1 and until the last even cycle where product was administered, up to approximately 1 year.

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    New York, New York 10065, United States
  • Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers
    Dallas, Texas 75230, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Barve M, Wang Z, Kumar P, Jay CM, Luo X, Bedell C, Mennel RG, Wallraven G, Brunicardi FC, Senzer N, Nemunaitis J, Rao DD. Phase 1 Trial of Bi-shRNA STMN1 BIV in Refractory Cancer. Mol Ther. 2015 Jun;23(6):1123-1130. doi: 10.1038/mt.2015.14. Epub 2015 Jan 26. PubMed 25619726 ↗
  • Wang Z, Rao DD, Senzer N, Nemunaitis J. RNA interference and cancer therapy. Pharm Res. 2011 Dec;28(12):2983-95. doi: 10.1007/s11095-011-0604-5. Epub 2011 Oct 19. PubMed 22009588 ↗
  • Senzer N, Barve M, Kuhn J, Melnyk A, Beitsch P, Lazar M, Lifshitz S, Magee M, Oh J, Mill SW, Bedell C, Higgs C, Kumar P, Yu Y, Norvell F, Phalon C, Taquet N, Rao DD, Wang Z, Jay CM, Pappen BO, Wallraven G, Brunicardi FC, Shanahan DM, Maples PB, Nemunaitis J. Phase I trial of "bi-shRNAi(furin)/GMCSF DNA/autologous tumor cell" vaccine (FANG) in advanced cancer. Mol Ther. 2012 Mar;20(3):679-86. doi: 10.1038/mt.2011.269. Epub 2011 Dec 20. PubMed 22186789 ↗
  • Rao DD, Jay C, Wang Z, Luo X, Kumar P, Eysenbach H, Ghisoli M, Senzer N, Nemunaitis J. Preclinical Justification of pbi-shRNA EWS/FLI1 Lipoplex (LPX) Treatment for Ewing's Sarcoma. Mol Ther. 2016 Aug;24(8):1412-22. doi: 10.1038/mt.2016.93. Epub 2016 May 11. PubMed 27166877 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Oct 2016 to primary completion in Aug 2019, 34 months.

Of 41 phase 1 interventional studies under Sarcoma, Ewing, half reached primary completion within 89 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 65 and three quarters within 134. This study's 34 months is below that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Apr 4, 2016
First posted
Apr 13, 2016
StartActual
Oct 2016
Primary completionActual
Aug 12, 2019
CompletionActual
Aug 4, 2020
Last update
Nov 13, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 13, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02736565
Lead sponsor
Gradalis, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 13, 2016
Start date
Oct 2016
Primary completion
Aug 12, 2019
Completion
Aug 4, 2020
Last update
Nov 13, 2023

Study contacts

John Nemunaitis, MD
study director · Gradalis, Inc.

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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