PET Imaging of the Immune System Using Analog Probes



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Skin Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:3/1/2019
Start Date:April 10, 2018
End Date:August 31, 2021
Contact:Antoni Ribas, M.D.
Email:aribas@mednet.ucla.edu
Phone:310-206-3928

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PET Imaging of the Immune System Using New Nucleotide Analog Probes

The goal of this proposal is to assess the biodistribution of 18F-Clofarabine, a new tracer
developed for use in PET/CT scans. The investigator's hypothesis is this tracer will allow
for imaging immune activation in patients with melanoma before and after treatment with
immunotherapy.

A maximum of 10 subjects are intended to be included in this study. Each subject will undergo
a maximum of two 18F-Clofarabine PET/CT scans, with each visit taking up to 4 hours. The
first visit will be prior to the first cycle of immunotherapy treatment, and the second scan
will take place 2-4 weeks after the immunotherapy treatment has started.

Prior to the PET scan an IV line will be placed. Blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen and
ECG will be obtained. Then the 18F-Clofarabine will be injected and the PET/CT scan
acquisition started. After a maximum of 120 min of scanning, subjects will undergo again
blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen and ECG.

This is a non-interventional pilot study dedicated to PET imaging for patients with
metastatic or recurrent advanced cancer melanoma before and after immune therapy
interventions with an anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody, with or without an anti-PD1 antibody.

PET/CT will be used to investigate the bio-distribution of 18F-Clofarabine in patients with
advanced or metastatic melanoma before and 2 to 4 weeks after immune system activating
interventions, namely an anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody, alone or in combination with an
anti-PD1 antibody. Clofarabine is a FDA-approved drug for treatment of relapsed or refractory
pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (December 2004) and is gaining importance for treating
adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Despite extensive preclinical toxicity studies
and multiple human phase I studies, the exact bio-distribution of Clofarabine remains
unknown. The labeling of Clofarabine with 18F allows the in vivo imaging of its
bio-distribution using only minimal concentrations of the therapeutically active doses. The
radioactive labeling of clofarabine does not change the parent molecule since a 19F present
in the parent compound is simply replaced by an 18F.

The investigators hypothesize that imaging the bio-distribution of clofarabine non-invasively
will provide insights into the bio-distribution of the drug in vivo. Imaging the
bio-distribution of radiolabeled Clofarabine may help to better understand the side effects
caused by therapeutic doses. Importantly, the investigators want to understand if
interventions activating the immune system impact the bio-distribution of 18F-Clofarabine.
This is because the enzyme dCK that is required to activate the prodrug clofarabine is highly
expressed in activated immune cells (3).

Dynamic PET/CT imaging with 18F-Clofarabine will be performed in 10 patients with advanced or
metastatic melanoma who have progressed following treatment with an anti-PD-1 antibody.
18F-Clofarabine PET/CT scans will be collected before and 2-4 weeks after treatment with an
anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody, with or without an anti-PD1 antibody. Imaging can be
completed without exposing human subjects to any significant risk. It should be noted, that
only trace amounts (nano-molar concentrations in saline solution) of the labeled
18F-Clofarabine will be administered intravenously. Thus, mass effects of the drug and any
toxic effects can be ruled out. Tracer concentrations in all organs can be quantified
non-invasively in organs which may provide insights into the whole-body drug distribution.
Investigators have now seen in humans and non-human primates the exact bio-distribution that
one would expect with uptake in bone marrow, spleen, LN and, if patients are young, in
thymus. Liver uptake is non-specific and likely due to hepatic clearance via biliary system.
There is no retention in other organs which does not mean that there is no low background
activity. Tracer uptake is proportional to dCK activity in tissues.

Inclusion Criteria:

The following inclusion criteria also apply:

1. Subject must be able to tolerate PET/CT (i.e. not claustrophobic and able to remain
supine)

2. Subject must be 18 years or older

3. Participation in a main study of anti-TIM-3

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients who meet the exclusion criteria are excluded from this study. 1. Pregnancy

1. Women of childbearing potential will have to undergo a pregnancy test that will
be provided free of charge.

2. Current knowledge indicates no confirmed detrimental effects to a developing
fetus of radiation doses below 10,000 mrem. The radiation dose received from the
study procedure is very small in comparison, however, the exclusion criteria is
in place to minimize any potential for exposure of a fetus.
We found this trial at
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Los Angeles, California 90095
310-825-4321
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