Microneedle Array Plus Doxorubicin in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Cancer (cSCC)

Falo, Louis, MD

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Skin Cancers - Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Treatments: Drug: Microneedle Array Doxorubicin (MNA-D)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05377905

1P50CA254865-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

STUDY21090123

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test a new method of experimental treatment for cutaneous squamous cell skin cancer, using small adhesive-like patches (a micro-needle applicator or MNA for short), which have dozens of very small micro-needles loaded with extremely low doses of doxorubicin, a chemotherapy agent. The overall goal of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of these patches. The investigators have established the highest tolerated dose at 50 micrograms in a previous study for a different type of cancer that affects the skin. The investigators will thoroughly evaluate the skin where the patches are applied.

Full description

This study will evaluate a novel approach to the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSCC) of patients diagnosed previously by skin biopsy with cSCC utilizing a dissolvable microneedle array (MNA) delivery device that is used to directly and specifically deliver a drug to the tumor microenvironment for skin cancer therapy. The investigators will utilize MNAs to deliver a well-characterized, potent chemotherapeutic agent (doxorubicin) to kill topically accessible, cutaneous SCC cells. In addition to directly killing cancer cells, doxorubicin is known to induce an immunologic cell death with the potential to simultaneously convert a cutaneous neoplasm into a highly potent patient specific immunogen capable of inducing innate, adaptive, and tumor specific effector and memory immune responses. Importantly, doxorubicin is currently in clinical use with a well-established safety profile. It is anticipated that use of the MNA-Doxorubicin (MNA-D) delivery system will enable direct and specific delivery of chemotherapy to the tumor, thereby avoiding any potential for systemic toxicity. The study will be conducted using two groups: one group will consist of patients with immunocompetent immune systems and the second group will consist of patients who have had an organ transplant and are considered immunoincompetent.efficacy and safety evaluation. The first phase is now completed. Following a screening/baseline phase, the MNA-D patch application and assessment visits will occur from week 0 through week 3, followed by a rest week and at week 5, up to week 8, a final follow up visit will take place. At the final follow up visit, the remaining cSCC lesion will be removed in a standard of care manner to ensure that all tissue margins are clear of the cSCC.

Enrollment: 48 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Subjects must have a histological diagnosis of cSCC based upon a skin biopsy.

2. Subjects must have resectable stage I-III disease.

   • Measures ≥5 millimeters (mm; post-biopsy) and <100 mm in longest diameter

3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0, 1 or 2

4. Subjects must have an expected survival of greater than or equal to 12 months.

5. Subjects must not be on any other investigational device/drug treatment.

6. Subjects must be willing to adhere to the instructions of the Investigator and his research team and sign an Informed Consent Form prior to entry into the study.

7. Subjects must have the following pretreatment laboratory parameters: granulocytes ≥1,500/mm3; platelets >50,000/mm3; serum creatinine ≤2X the upper limit of normal (ULN); AST, ALT ≤3X the ULN, bilirubin ≤1.5X ULN unless Gilbert's disease then ≤3X ULN.

8. Subjects must be at least 18 years of age and must be able to understand the written informed consent/assent document.

9. Subjects must have no evidence of active infection, regardless of the degree of severity or localization. Subjects with active infections (whether or not they require antibiotic therapy) may be eligible for study participation after complete resolution of the infection. Subjects on antibiotic therapy must be off antibiotics before beginning treatment.

10. Subjects must not receive any other treatment for cSCC except emollients of subject's choice without topical steroids, anti-fungal or antibacterial topical preparations.

11. Subjects with multiple cSCC may re-enroll in the study if greater than 4 weeks elapses between courses and if all other inclusion/exclusion criteria are met.

12. Patients with HIV infection with CD4+ T-cell (CD4+) counts ≥ 350 cells/uL will be eligible for the study. Patients without a history of AIDS-defining opportunistic infections will be eligible for the study.

13. Subjects must be willing/able to comply with standard of care measures for subjects with cSCC such as sun avoidance and sun protection.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subjects with the following tumor characteristics:

   • >4 mm depth;
   • Clark level IV;
   • perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion;
   • primary site on the ear or non-glabrous lip;
   • location in the hands or feet;
   • large size: ≥10 mm on neck or pretibial area; ≥20 mm on trunk or extremities;
   • indistinct borders;
   • rapid growth;
   • recurrent lesion;
   • lesion in site of chronic inflammation or prior radiation therapy;
   • presence of neurologic symptoms; or • poorly differentiated, and aggressive histopathologic subtypes.

2. Subjects with uncontrolled pain that would preclude participation in the study.

3. Subjects who are pregnant or lactating.

4. Subjects who have sensitivity to drugs that provide local anesthesia.

5. Impaired cardiac function or clinically significant cardiac disease, including any of the following:

   • Symptomatic congestive heart failure requiring treatment
   • Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia
   • Uncontrolled hypertension
   • Corrected QT interval (QTc) >470 msec at Screening or congenital long QT syndrome
   • Acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris < 3 months prior to the first dose
   • New York Heart Association Functional Class III or higher (i.e. marked limitation of physical activity due to symptoms, or unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort)

6. Subjects with other active malignancies with the exception of non-metastatic prostate cancer and carcinoma in situ of the skin and cervix.

7. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease or a documented history of autoimmune disease, except vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy.

   • Individuals with vitiligo, type I diabetes, residual hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis on stable dose of thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adrenal insufficiency only requiring physiologic steroid replacement, or conditions not expected to recur should not be excluded.

8. Major surgery within 2 weeks of the first dose of study agent

9. History of or current drug-induced interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis Grade ≥2

10. Subjects with the disease only on the face, skin folds, head, scalp, and genital area.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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48 participants in 1 patient group

Microneedle Array Doxorubicin (MNA-D)

Experimental group

Description:

Immunocompetent and immuno-incompetent subjects will receive the MNA-D patch on 4 subsequent visits for a 20 minute time period at each application and will include patients who have competent immune systems with cSCC meeting all other inclusion/exclusion criteria and patients considered immuno-incompetent post transplant with cSCC meeting all other inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Treatment:

Drug: Microneedle Array Doxorubicin (MNA-D)