Hemopurifier Plus Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Cancer
Hemopurifier Plus Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Cancer
This is an Early Feasibility Study (EFS) investigating the use of the Hemopurifier to clear
 immunosuppressive exosomes in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in the front line
 setting, in patients with advanced and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and
 neck.
All 12 patients enrolled into this Early Feasibility Phase I clinical trial will receive the
 same treatment of Hemopurifier plus Pembrolizumab (i.e., 2 rounds of Hemopurifier plus
 Pembrolizumab followed by Pembrolizumab only up to 2 years). Prior to initiation of the
 Hemopurifier treatment on Day 1, each subject will undergo phlebotomy to provide a baseline
 EDTA anti-coagulated blood sample, 30ml (< 3 tablespoons of blood) for the assessments of
 total exosome protein (TEP) levels and exosome profiles. The kinetics of exosome depletion
 will be evaluated in the study participants using serial blood samples (5ml) collected hourly
 during the 4h-depletion period by the Hemopurifier on Day 1. In addition, to evaluate
 kinetics of exosome recovery, 30ml of blood will be collected just prior to Pembrolizumab
 infusion (day 1) and on days 7 and 14 after Hemopurifier plus Pembrolizumab treatment during
 cycle 1 and 2. Exosome recovery after Hemopurifier + Pembrolizumab therapy will be evaluated
 and used to determine the rate of TEP recovery for each patient. Serial monitoring of TEP
 during Hemopurifier treatment (hourly during the 4h-depletion period), before Pembrolizumab
 infusion and after the second round of Pembrolizumab (days 7, and 14) will be done as for the
 first treatment. Only 2 Hemopurifier treatments will be given. For third and later rounds of
 Pembrolizumab, the investigators will continue to draw 30mL blood prior to Pembrolizumab
 infusion for the assessments of TEP levels and exosome profiles.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Recurrent or metastatic HNSCC (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx) and not
 amenable to local therapy with curative intent (surgery or radiation therapy)

 2. Qualifies for Pembrolizumab monotherapy as part of standard of care (has PD-L1 CPS ≥1)

 3. ECOG performance status of 0-1

 4. Measurable disease by RECIST 1.1

 5. Be > 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent

 6. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial

 7. Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks based on investigator estimate

 8. Adequate organ function as defined as:

 -  WBC ≥ 2000/μL

 -  Neutrophils ≥ 1500/μL

 -  Platelets ≥ 100 x103/μL

 -  Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL

 -  serum creatinine < 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 40 mL/min (using
 the Cockcroft-Gault formula)

 -  AST/ALT < 3 x ULN

 -  Total bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome who can have
 total bilirubin < 3mg/dL.

 9. Women of childbearing potential (WCBP) must have a negative urine pregnancy test
 within 7 days prior to the first study intervention.

 10. WCBP and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of
 birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and through 120 days after the last
 dose of study treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant
 while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her
 treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also
 agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study and for the duration of study
 participation.

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 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Patients with salivary gland SCC or cutaneous SCC will be excluded

 2. Has received systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, investigational therapy)
 for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic disease. Systemic therapy given concurrent
 with radiation treatment in the recurrent setting does not exclude the patient.

 3. Untreated brain metastasis or leptomeningeal metastasis.

 4. Tumor invades into the internal carotid artery or other major blood vessels whereby
 the treating investigator feels anti-coagulation is contraindicated.

 5. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy
 (Prednisone > 10mg or equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy
 within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.

 6. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months
 or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that
 requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Subjects with vitiligo,
 Grave's disease, or psoriasis not requiring systemic therapy or resolved childhood
 asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Subjects that require use of
 bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study.
 Subjects with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjogren's syndrome will
 not be excluded from the study.

 7. Has a history of non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids, evidence of
 interstitial lung disease, or currently active non-infectious pneumonitis.

 8. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.

 9. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality
 that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's
 participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of
 the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.

 10. Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the
 projected duration of the trial, starting with the screening visit through 120 days
 after the last dose of trial treatment.

 11. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or
 anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including
 ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation
 or checkpoint pathways) in the recurrent/metastatic setting. Patients that received
 any of these agents in the upfront curative intent setting can be enrolled as long as
 it has been 1 year since the last dose.

 12. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).

 13. Has known active Hepatitis B or active Hepatitis C

 14. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.

 15. Concurrent therapy with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. ACE
 inhibitors must be discontinued at least 14 days prior to initiation of each
 Hemopurifier treatment and remain discontinued for 24 hours post treatment.

 16. Systolic blood pressure less than 100 on at least 2 readings

 17. Subjects with electro-cardiograms (ECG) showing clinically significant abnormalities.

 18. Recent history of bleeding or bleeding disorders or any condition whereby in the
 opinion of the treating investigator giving anti-coagulation during the Hemopurifier
 treatment would be contraindicated

 19. Any disorder or condition that in the opinion of the treating investigator would not
 be able to tolerate dialysis catheter placement, blood volume losses during
 Hemopurifier treatment or research blood draws.

 20. History of heparin allergy or heparin induced thrombocytopenia.

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