Time-of-Day Specified Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma, The TIME Trial

This phase II trial tests the safety and effectiveness of giving ipilimumab and nivolumab in the morning compared to other times of day in treating patients with melanoma that is stage IV or that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. While some patients have impressive outcomes with both of these drugs, over 40% of patients do not experience any clinical benefit. Studies have shown that the time of day that vaccines and other therapies are given have had an impact on response and survival. It is not known, however, whether time of day has an impact on response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab. Giving ipilimumab and nivolumab earlier in the day compared to later in the day may improve response to treatment and survival in patients with stage IV or unresectable melanoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the progression-free survival (PFS) following administration of immunotherapy at different time-of-day intervals for previously untreated unresectable or metastatic melanoma. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare adverse events (AEs). II. Rate of receiving all immunotherapy doses as scheduled. III. Objective response rate. IV. Melanoma specific survival (MSS) and overall survival (OS). V. Patient-reported quality of life (QOL). TERTIARY/EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE: I. To explore immune biomarkers associated with clinical efficacy (PFS, OS). OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 arms. ARM I: Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 60 minutes and ipilimumab IV over 90 minutes at 0800-1100 on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 3 weeks for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive maintenance nivolumab for up to a total of 2 years. Patients wear an actigraphy device for 5-7 days at enrollment prior to first infusion and for up to 4 weeks then over 3 weeks starting with visit 4. Patients also undergo check swab and blood sample collection, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI or CT of brain throughout the study. Additionally, patients may optionally undergo tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study. ARM II: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 60 minutes and ipilimumab IV over 90 minutes at 1100-1400 on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 3 weeks for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive maintenance nivolumab for up to a total of 2 years. Patients wear an actigraphy device for 5-7 days at enrollment prior to first infusion and for up to 4 weeks then over 3 weeks starting with visit 4. Patients also undergo check swab and blood sample collection, CT or MRI and MRI or CT of brain throughout the study. Additionally, patients may optionally undergo tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study. ARM III: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 60 minutes and ipilimumab IV over 90 minutes at 1400-1700 on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 3 weeks for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive maintenance nivolumab for up to a total of 2 years. Patients wear an actigraphy device for 5-7 days at enrollment prior to first infusion and for up to 4 weeks then over 3 weeks starting with visit 4. Patients also undergo check swab and blood sample collection, CT or MRI and MRI or CT of brain throughout the study. Additionally, patients may optionally undergo tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 12 months, then for up to year 5.