NCT04941274 · National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Abemaciclib in Patients With HIV-associated and HIV-negative Kaposi Sarcoma
What this study is about
Background: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but can also occur in people who do not have HIV. KS tumors usually involve the skin, but may also involve lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and gastrointestinal tract. Researchers want to see if a drug that is currently used to treat a type of breast cancer can help.
View original scientific description
Background: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but can also occur in people who do not have HIV. KS tumors usually involve the skin, but may also involve lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and gastrointestinal tract. Researchers want to see if a drug that is currently used to treat a type of breast cancer can help. Objective: To find a safe dose of abemaciclib to treat KS and to see if it can shrink lesions or tumors. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with KS. Design: Participants will be screened with some or all of the following: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray and/or computed tomography scans Lung or gastrointestinal tract exam with an endoscope (a flexible instrument to examine the interior of the organ) Medicine review Heart function tests KS lesion assessment Skin sample from a KS lesion Treatment will be given in 28-day cycles. Participants will take the study drug tablets by mouth everyday. They will keep a medicine diary. They will get the study drug until their cancer gets worse or they have unacceptable side effects. Participants who stopped taking abemaciclib because it was no longer providing additional benefit may be able to restart abemaciclib again. Participants will have a study visit at the beginning of each cycle. At these visits, they will repeat some screening tests. They may have medical photographs taken of body surfaces. They may complete questionnaires about their quality of life. They may give skin and saliva samples. For skin samples, an area of skin will be numbed. A small circle of skin over an area affected by KS will be removed. Participants will have follow-up visits for up to 2 years after treatment ends.
Interventions
DRUG
Abemaciclib
An initial dose of 200 mg twice daily and at an MTD dose will be administered orally every day of each 28-day cycle.
Primary outcome measures
safety and tolerability of abemaciclib
Time frame: 28 days
The fraction of patients with toxicity noted at each dose level will be reported by grade and type of toxicity identified.
overall response rate
Time frame: every 3 cycles until completion of therapy, then every 3 months for 6 months, then every 6 months for 2 years, then annually for 2 years
Percentage of patients with the best overall response of CR or PR to therapy
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must have Kaposi sarcoma confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI
- Measurable disease as follows:
- All participants in Groups 1, 2a, or 2b or 4 should have at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee (ACTG) criteria with no previous local radiation, surgical or intralesional cytotoxic therapy that would prevent response assessment for that lesion and/or evaluable disease per RECIST criteria.
- Measurable disease by the criteria proposed by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Oncology Committee.
- Participants in Group 3 must have Stage T1 KS with at least five measurable cutaneous KS lesions per ACTG criteria and/or evaluable disease per RECIST criteria.
- Participants may be HIV positive or negative.
- Participants must be able to swallow oral medications
- For all groups, participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:
- Absolute neutrophil count \>1,000/mcL
- Platelets \>75,000/mcL
- Hemoglobin \>= 8gm/dL
- Total bilirubin \<= 1.5 upper limit of normal unless the participant is receiving a protease inhibitor known to be associated with increased bilirubin (e.g. atazanavir), in which case total bilirubin \<= 7.5 mg/dL with direct fraction \<= 0.7
- AST/ALT \<3 X institutional upper limit of normal
- Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR
- Creatinine clearance \>45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 as estimated by either Cockroft-Gault or 24-hour urine collection for participants with creatinine levels above institutional normal
- Cardiac ejection fraction \> 45% by echocardiogram
- Prior treatment as follows:
- Phase I: Participants must have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy for KS with either plateau in response, progressive disease, or inadequate response to treatment. Previous local therapy or radiation is not considered systemic therapy.
- Group 2a: Individuals must have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy for KS with either plateau in response, relapsed disease, progressive disease, or inadequate response to treatment
- Group 2b: Individuals have not received prior systemic therapy for KS. Previous local therapy or radiation is not considered systemic therapy.
- Group 3: Evidence of Stage T1 KS with either a) edema or ulcerated KS and/or b) extensive oral KS and/or c) visceral KS involvement
- Group 4: Participants that received prior treatment with abemaciclib with evidence of response (at least a partial response per ACTG criteria and/or RECIST) to abemaciclib.
- Participants in Cohort 4 must:
- have been previously enrolled in Cohorts 1-3
- have at least prior documentation of PR in prior cohort
- not have come off treatment for any \>Grade 3 abemaciclib-related AE.
- Age \>18 years
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) \<= 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals on effective anti-retroviral therapy are eligible for this trial.
- Willingness to adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART)
- All participants must have received ART for 8 weeks prior to enrollment, with no evidence of KS improvement over the most recent 4 weeks
- For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV VL must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated.
- Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants with HCV infection who are currently on treatment are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV VL.
- No uncontrolled severe concurrent bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
- Participants with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, participants should be class 2B or better.
- Contraception requirements as follows:
- Participants of child-bearing potential (IOCBP) must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception (e.g., intrauterine device \[IUD\], hormonal, surgical sterilization, abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for up to 4 months after completion of abemaciclib administration
- Participants able to father a child must with partners of childbearing potential agree to use an effective method of contraception (barrier, surgical sterilization, abstinence) for the duration of the study treatment for up to 4 months after completion of abemaciclib administration. Individuals with partners of childbearing potential should ask their partners to be on an effective birth control (hormonal, IUD, surgical sterilization).
- Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the nursing person with abemaciclib, nursing should be discontinued if the nursing person is treated with abemaciclib.
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Exclusion criteria
- Participants who have had chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 3 weeks prior to entering the study.
- Participants who received radiotherapy must have completed and fully recovered from the acute effects of radiotherapy. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between end of radiotherapy and enrollment.
- Participants who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities \> Grade 1) with the exception of alopecia or neuropathy.
- Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
- History of severe allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to CDK inhibitor.
- Participants receiving any ART or other medications that are strong/moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 must have dose reductions per Strong/Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors.
- Serious and/or uncontrolled severe intercurrent illness that in the judgement of the investigator would preclude participation in the study.
- No active KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease, KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome or primary effusion lymphoma.
- Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit adherence with study requirements.
- Prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the regimen are eligible for this trial
- Participants with interstitial lung disease
Where
- Bethesda, Maryland
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced May 5, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations