HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial

BackgroundPancreatic tumors are highly lethal and a leading cause of cancer mortality. While systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay for advanced disease, its efficacy remains limited. KRAS mutations occur in approximately 88% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), of which KRAS G12D comprises up...

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Main Authors: Qingqing Leng, Jitao Zhou, Xin Wang, Pei Zhang, Huanji Xu, Dan Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562481/full
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author Qingqing Leng
Jitao Zhou
Xin Wang
Pei Zhang
Huanji Xu
Dan Cao
author_facet Qingqing Leng
Jitao Zhou
Xin Wang
Pei Zhang
Huanji Xu
Dan Cao
author_sort Qingqing Leng
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPancreatic tumors are highly lethal and a leading cause of cancer mortality. While systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay for advanced disease, its efficacy remains limited. KRAS mutations occur in approximately 88% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), of which KRAS G12D comprises up to 39.5%. Despite the promise of KRAS G12D inhibitors, drug resistance persists. Combining KRAS and EGFR inhibitors has shown clinical efficacy in select solid tumors.ObjectivesTo assess the safety and efficacy of HRS-4642 (KRAS G12D inhibitor) plus nimotuzumab (EGFR inhibitor) in patients harboring the KRAS G12D mutation, recurrent/metastatic PDAC refractory to standard systemic therapy.DesignThis is an open-label, single-center, exploratory clinical trial.MethodsThis study will enroll patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic PDAC harboring the KRAS G12D mutation, who have documented disease progression or intolerance to first-line systemic therapy. In Phase Ib, the safety profile of the investigational agent HRS-4642 will be assessed starting at an initial dose of 1,200 mg administered every 2 weeks (Q2W). Dose reductions to 1,000 mg Q2W or 800 mg Q2W will be implemented for dose-limiting toxicities. The recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of HRS-4642 in combination with nimotuzumab (400 mg weekly, QW) will be determined based on safety and preliminary efficacy evaluation. Phase II will employ Simon’s two-stage minimax design, with planned enrollment of approximately 20 participants. The primary endpoints for Phase Ib are safety profile characterization and RP2D determination; secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and duration of response (DoR). For Phase II, the primary endpoint is ORR, with secondary endpoints comprising PFS, OS, DCR, safety, and DoR.DiscussionThis exploratory clinical trial may yield critical safety/efficacy data supporting novel combination therapy for advanced PDAC. Its findings could advance the application paradigm of dual-target inhibition in pancreatic cancer therapeutics.Trial registrationThis study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with NCT06773130.EthicsThis study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital [2024 (2239)].
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spelling doaj-art-3b674c2961f849c0af3f12b534e2db052025-07-04T05:17:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15624811562481HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trialQingqing LengJitao ZhouXin WangPei ZhangHuanji XuDan CaoBackgroundPancreatic tumors are highly lethal and a leading cause of cancer mortality. While systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay for advanced disease, its efficacy remains limited. KRAS mutations occur in approximately 88% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), of which KRAS G12D comprises up to 39.5%. Despite the promise of KRAS G12D inhibitors, drug resistance persists. Combining KRAS and EGFR inhibitors has shown clinical efficacy in select solid tumors.ObjectivesTo assess the safety and efficacy of HRS-4642 (KRAS G12D inhibitor) plus nimotuzumab (EGFR inhibitor) in patients harboring the KRAS G12D mutation, recurrent/metastatic PDAC refractory to standard systemic therapy.DesignThis is an open-label, single-center, exploratory clinical trial.MethodsThis study will enroll patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic PDAC harboring the KRAS G12D mutation, who have documented disease progression or intolerance to first-line systemic therapy. In Phase Ib, the safety profile of the investigational agent HRS-4642 will be assessed starting at an initial dose of 1,200 mg administered every 2 weeks (Q2W). Dose reductions to 1,000 mg Q2W or 800 mg Q2W will be implemented for dose-limiting toxicities. The recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of HRS-4642 in combination with nimotuzumab (400 mg weekly, QW) will be determined based on safety and preliminary efficacy evaluation. Phase II will employ Simon’s two-stage minimax design, with planned enrollment of approximately 20 participants. The primary endpoints for Phase Ib are safety profile characterization and RP2D determination; secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and duration of response (DoR). For Phase II, the primary endpoint is ORR, with secondary endpoints comprising PFS, OS, DCR, safety, and DoR.DiscussionThis exploratory clinical trial may yield critical safety/efficacy data supporting novel combination therapy for advanced PDAC. Its findings could advance the application paradigm of dual-target inhibition in pancreatic cancer therapeutics.Trial registrationThis study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with NCT06773130.EthicsThis study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital [2024 (2239)].https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562481/fullpancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaKRAS G12D mutationHRS-4642nimotuzumabcombination therapy
spellingShingle Qingqing Leng
Jitao Zhou
Xin Wang
Pei Zhang
Huanji Xu
Dan Cao
HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
Frontiers in Pharmacology
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
KRAS G12D mutation
HRS-4642
nimotuzumab
combination therapy
title HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
title_full HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
title_fullStr HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
title_full_unstemmed HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
title_short HRS-4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: study protocol of a single-arm, prospective phase Ib/II trial
title_sort hrs 4642 combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma study protocol of a single arm prospective phase ib ii trial
topic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
KRAS G12D mutation
HRS-4642
nimotuzumab
combination therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562481/full
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