Study of hdFMT and Pembrolizumab for Relapsed/Refractory PD-L1 Positive NSCLC
This study is looking at whether adding Healthy Donor Fecal Microbiota Transplant (hdFMT) to pembrolizumab can help people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has come back or not responded to previous treatment (relapsed/refractory). You may be able to join if your cancer has a specific biomarker called PD-L1. Researchers want to see if this combination helps shrink tumors, which is called the Objective Response Rate (ORR). The study plans to enroll 26 participants, but its current status is unclear. You will receive hdFMT and pembrolizumab if you are eligible.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 26 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
- What's involved
- You will undergo a 35-day screening, then receive hdFMT via colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, and pembrolizumab infusions every three weeks. Treatment continues until disease progression, intolerable side effects, or for up to two years.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your tumor response will be measured for up to 5 years after treatment starts.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
NCT05669846
Study of Healthy Donor FMT (hdFMT) and Pembrolizumab in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) PD-L1 Positive NSCLC
Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatmentDiwakar DavarInvestigator-initiated
~26 participants
Updated 2026-03-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Healthy Donor Fecal Microbiota Transplant (hdFMT)Pembrolizumab
At a glance
Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1
Measured over Up to 5 years
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesPennsylvania1
Study leadership
- Diwakar Davar, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh
Who to contact
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?
Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion
Female participants:
Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP); OR
A WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance per protocol during the treatment period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of study treatment.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of stage IV PD-L1+ NSCLC.
NOTE: Patients with either squamous or non-squamous NSCLC may enroll.
NOTE: Documented PD-L1 status (defined as 1% or greater) as determined by immunohistochemistry with anti-PD-L1 antibody (IHC 22C3 pharmDx or other FDA approved diagnostic method) from a core or excisional biopsy (fine needle aspirate is not sufficient).
NOTE: Patients with small cell, large cell, neuroendocrine and/or sarcomatoid NSCLC are excluded.
Participants must have progressed on treatment with an anti-PD(L)1 ICI administered either as monotherapy or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors or other standard/investigational therapies. PD-1 treatment progression is defined by meeting all the following criteria:
Has received at least 2 doses of an approved anti-PD(L)1 ICI administered as a single agent, in combination with chemotherapy, and/or in combination with other investigational therapy.
Participants who progressed on/within 3 months of adjuvant therapy with anti-PD(L)1 ICI will eligible.
Demonstrated disease progression after anti-PD-1/L1 as defined by RECIST v1.1. The initial evidence of PD is to be confirmed by a second assessment no sooner than 4 weeks from the date of the first documented PD.
Progressive disease has been documented within 12 weeks from the last dose of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 mAb.
NOTE: Progressive disease must be determined as above.
NOTE: This determination is made by the treating investigator. Once PD is confirmed, the initial date of PD documentation will be considered the date of PD.
NOTE: Anti-PD(L)1 ICI need not be the most recent line of therapy administered.
Patients with CNS disease are eligible if CNS metastases are treated and deemed stable prior to date of enrollment.
NOTE: All patients will undergo CNS imaging at the time of Screening. Patients with treated brain metastases will need repeat CNS imaging to document stability.
NOTE: Stability is defined based on appearance of treated lesions on a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI brain study performed as part of screening by radiologist, radiation oncologist or neurosurgeon (whichever is most appropriate); absence of new or enlarging brain metastases; and no longer requiring systemic steroids (≤ 10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) for at least one week prior to enrollment.
NOTE: The contrast-enhanced CT or MRI brain imaging study should be performed no sooner than 2 weeks after most recent surgical and/or radiological intervention.
NOTE: If lesions were discovered during Screening, the patient may be eligible if the lesions are treated and stable based on the above criteria.
NOTE: Patients with leptomeningeal involvement (leptomeningeal enhancement on MRI/CT imaging and/or positive CSF cytology) are excluded regardless of stability.
Prior treatment(s)
NOTE: Prior anti-CTLA-4 ICI is allowed but not required.
NOTE: Patients with known oncogenic driver (including but not limited to EGFR, ALK, ROS, MET alterations) must have received and progressed past driver-specific therapy
Willingness to repeatedly receive FMT administered endoscopically (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy) and via pills following necessary bowel preparation pre-procedure.
NOTE: Understands infectious risks associated with FMT administration. o Although FMT infusate has been screened for bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites there is a risk of transmission of known and unknown infectious organisms contained in the donor stool. Post-FMT bacteremia (e.g. E. coli), sepsis and fatal events may rarely occur.
NOTE: Understands non-infectious risks associated with FMT administration. o Possible allergy and/or anaphylaxis to antigens in donor stool.
NOTE: Understand risks associated with endoscopy (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy) including risk of infection transmission, colonic perforation, aspiration pneumonia, and death.
NOTE: Understand that data regarding the long-term safety risk of FMT are lacking.
Presence of measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1.
Patients need to have at least one measurable lesion and a separate lesion for biopsy. Patients with only 1 lesion may be enrolled after discussion with Sponsor-Investigator.
Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
Able to provide newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated to undergo tumor biopsy (core, punch, incisional or excisional).
Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1.
Have adequate organ function per protocol. Specimens must be collected within 28 days prior to the start of study intervention.
Criteria for patients with hepatitis B and C
Screening for hepatitis B and C are required.
For hepatitis B positive patients:
Patients who are hepatitis B positive (i.e. HBsAg positive) or have a history of history of hepatitis B (i.e. HBcAb positive, or history of documented hepatitis B infection) are eligible if they have received hepatitis B directed antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load (HBV DNA) prior to enrollment.
Participants should remain on antiviral therapy throughout study intervention and follow local guidelines for HBV antiviral therapy post completion of study intervention.
For hepatitis C positive patients:
Patients who are hepatitis C positive (i.e. HCV antibody reactive) or have a history of history of hepatitis C (i.e. history of documented hepatitis C infection) are eligible if they have received and completed hepatitis C directed antiviral therapy at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HCV viral load (HCV RNA) prior to enrollment.
Exclusion
Diagnosis of NSCLC histologies other than squamous and/or adenocarcinoma histologies including small cell, large cell, neuroendocrine and/or sarcomatoid histologies.
Prior therapies:
Receipt of prior agent(s) targeting the intestinal microbiome including but not limited to: FMT, defined bacterial consortia, single bacterial species and/or microbiota derived peptides.
Prior chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or small molecule therapy within 2 weeks (or 4 half lives) prior to study Day 1.
Prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study intervention.
Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
A 2-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation (≤2 weeks of radiotherapy) to disease including CNS disease.
Presence of an absolute contraindication(s) to FMT administration
Severe dietary allergies (e.g. shellfish, nuts, seafood)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Patients who have not adequately recovered (i.e., ≤Grade 1 or at baseline or ≤Grade 2 endocrinopathy) from adverse events (AEs) due to a previously administered agent.
A WOCBP who has a positive urine pregnancy test at Screening (see Appendix 3). If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), SARS-CoV-2 and typhoid vaccine.
Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 14 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
Concurrent non-hematologic malignancy within 3 years of data of first planned dose of therapy except for tumors with a negligible risk of metastasis and/or death as defined below:
Adequately treated non-invasive malignancies including but not limited to melanoma in situ (MIS), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), in situ cSCC, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), CIS of cervix, or DCIS/LCIS of breast.
Low-risk early-stage prostate adenocarcinoma (T1-T2a N0 M0 and Gleason score ≤6 and PSA ≤10 ng/mL) for which the management plan is active surveillance, or prostate adenocarcinoma with biochemical-only recurrence with documented PSA doubling time of \> 12 months for which the management plan is active surveillance.
Indolent hematologic malignancies for which the management plan is active surveillance including but not limited to CLL/indolent lymphoma.
Patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies (CML, ALL, AML, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) are excluded even if the management plan is active surveillance.
Active (i.e., symptomatic or growing) central nervous system (CNS) metastases.
NOTE: Participants with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable, i.e. without evidence of progression for at least 2 weeks by repeat imaging (note that the repeat imaging should be performed during Screening), clinically stable and without requirement of steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to first dose of study intervention as delineated in Section 4.1.7.
NOTE: Patients with leptomeningeal disease are excluded.
Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to anti-PD(L)1 inhibitor.
Has a systemic disease that requires systemic pharmacologic doses of corticosteroids greater than 10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent).
NOTE: Participants who are currently receiving steroids at a dose of ≤10 mg daily do not need to discontinue steroids prior to enrollment.
NOTE: Participants that require topical, ophthalmologic, injected and/or inhalational steroids are not excluded from the study.
NOTE: Participants with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjogren's syndrome are not excluded from the study.
NOTE: Participants who require active immunosuppression (greater than steroid dose discussed above) for any reason are excluded from the study.
Has a history of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
Has a history of non-infectious myocarditis or symptomatic cardiac co-morbidities requiring active management.
NOTE: Patients with a history of symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV) are excluded.
NOTE: Patients with a history of unstable angina, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, or myocardial infarction 6 months prior to study entry are excluded.
Active infections
Any active infection requiring systemic therapy.
Active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
Active COVID-19 infection and/or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as defined below:
Positive SARS-CoV-2 result on nasopharyngeal (by RT-PCR test)
Active COVID-19 infection (per CDC guidelines)
Exposure to active COVID-19 infected patient (as confirmed using SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test or other approved test) as defined per CDC guidelines.
Active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Concurrent active Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (defined as anti-HCV Ab positive and detectable HCV RNA) infection.
Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the Screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.
What this trial measures
- Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1Up to 5 years
The proportion of patients with objective response (Complete Response (CR) or Partial Response (PR)) to R-FMT and pembrolizumab treatment in PD-1 primary refractory NSCLC as assessed per RECIST v1.1. CR: Disappearance of all target lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes (whether target or non-target) must have reduction in short axis to \<10 mm. For non-target lesions: Disappearance of all non-target lesions and normalization of tumor marker level. All lymph nodes must be non-pathological in size (\<10mm short axis); PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.