PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:~I. To determine the safety and tolerability of the combination of adenosine A2B receptor antagonist PBF-1129 (PBF-1129) and nivolumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based upon the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5 criteria.~SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:~I. To determine the efficacy of the combination of PBF-1129 and nivolumab in patients with advanced NSCLC, including progression-free survival (PFS), objective response (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS) based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1.~EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:~I. To study the effect of PBF-1129 on the levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and in peripheral blood of study patients.~II. To evaluate correlative biomarkers that might predict disease response to treatment with PBF-1129 and nivolumab therapy in previously treated NSCLC patients including STK11 genetic alterations and a transcriptional signature of LKB1 functional status developed by the Carbone lab.~OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of PBF-1129 given in combination with immune checkpoint blockade.~Patients receive adenosine A2B receptor antagonist PBF-1129 (PBF-1129) orally (PO) once daily (QD) and nivolumab intravenously (IV) on day 1. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.~After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 12 weeks for up to 1 year.
This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of PBF-1129 in combination with nivolumab in treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has come back (recurrent) or spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as PBF-1129 and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread.