Testing Whether Cancers With Specific Mutations Respond Better to Glutaminase Inhibitor, Telaglenastat Hydrochloride, Anti-Cancer Treatment, BeGIN Study

This phase II trial studies how well glutaminase inhibitor telaglenastat hydrochloride (CB-839 HCl) works in treating patients with specific genetic mutations and solid tumors or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors that have spread to other places in the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Glutaminase converts an amino acid (building block of proteins) called glutamine to glutamate, which can support several cellular pathways. Telaglenastat hydrochloride works by blocking glutamine activity needed for the growth of cells. When this activity is blocked, the growth of cancer cells may stop and the cancer cells may then die. Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to genes that control the way cells function and uncontrolled cell growth may result in tumor formation. Specific genetic mutations studied in this clinical trial are NF1 mutation for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and NF1, KEAP1/NRF2, or STK11/LKB1 mutation for other solid tumors. Telaglenastat hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.