NCT00939627

Brief Summary

Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Sorafenib tosylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. It is not yet known whether cetuximab is more effective when given alone or together with sorafenib tosylate in treating patients with head and neck cancer. This randomized phase II trial is studying cetuximab to see how well it works when given together with or without sorafenib tosylate in treating patients with refractory, recurrent, and/or metastatic head and neck cancer.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
55

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2009

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

8 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2009

Completed
13 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 14, 2009

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 15, 2009

Completed
3.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2013

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2014

Completed
1.7 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

September 1, 2015

Completed
Last Updated

March 10, 2026

Status Verified

December 1, 2017

Enrollment Period

3.5 years

First QC Date

July 14, 2009

Results QC Date

July 28, 2014

Last Update Submit

February 24, 2026

Conditions

Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult PrimaryRecurrent Salivary Gland CancerRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the HypopharynxRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the LarynxRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral CavityRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the NasopharynxRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the OropharynxRecurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal CavityRecurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the LarynxRecurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral CavitySalivary Gland Squamous Cell CarcinomaStage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the HypopharynxStage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the NasopharynxStage IVA Salivary Gland CancerStage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral CavityStage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the OropharynxStage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal CavityStage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral CavityStage IVB Salivary Gland CancerStage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral CavityStage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the OropharynxStage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal CavityStage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral CavityStage IVC Salivary Gland CancerStage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral CavityStage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the OropharynxStage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal CavityStage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the LarynxStage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral CavityTongue CancerUntreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult PrimaryMetastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    Estimated probable duration of life without disease progression, from on-study date to earlier of progression date or date of death from any cause, using the Kaplan-Meier method with censoring (see analysis population description for additional details). Disease progression is defined under Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 as \>=20% increase in sum of longest diameters of target lesions, unequivocal progression of non-target lesions, or appearance of new lesions.

    On-study date to lesser of date of progression or date of death from any cause (assessed up to 3 years)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Best Response

    On-treatment date to date of disease progression (assessed up to 3 years)

  • Overall Survival (OS)

    On-study date to date of death from any cause (assessed up to 3 years)

  • Number of Participants With Each Worst-Grade Toxicity

    On-study date to 30 days following final dose of study drug

  • Gene Expression Levels

    Pre-therapy

  • Overall Survival Associated With Immunomodulatory Cytokines

    Pre-therapy, up to about 42 months (follow-up for overall survival)

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Quality of Life

    up to 3 years

Study Arms (2)

Arm I (cetuximab and placebo)

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Patients receive cetuximab IV over 60-120 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and oral placebo twice daily on days 1-21.

Biological: cetuximabOther: placeboOther: laboratory biomarker analysisProcedure: quality-of-life assessment

Arm II (cetuximab and sorafenib tosylate)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients receive cetuximab IV over 60-120 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and oral sorafenib tosylate twice daily on days 1-21.

Biological: cetuximabDrug: sorafenib tosylateOther: laboratory biomarker analysisProcedure: quality-of-life assessment

Interventions

cetuximabBIOLOGICAL

Given IV

Also known as: C225, C225 monoclonal antibody, IMC-C225, MOAB C225, monoclonal antibody C225
Arm I (cetuximab and placebo)Arm II (cetuximab and sorafenib tosylate)
placeboOTHER

Given orally

Also known as: PLCB
Arm I (cetuximab and placebo)

Given orally

Also known as: BAY 43-9006, BAY 43-9006 Tosylate Salt, BAY 54-9085, Nexavar, SFN
Arm II (cetuximab and sorafenib tosylate)

Correlative studies

Arm I (cetuximab and placebo)Arm II (cetuximab and sorafenib tosylate)

Ancillary studies

Also known as: quality of life assessment
Arm I (cetuximab and placebo)Arm II (cetuximab and sorafenib tosylate)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients with recurrent, refractory or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx, hypopharynx or paranasal sinus, head and neck unknown primary or nasopharyngeal carcinoma WHO type 1; patients with recurrent, refractory or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx, hypopharynx or paranasal sinus, head and neck unknown primary or nasopharyngeal carcinoma WHO type 1; patients may have had up to 1 prior palliative chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease; please note that chemotherapy given as part of a regimen for curative intent for recurrent disease does not count as "prior chemotherapy;" patients must not presently be candidates for curative therapy
  • ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2
  • Hemoglobin \>= 9.0/dl
  • Absolute-neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/mm\^3
  • Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
  • Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x ULN
  • ALT and AST =\< 2.5 x ULN (=\< 5 x ULN for patients with liver involvement)
  • INR \< 1.5 or a PT and PTT within normal limits
  • Creatinine =\< 1.5 x ULN
  • If primary therapy was given for curative intent, at least 4 weeks must have elapsed after completion of primary therapy prior to enrollment on this clinical trial; however, toxicities from prior treatment must have resolved to grade 1 or less
  • Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of the treatment; women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation (i.e, a hormonal contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, or abstinence) for the duration of the study and for a minimum of 3 months following the last dose of chemotherapy; male subject agrees to use an acceptable method for contraception for the duration of the study and for a minimum of 3 months following the last dose of chemotherapy
  • Patients must have a measurable disease defined by RECIST criteria
  • Voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn by the subject at any time without prejudice to future medical care; patients or their legal representatives must be able to read, understand and provide informed consent to participate in the trial

You may not qualify if:

  • Prior treatment with sorafenib or cetuximab
  • Patients with active clinically significant infection or with a fever \>= 38.5º C within 3 days of the first scheduled day of protocol treatment
  • History of prior malignancy within the past 3 years except for curatively treated basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, CIN or localized prostate cancer with a current PSA \< 1.0 mg/dL on 2 successive evaluations at least 3 months apart, with the most recent evaluation within 4 weeks of study entry
  • Patients with known hypersensitivity to sorafenib or cetuximab
  • Prior severe infusion reaction to a monoclonal antibody
  • History of hand-foot syndrome
  • Pregnant or lactating; sexually active women of childbearing potential must use an effective method of birth control during the course of the study, in a manner such that risk of failure is minimized
  • Known untreated brain metastasis; patients with neurological symptoms must undergo a CT scan/MRI of the brain to exclude brain metastasis or progression of brain metastasis; patients with treated brain metastasis are eligible for study as long as no evidence of progression of CNS disease; hemorrhagic brain metastases are not allowed on study
  • Uncontrolled comorbid illness
  • Patients with HIV who are taking antiretroviral mediations will be excluded because of the potential interactions of anti-retroviral medications with these agent; however, given the potential immune modulating effects of sorafenib, investigators should still be very cautious about placing HIV positive patients on this trial as the effects of these medications on the HIV virus itself are not know
  • History of allogeneic transplant
  • Patient has received other investigational drugs within 28 days before enrollment
  • Cardiac disease: congestive heart failure \> class II NYHA; patients must not have unstable angina (anginal symptoms at rest) or new onset angina (began within the last 3 months) or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months; significant history of uncontrolled cardiac disease; i.e., uncontrolled hypertension (defined as defined as systolic blood pressure \> 150 mmHg or diastolic pressure \> 90 mmHg, despite optimal medical management), uncontrolled congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy with decreased ejection fraction will also be excluded from study; cardiac ventricular arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy will also be excluded from study
  • Thrombotic or embolic events such as a cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attacks within the past 6 months
  • Pulmonary hemorrhage/bleeding event \> CTCAE grade 2 within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug
  • +10 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (8)

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

Location

Emory University/Winship Cancer Institute

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

Location

Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

Location

Suburban Hospital

Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States

Location

Billings Clinic

Billings, Montana, 59107-7000, United States

Location

Montefiore Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10467-2490, United States

Location

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Location

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Psyrri A, Rampias T, Vermorken JB. The current and future impact of human papillomavirus on treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Ann Oncol. 2014 Nov;25(11):2101-2115. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu265. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Salivary Gland NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckTongue Neoplasms

Interventions

CetuximabSorafenib

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mouth NeoplasmsHead and Neck NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsMouth DiseasesStomatognathic DiseasesSalivary Gland DiseasesCarcinoma, Squamous CellCarcinomaNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms by Histologic TypeTongue Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodiesImmunoglobulinsImmunoproteinsBlood ProteinsProteinsAmino Acids, Peptides, and ProteinsSerum GlobulinsGlobulinsPhenylurea CompoundsUreaAmidesOrganic ChemicalsBenzene DerivativesHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsNiacinamideNicotinic AcidsAcids, HeterocyclicHeterocyclic CompoundsPyridinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring

Limitations and Caveats

Accrual ended early based on planned interim analysis, but the study was completed with existing participants.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Jill Gilbert, M.D.
Organization
Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center

Study Officials

  • Jill Gilbert

    H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restriction Type
LTE60
Restrictive Agreement
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
NIH
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2009

First Posted

July 15, 2009

Study Start

July 1, 2009

Primary Completion

January 1, 2013

Study Completion

January 1, 2014

Last Updated

March 10, 2026

Results First Posted

September 1, 2015

Record last verified: 2017-12

Locations