Conditions

Head and Neck Neoplasms

Keywords

PharynxLarynxNoseParathyroid

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
PFS was defined as the duration from the date of enrollment to the first date of documented objective progressive disease (PD) or death from any cause. PD was determined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria version 1.0. PD is ≥20% increase in sum of longest diameter of target lesions or the appearance of new lesions. For participants who were not known to have died or to have had objective PD at the time of the data inclusion cutoff, PFS was censored at their last objective progression-free disease assessment prior to the cutoff date or the date of initiation of subsequent systemic anticancer therapy.
From enrollment to measured progressive disease up to 15.3 months (tumor assessments performed every other cycle during study treatment, and then every 6 weeks during follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

Overall Survival (OS)
From enrollment to the date of death from any cause up to 26.4 months (assessment completed during trial period at least every 3 months)
Percentage of Participants Having a Confirmed Partial Response (PR) or Complete Response (CR)
From enrollment to objectively determined progressive disease up to 15.3 months (tumor assessments performed every other cycle during study treatment until progressive disease)
Change From Baseline in Participant-Reported European-Quality of Life-5 Dimension Instrument-3 Levels (EQ-5D-3L)
Baseline, Day 1 of Cycles 2, 4, 6, cetuximab monotherapy Cycles 2 and 4 (21-day cycle)
Change From Baseline in Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer (PSS-HNC)
Baseline, Day 1 of Cycles 2, 4, 6, cetuximab monotherapy Cycles 2 and 4 (21-day cycle)

Other Outcomes (1)

Number of Participants Who Died While on Treatment and Died During 30-Day Post-Treatment Discontinuation Follow-Up (FU)
From enrollment to 30 days post-treatment discontinuation up to 26.4 months

Study Arms (1)

Triplet Combination Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Cycle 1: Week 1 - Cetuximab 400 milligrams/square meter (mg/m²) on Day 1; Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² on Day 1; Carboplatin area under curve (AUC) 5 on Day 1 or Cisplatin 75 mg/m² on Day 1 Week 2 - Cetuximab 250 mg/m² on Day 1 Week 3 - Cetuximab 250 mg/m² on Day 1 Cycle 2-6: Week 1 - Cetuximab 250 mg/m² on Day 1; Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² on Day 1; Carboplatin AUC 5 on Day 1 or Cisplatin 75 mg/m² on Day 1 Week 2 - Cetuximab 250 mg/m² on Day 1 Week 3 - Cetuximab 250 mg/m² on Day 1 Following Cycle 6, Cetuximab Monotherapy: 250 mg/m² intravenously weekly on Day 1

Drug: PemetrexedDrug: CetuximabDrug: CarboplatinDrug: Cisplatin

Interventions

PemetrexedDRUG

Administered intravenously, for maximum of 6 cycles.

Also known as: Alimta, LY231514

Triplet Combination Therapy

CetuximabDRUG

Administered intravenously in combination therapy, for a maximum of 6 cycles. After the completion of 6 cycles, participants who have not experienced disease progression will continue on cetuximab monotherapy until disease progression.

Also known as: Erbitux

Triplet Combination Therapy

CarboplatinDRUG

Administered intravenously, for a maximum of 6 cycles

Triplet Combination Therapy

CisplatinDRUG

Administered intravenously, for a maximum of 6 cycles

Triplet Combination Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+

Sexall

Healthy VolunteersNo

Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of squamous cell head and neck cancer (HNC)
Recurrent disease (locally advanced or metastatic) that is not amenable to local therapy, (i) with at least 6 months since completion of systemic therapy (chemotherapy or biological anticancer therapy), and (ii) with no more than 1 prior multimodal therapy (such as concurrent chemoradiation with or without sequential chemotherapy) for locally advanced HNC tumor, and (iii) with no prior systemic therapy (chemotherapy or biological anticancer therapy) for metastatic disease; OR
Newly diagnosed distant metastatic disease (Stage IVc)
Prior therapies:
Radiation therapy must be completed at least 4 weeks before study enrollment. For palliative therapy, prior radiation therapy allowed \<25% of the bone marrow and prior radiation to the whole pelvis is not allowed. Participants must have recovered from the acute toxic effects of the treatment prior to study enrollment.
Surgery (excluding prior diagnostic biopsy) must be completed at least 4 weeks before study enrollment. Participants must have fully recovered from any acute effects of surgery prior to study enrollment.
An estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
Biological tissue available for biomarker analysis on tumor tissue.
Disease status must be measurable as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The index lesion must not be in a prior irradiated area. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans and ultrasounds may not be used for lesion measurements.
Participant compliance and geographic proximity that allow for adequate follow-up.
Adequate organ function as defined by the following:
Bone marrow reserve: absolute neutrophil (segmented and bands) count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 × 10⁹/liter (L), platelets greater than or equal to 100 × 10⁹/L, and hemoglobin greater than or equal to 9 grams/deciliter (g/dL).
Hepatic: bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 3.0 × ULN (ALP, AST, and ALT less than or equal to 5.0 × ULN is acceptable if the liver has tumor involvement).
Renal: calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) greater than or equal to 45 milliliters/minute (mL/min).
+1 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

Have received treatment within the last 30 days with a drug that has not received regulatory approval for any indication at the time of study entry.
Are receiving concurrent chronic systemic immune therapy, or chemotherapy for a disease other than cancer.
Concurrent administration of any other antitumor therapy.
Known prior allergic/hypersensitivity reaction to any of the components of the study treatment.
Serious concomitant systemic disorder (for example, active infection) or psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the participant's ability to complete the study.
Have serious cardiac disease, such as symptomatic angina, unstable angina, or the history of myocardial infarction in the previous 12 months.
Second primary malignancy that is clinically detectable at the time of consideration for study enrollment.
Have had another primary malignancy other than HNC, unless that prior malignancy was treated at least 2 years previously with no evidence of recurrence. Exception: Participants with a history of in situ carcinoma of the cervix, nonmelanoma skin cancer, or low-grade (Gleason score less than or equal to 6) localized prostate cancer will be eligible even if diagnosed and treated less than 2 years previously.
Nasopharyngeal, paranasal sinus, lip, or salivary gland cancer.
Presence of clinically significant (by physical exam) third-space fluid collections; for example, ascites or pleural effusions that cannot be controlled by drainage or other procedures prior to study entry.
Have peripheral neuropathy of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Grade 1 or higher.
Have central nervous system (CNS) metastases (unless the participant has completed successful local therapy for CNS metastases and has been off corticosteroids for at least 4 weeks before starting study therapy). Brain imaging is required in symptomatic participants to rule out brain metastases, but is not required in asymptomatic participants.
Inability to interrupt aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, other than an aspirin dose less than or equal to 1.3 grams per day, for a 5-day period (8-day period for long-acting agents, such as piroxicam).
Unable or unwilling to take folic acid, vitamin B12, or prophylactic corticosteroids.
Recent (within 30 days before enrollment) or concurrent yellow fever vaccination.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.