NCT03342911

Brief Summary

This phase II trial studies how well nivolumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel work in treating patients with stage III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that can be removed by surgery. Monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving nivolumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel may work better in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
34

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2017

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 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

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 10, 2017

Completed
3 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 13, 2017

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 17, 2017

Completed
2.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 6, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 6, 2020

Completed
3.5 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

April 1, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

April 24, 2025

Status Verified

April 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.9 years

First QC Date

November 10, 2017

Results QC Date

July 31, 2023

Last Update Submit

April 22, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Pathologic Complete Response Rate

    The primary objective of the study is to estimate the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) at the primary site, defined as the absence of any residual invasive cancer on H\&E evaluation of the resected specimen and all sampled ipsilateral lymph nodes, in patients with newly diagnosed and untreated Stage III-IVA SCCHN of the oral cavity, Oropharynx, Larynx, and Hypopharynx treated with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus Nivolumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin. Pathologic complete response rate and its associated score 95% confidence interval will be estimated.

    Up to 26 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Number of Patients Who Achieved Major Pathologic Response (Defined as 10% or Less Residual Viable Tumor)

    Up to 26 months

Study Arms (1)

Treatment (nivolumab, paclitaxel, carboplatin)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients receive nivolumab IV over at least 30 minutes on day 1, paclitaxel IV on days 1 and 8, and carboplatin IV on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 14 days for up to 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Drug: PaclitaxelDrug: CarboplatinBiological: Nivolumab

Interventions

Given IV

Also known as: 125973, 33069-62-4, 673089, Anzatax, Asotax, Bristaxol, Taxol, Praxel
Treatment (nivolumab, paclitaxel, carboplatin)

Given IV

Also known as: Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Ribocarbo, Carbosol
Treatment (nivolumab, paclitaxel, carboplatin)
NivolumabBIOLOGICAL

Given IV

Also known as: 946414-94-4, BMS-936558, MDX-1106, ONO-4538
Treatment (nivolumab, paclitaxel, carboplatin)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Patients must be 18 years of age and older.
  • Pathologically confirmed SCCHN, not previously treated, with a plan to undergo surgery
  • Patients who have stage III-IV disease without distant metastases (M0) of 1) oral cavity, 2) larynx, 3) hypopharynx 4) oropharynx (human papillomavirus \[HPV\] neg) using American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition
  • Patients who have oropharyngeal cancer that HPV positive, stage II-III disease without distant metastases (M0) using AJCC 8th edition
  • All patients with oropharyngeal SCCHN must be tested for HPV (by p16 and/or HPV in situ hybridization \[ISH\] or polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\])
  • Patients must be evaluated by a head and neck surgeon and be deemed surgically resectable at baseline
  • Tumor sample must be available for HPV p16 and PD-L1 testing and if oropharyngeal, must be tested for HPV p16
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • While blood cells 2000/ul or more
  • Absolute neutrophil count 1500/ul or more
  • Platelets 100,000/ul or more
  • Hemoglobin 9 g/dl or more; (transfusion permitted)
  • Bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (except subjects with Gilbert syndrome, who can have total bilirubin \< 3 mg/dl)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 3 x the upper limit of normal
  • Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) greater than or equal to 40 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula or serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • +4 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Patients who have participated in a study with an investigational agent or device within 2 weeks of initiation of treatment
  • Any prior radiotherapy to the neck
  • Any prior treatment for SCCHN
  • Any prior therapy with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways
  • Any history of a sever hypersensitivity reaction to any monoclonal antibody
  • Any history of allergy to the study drug components
  • Any concurrent malignancies- exceptions include- basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy; patients with a history of other prior malignancy must have been treated with curative intent and must have remained disease-free for 3 years post-diagnosis
  • Any diagnosis of immunodeficiency or current immunosuppressive therapy including \>10mg/day of prednisone within 14 days of enrollment is not permitted (excludes emergency transient steroid use at discretion of the treating physician).
  • Patients that have an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents) or immunosuppressive agents. Subjects with vitiligo, type I diabetes mellitus, or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses ≤10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. Subjects with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjorgen's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
  • Patients with a known human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV 1/2 antibodies) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), active hepatitis B (e.g., hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., hepatitis C virus \[HCV\] ribonucleic acid \[RNA\] \[qualitative\] is detected)
  • Patients with evidence of non-infectious pneumonitis or history of interstitial lung disease
  • Patients who have received a live vaccine within 30 days prior initiation of the systemic regimen
  • Patients must not be receiving any other investigational agents
  • Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illnesses including, but not limited to an active infection requiring systemic therapy or a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder(s) that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial
  • +1 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Abington- Jefferson Health

Abington, Pennsylvania, 19001, United States

Location

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States

Location

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, United States

Location

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Interventions

PaclitaxelTaxesCarboplatinNivolumab

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Carcinoma, Squamous CellCarcinomaNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsHead and Neck NeoplasmsNeoplasms by Site

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

TaxoidsCyclodecanesCycloparaffinsHydrocarbons, AlicyclicHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsDiterpenesTerpenesEconomicsHealth Care Economics and OrganizationsCoordination ComplexesAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodiesImmunoglobulinsImmunoproteinsBlood ProteinsProteinsAmino Acids, Peptides, and ProteinsSerum GlobulinsGlobulins

Results Point of Contact

Title
Jennifer Johnson
Organization
Thomas Jefferson University

Study Officials

  • Jennifer Johnson, MD, PhD

    Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 10, 2017

First Posted

November 17, 2017

Study Start

November 13, 2017

Primary Completion

October 6, 2020

Study Completion

October 6, 2020

Last Updated

April 24, 2025

Results First Posted

April 1, 2024

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations