NCT03532737

Brief Summary

Background: Locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) is a challenge as, in spite of initial good control with chemoradiation, the majority of patients fails systemically. In the last 2 years, immune check points inhibitors (mainly Programmed Death (PD)-1 inhibitors) were approved for metastatic/recurrent HNC. The favorable toxicity profile and durable responses was the main benefit of these drugs along the scope of cancers they were approved for. Aim of the study and methods: This will be a phase II non-randomized trial to define safety and efficacy of combining the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab given concomitantly with the usual standard of care chemoradiation/bioradiation for locally advanced non-nasopharyngeal HNC. Primary end point will be assessment of toxicity and tolerability while the secondary end points will be response rates (RR) and progression free survival (PFS)

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2018

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

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

May 6, 2018

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 22, 2018

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 7, 2018

Completed
7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 30, 2025

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 31, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

January 23, 2024

Status Verified

January 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

7 years

First QC Date

May 6, 2018

Last Update Submit

January 21, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

head and neck cancercheck point inhibitorPembrolizumabChemoradiation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT)

    A pembrolizumab attributable, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) will be defined as follows: 1\) Any ≥ grade 3 adverse event (CTCAE, v. 4) that is related to pembrolizumab that does not resolve to grade 1 or less within 28 days; 2) A delay in radiotherapy of \> 2 weeks due to toxicity related to pembrolizumab; 3) Inability to complete radiotherapy due to toxicity related to pembrolizumab; 4) Inability to receive an adequate dose (≥ 70%) of cisplatin or cetuximab due to toxicity definitely related to pembrolizumab.

    From the first dose of pembrolizumab to 28 days after the completion of radiation therapy

  • Response Rate

    Response rates according to irRECIST criteria

    3 years

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Locoregional control rates

    5 years

  • Progression free survival

    5 years

  • Overall survival

    5 years initially (longer follow up will be done)

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Patients' Quality of life (QoL)

    5 years initially

Study Arms (1)

Investigational Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

All patients will receive radical chemoradiation in addition to the investigational concomitant check point inhibitor CHEMOTHERAPY: Cisplatin: 100 mg/m2 Q21d D1, D22, D43. OR Cetuximab Loading dose 400 mg/m², one week before radiation then maintenance dose 250 mg/m² weekly, D8, D15, D22, D29, D36, D43. PD-1 inhibitor: Pembrolizumab 200 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every 3 weeks 21 days prior to radiation, then Day 1 of radiation and then every 21 days for total 6 doses Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques will be used. A total dose of 66-70 Gy/ 30-35 Fr over 6-7 weeks will be delivered to the primary site and draining lymphatics using simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB).

Drug: Pembrolizumab

Interventions

Adding PD-1 inhibitor to the standard of care

Also known as: Keytruda
Investigational Arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age16 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • The patient has pathologically proven squamous cell carcinoma arising in the oropharynx, hypopharynx, oral cavity, or larynx
  • The patient has stage III or IVA disease with an expected survival of 12 months.
  • The patient is medically suitable to withstand a course of definitive radiation therapy \& chemotherapy.
  • Karnofsky performance status is \> 60.
  • The patient must have achieved lawful age to provide informed consent according to local or national law .
  • Laboratory values performed within 14 days prior to concurrent chemotherapy should be as follows:
  • i) Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 2000/mm ii) Platelet count ≥ 100.000/mm iii) Hemoglobin ≥ 10g/dl or 100g/L iv) Urea and serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl. (for cisplatin) v) Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 ml/min. (for cisplatin) vi) serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2 Ă— upper limit of laboratory normal vii) Serum calcium within normal limits.
  • Has provided tissue for Programmed Cell Death Receptor Ligand 1 (PD-L1) biomarker analysis from a core or excisional biopsy
  • Has evaluable tumor burden (measurable and/or non-measurable tumor lesions) assessed by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging, based on RECIST version 1.1
  • Is eligible for definitive chemoradiation (CRT) and not considered for primary surgery based on investigator decision
  • Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study therapy
  • Female and male participants of reproductive potential must agree to use adequate contraception throughout the study period and for up to 180 days after the last dose of study therapy

You may not qualify if:

  • The patient has evidence of distant metastatic disease.
  • The patient has received prior systemic chemotherapy within the last three years.
  • The patient has undergone previous surgery for the tumor, other than biopsy.
  • The patient has received prior radiation therapy to the H\&N.
  • The patient's radiation therapy is considered to be a part of a postoperative regimen following primary surgical resection.
  • The patient is pregnant or breast feeding.
  • The patient has a medical (e.g. renal impairment) or psychological condition that would not permit the patient to complete the trial or sign informed consent.
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-Programmed Cell Death Receptor 1 (PD-1), anti-PD-L1, anti-Programmed Cell Death Receptor Ligand 2 (PD-L2) agent or with an agent directed to another co-inhibitory T-cell receptor or has previously participated in clinical studies with immunotherapy
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study therapy
  • Has not recovered from major surgery prior to starting study therapy
  • Has known active Hepatitis B or C
  • Has known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study therapy
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years. Replacement therapy is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • +4 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Kuwait Cancer Control Center

Kuwait City, Kuwait

RECRUITING

Related Publications (32)

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Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Head and Neck Neoplasms

Interventions

pembrolizumab

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by SiteNeoplasms

Study Officials

  • Mustafa S El-Sherify, MD

    Kuwait Cancer Control Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mustafa S El-Sherify, MD

CONTACT

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

May 6, 2018

First Posted

May 22, 2018

Study Start

October 7, 2018

Primary Completion

September 30, 2025

Study Completion

October 31, 2025

Last Updated

January 23, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01

Locations