NCT05366166

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using a combination of pembrolizumab and olaparib when given before and after standard chemoradiation therapy in treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Pembrolizumab and olaparib are drugs that are approved for head and neck cancer treatment. However, FDA has not approved the use of these two drugs together in treating head and neck cancer.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
45

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
55mo left

Started Sep 2022

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

4 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

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 Progress45%
Sep 2022Nov 2030

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 4, 2022

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 9, 2022

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 2, 2022

Completed
4.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 21, 2027

Expected
3.8 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 21, 2030

Last Updated

January 28, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.4 years

First QC Date

May 4, 2022

Last Update Submit

January 26, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

head and necksquamous cell carcinomaHPV negativepembrolizumabolaparibPARP inhibitoranti-PD1 inhibitorintensity modulation radiation therapyProton therapycisplatin

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • One Year Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    One Year PFS will be defined as the period from the date of treatment start until disease progression or death (whichever occurs first) up to one year. Subjects who have not had an event will be censored at the date of last disease assessment documenting the subject was free of progression. Progression will be evaluated by RECIST v1.1 RECIST v.1.1: Complete Response (CR), disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Stable Disease (SD), no response or less response than Partial or Progressive; or Progressive Disease (PD), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

    up to 1 year from start of treatment

Secondary Outcomes (11)

  • Overall survival

    up to 2 years from start of treatment

  • Two Year Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    Up to 2 years from start of treatment

  • Induction therapy related delays in chemoradiation therapy

    Up to 14 weeks from start of treatment

  • Toxicities related to maintenance therapy

    Up to 2 years from start of treatment

  • Induction related toxicity using patient-reported outcomes

    Up to 2 years from start of treatment

  • +6 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (1)

Single Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants will receive neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab and olaparib combination plus standard of care (chemoradiation therapy) as defined in the protocol.

Biological: PembrolizumabDrug: OlaparibDrug: CisplatinRadiation: IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy)

Interventions

PembrolizumabBIOLOGICAL

In the induction phase, participants will receive a single intravenous infusion of pembrolizumab 400 mg prior to chemoradiotherapy. In the Maintenance Phase, participants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg every 42 days for 8 cycles.

Also known as: KEYTRUDA®, MK-3475
Single Arm

In the chemoradiation phase, participants will receive 70 Gray external beam radiotherapy, at 2 Gray/fraction dose, 35 fractions, delivered once a day, on weekdays, using Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Treatments or proton radiotherapy techniques, over 7 weeks.

Single Arm

In the induction phase, participants will receive daily oral olaparib 150 mg two times a day for 3 weeks prior to chemoradiotherapy. In the Maintenance Phase, participants will receive daily olaparib 150 mg two times a day for up to 48 weeks.

Also known as: AZD-2281, MK-7339, KU0059436
Single Arm

In the chemoradiation phase, participants will receive weekly intravenous cisplatin infusion, 40 mg/m2 over 7 weeks. In the chemoradiation phase, standard of care radiation therapy and chemotherapy will be administered, for a total of 7 weeks. Radiation therapy is done on daily basis (excluding weekends), and chemotherapy therapy will involve cisplatin infusion once weekly.

Also known as: CDDP, Cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum, Cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum, Cis-platinum
Single Arm

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • In order to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below.
  • Age \>18 years on the day of signing the consent
  • Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information.
  • Subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgment of the investigator or protocol designee. The subject must be willing to consent to a mandatory pre-study biopsy unless sufficient archival tissue is available.
  • Biopsy confirmed American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition35 stage III-IV B oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), p16-negative oropharyngeal SCC, stage III-IVB hypopharyngeal SCC, stage III-IVB laryngeal SCC -OR- HPV-associated oropharyngeal SCC (p16 positive or HPV-associated) T4 or N3 , T1-3 N2 or T3N0-1 with \>10 pack-year tobacco history
  • At least one lesion (measurable and/or non-measurable) that can be accurately assessed at baseline by imaging (CT/ PET) and is suitable for repeated assessment.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • No prior curative attempts for this cancer (i.e., surgery, radiation, systemic therapy) and not currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study intervention. No evidence of metastatic disease (M0)

You may not qualify if:

  • Subjects with prior and concurrent malignancies of different tumor types whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the study drug are eligible with the following exception: Subjects with prior history of HNSCC treated \< 3 years to the date of consent.
  • Cisplatin-ineligible as defined in the protocol.
  • Severe, active medical comorbidity. Subjects are considered a poor medical risk due to a serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, non-malignant systemic disease, or active, uncontrolled infection. Examples include, but are not limited to, uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia, recent (within 3 months) myocardial infarction, uncontrolled major seizure disorder, unstable spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, extensive interstitial bilateral lung disease on High Resolution Computed Tomography scan or any psychiatric disorder that prohibits obtaining informed consent.
  • Subjects unable to swallow orally administered medication prior to initiation of study treatment.
  • Systemic glucocorticoids for any purpose other than to modulate symptoms from an event of clinical interest of suspected immunologic etiology

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (4)

Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

Location

University of Louisville, Brown Cancer Center

Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, United States

Location

UNC Lineberger

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States

Location

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

Location

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckCarcinoma, Squamous Cell

Interventions

pembrolizumabolaparibCisplatinRadiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

CarcinomaNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsHead and Neck NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasms, Squamous Cell

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chlorine CompoundsInorganic ChemicalsNitrogen CompoundsPlatinum CompoundsRadiotherapy, ConformalRadiotherapy, Computer-AssistedRadiotherapyTherapeutics

Study Officials

  • Siddharth Sheth, DO MPH

    UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

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 4, 2022

First Posted

May 9, 2022

Study Start

September 2, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 21, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 21, 2030

Last Updated

January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations