Neoadjuvant PD-1 Inhibitor and EGFR Inhibitor in Locally Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

NCT06418724 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: 02.23
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 27
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The NEOPECS trial is a phase II prospective, single-arm, non-randomised interventional trial for patients with borderline resectable locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with a 6-participant safety lead in to ensure safety of the combination in the neoadjuvant setting across 3 sites in Australia.

Conditions

Locally Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Keywords

immunotherapy; neoadjuvant therapy; PD-1 inhibitor; EGFR inhibitor; cetuximab; cemiplimab

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Preliminary activity

  The primary preliminary activity endpoint will be the achievement of clinical downstaging from borderline resectable status to either resectable status or surgery avoidance due to complete metabolic response with no residual pathological disease as deemed by Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) consensus evaluation following up to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy.

  3 months

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Treatment safety and feasibility as assessed by NCI CTCAE v5

  12 months

• Treatment safety and feasibility as assessed by rate of R0 resection

  12 months

• Pathological response rate

  12 months

• Overall response rate (ORR)

  12 months

• Progression free survival (PFS)

  12 months

Other Outcomes (3)

• To explore the relationship between cancer-immune cell-stroma interactions using spatial transcriptomics and single cell RNA sequencing and outcome.

  3 months

• Patient reported outcomes as assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30

  36 months

• Patient reported outcomes as assessed by FoP-Q-SF

  36 months

Study Arms (1)

Cetuximab and Cemiplimab

EXPERIMENTAL

All patients will be administered the same treatment combination. Cemiplimab will be administered 350mg intravenously every 21 days. A maximum of 4 cycles will be given. Cetuximab will be administered 400mg/m2 loading dose on day 1 and 250mg/m2 on day 8 and day 15 for a 21 day cycle for first cycle. Cetuximab will be administered 250mg/m2 on day 1, 8 and 15 for a 21 day cycle for subsequent cycles for 4 cycles.

Drug: Cetuximab; Drug: Cemiplimab

Interventions

Cetuximab DRUG

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is over-expressed in many human cancers, including colorectal cancers.

Also known as: Erbitux

Cetuximab and Cemiplimab

Cemiplimab DRUG

Cemiplimab is a fully human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody that binds to the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor and blocks its interaction with its ligands programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death-ligand 2 (PD-L2). Engagement of PD-1 with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2, which are expressed by antigen presenting cells and may be expressed by tumour cells and/or other cells in the tumour microenvironment, results in inhibition of T cell function such as proliferation, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic activity. Cemiplimab potentiates T cell responses, including antitumour responses, through blockade of PD-1 binding to PD-L1 and PD-L2 ligands.

Also known as: Libtayo

Cetuximab and Cemiplimab

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female \> 18 years of age and able to comply with treatment, assessment and follow up
• Documentation of a locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis as evidenced by histopathology with available archival tissue. Locally Advanced cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LASCC) defined as borderline resectable for surgery due to multiple recurrences, prior radiotherapy, large extension, bone erosion and/or deep infiltration beyond the subcutaneous tissue into muscle/nerve or, where curative resection may lead to unacceptable complications, morbidity or deformity, and ineligible for curative radiotherapy
• Measurable disease in accordance with iRECIST criteria OR clinically measurable disease \>1cm by caliper measurement. Patients with synchronous primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) tumours will be eligible.
• Adequate bone marrow function with haemoglobin \>100g/L, absolute neutrophil count \> 1.5 x 109/L, platelets \> 100 x 109/L). Blood transfusion is allowable.
• Adequate hepatic function with total bilirubin levels \<1.5 upper limit normal range and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST levels \<2.5 level normal range.
• Adequate renal function with eGFR estimated with Cockcroft Gault formula \>50mL/min. Serum potassium levels 3.5 - 5.5 mmoL/L, Serum magnesium levels 0.7 - 1.05 mmol/L, Serum corrected calcium levels 2.15 - 2.55 mmol/L
• Adequate performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-1 as assessed by investigator
• Life expectancy of \>6 months
• Able to provide written informed consent obtained from patient and ability for patient to comply with the requirements of the trial.

You may not qualify if:

• Distant metastatic disease (M1) including visceral or distant nodal metastases
• Prior receipt of checkpoint inhibitor therapy or anti-EGFR therapy for LASCC or any other malignancy
• Uncontrolled medical/psychiatric co-morbidity as per investigator that may jeopardize the ability of the patient to undergo trial procedures with reasonable safety
• Uncontrolled autoimmune disease requiring active immune-suppression within 1 year of enrolment
• Corticosteroid use of \>10mg daily of oral prednisone within 2 weeks of Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1)
• Known history of interstitial lung disease, non-infectious pneumonitis or uncontrolled diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung diseases.
• Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection; or has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency
• Transplant recipient
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing will be performed at screening
• Controlled HIV infection (undetectable viral load (HIV RNA PCR) and Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts above 350 either spontaneously or on a stable antiviral regimen) is permitted. Monitoring will be performed per local standards.
• Controlled hepatitis B antibody positive infection (HBsAg+) is permitted providing a serum hepatitis B virus DNA PCR that is below the limit of detection and patient is receiving anti-viral therapy for hepatitis B. Periodic monitoring of HBV DNA is required. Anti-viral therapy for at least 6 months post the last dose of investigational study drug is required.
• Controlled hepatitis C virus antibody positive (HCV Ab+) is permitted (undetectable HCV RNA by PCR either spontaneously or in response to a successful prior course of anti-HCV therapy).
• History of another malignancy within 5 years prior to trial registration. A past history of adequately treated carcinoma-in-situ, basal cell carcinoma of skin, or superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is permitted. Patients with a history of other malignancies are eligible if they have been continuously disease free for at least 3 years after definitive primary treatment and low expected risk of recurrence.
• Presence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with trial protocol and follow-up schedule, including alcohol and drug abuse.
• Pregnancy, lactation or inadequate contraception. Women must be post-menopausal, infertile or willing to use reliable means of contraception. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test done within 7 days prior to registration. Men must have been surgically sterilized or willing to use double barrier contraception.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Limited: lead

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Cetuximab; cemiplimab

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Proteins; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins

Study Officials

• Jia (Jenny) Liu, MD, PhD, FRACP

  Kinghorn Cancer Centre/St Vincent's Hospital

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Ltd Project Officer

CONTACT

+61 3 9903 9022; neopecs@masc.org.au

Louise Gonzales

CONTACT

+61433880222; louise.gonzales@masc.org.au

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: April 12, 2024
• First Posted: May 17, 2024
• Study Start (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2030
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03