Trial comparing treatments for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Official title Testing What Happens When an Immunotherapy Drug (Pembrolizumab) is Given by Itself Compared to the Usual Treatment of Chemotherapy With Radiation After Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04671667
What this study is testing
What is Carboplatin?
An investigational platinum‑based chemotherapy drug being studied for recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. It is designed to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells by forming DNA cross‑links that interfere with cell replication.
Also referred to as Carboplatin.
Plain-language explanation of the investigational treatment. It is being studied and is not an approved or proven therapy. The study team can confirm the details.
- What it's testing
- The study wants to see if pembrolizumab alone can control or shrink recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma better than the usual chemotherapy plus radiation treatment.
- Who it's for
- It looks for adults who have had surgery for recurrent head and neck squamous cell cancer and are ready for further treatment.
- What's involved
- Participants will receive either the drug pembrolizumab by itself or the standard chemotherapy drugs cisplatin or carboplatin together with radiation therapy. They will have regular visits for treatment and monitoring tests.
- Time commitment
- The trial lasts several months, with multiple clinic visits for drug administration, imaging scans, and safety checks.
- Phase 2: a mid-size study of how well it works
- Time commitment: about 5 years
- Which group you join is decided by chance.
A plain-language read of the study's public ClinicalTrials.gov listing. The study team confirms the details.
Who can take part
Ages 18 to 79
You may be able to join if
- Patient must be between 18 and 79 years of age
- Patient must have locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx) in a previously radiated field
- Patient must have undergone surgery with gross total resection and must be assigned by chance within 8 weeks of surgery
- Positive margins and/or extra nodal extension (ENE)
- Positive margins are defined as malignancy at or within 1 mm of the margin. High grade dysplasia (i.e.
See the full eligibility criteria
- Patient must be between 18 and 79 years of age
- Patient must have locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx) in a previously radiated field
- Patient must have undergone surgery with gross total resection and must be assigned by chance within 8 weeks of surgery
- Positive margins and/or extra nodal extension (ENE)
- Positive margins are defined as malignancy at or within 1 mm of the margin. High grade dysplasia (i.e. carcinoma in situ) at the margin is also considered positive
- ENE may be either gross or microscopic
- Patient must have a PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS) \>= 1 in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) certified laboratory. Testing can be done locally as long as it is done in a CLIA certified laboratory.
- Patient must have had prior radiation to the area of recurrent or second primary tumor. This is defined as \> 50% of the presurgical tumor volume having previously received a dose of \> 45 Gy as determined by the...
- Patient must have completed prior radiation a minimum of 6 months prior to randomization
- Patient must not have any evidence of distant disease based on baseline imaging done within 28 days prior to randomization
- Patient must not have received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for recurrent disease. If the patient received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy as part of initial upfront curative intent treatment (either as part of definitive...
- Patient must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
- Patient must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
- Patient must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to the potential harm to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with the treatment regimens being used.
- Patient must not expect to conceive or father children by using by using accepted and effective method(s) of contraception or by abstaining from sexual intercourse while on study treatment, and continue for 120 days...
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/mcL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to protocol randomization)
- Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to protocol randomization)
- Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained =\< 28 days prior to protocol randomization)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) =\< 3.0 x institutional ULN (obtained =\< 28 days prior to...
- Creatinine clearance \> 30 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula (obtained =\< 28 days prior to protocol randomization)
- Patient must not have a current active infection that requires systemic treatment at time of randomization
- Patient must not have a history of non-infectious pneumonitis requiring steroids within 3 years prior to randomization
- Patient must not have a history of solid organ transplant or stem cell transplant
- Patient must not be on immunosuppressive medication within 7 days prior to randomization, EXCEPT for the following: a) intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injection (e.g., intra-articular injection)
- Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association...
- Patient must not have received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
- Patient must not have severe hypersensitivity (\>= grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients
- Patient must not have an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
- Patient must not have a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with the participant's ability to cooperate with the requirements of the study
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial as long as they have not been HIV-infected with a...
- Patient must not have a known history of hepatitis B (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or known active hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV ribonucleic acid [RNA] [qualitative] is detected) infection
- NOTE: No testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C is required unless mandated by a local health authority
The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where it is enrolling
- Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
- Anaheim, California, United States
- Bellflower, California, United States
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Ontario, California, United States
- New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Trumbull, Connecticut, United States
- Waterford, Connecticut, United States
- Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
- Coral Gables, Florida, United States
- Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States
- Miami, Florida, United States
- Plantation, Florida, United States
- Tampa, Florida, United States
- Wesley Chapel, Florida, United States
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Danville, Illinois, United States
- Decatur, Illinois, United States
- DeKalb, Illinois, United States
+ 72 more site(s).
Questions & answers
Do participants get paid in this trial?
This listing doesn't specify compensation. Many trials still reimburse travel or offer a stipend, so it's worth asking the study team when you connect.
Is it free to join, and do I need insurance?
Searching and applying through BridgeMD is free. In clinical trials the study-related treatment and visits are generally provided at no cost to you. You usually don't need insurance to take part, but confirm specifics with the study team.
How long does this study last?
The study runs about 5 years per participant, based on its public description. The team confirms the exact schedule and number of visits before you enroll.
Who can join this trial?
This study is enrolling all sexes, 18 years to 79 years. The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where is this trial taking place?
This study is enrolling now at Little Rock, Arkansas, United States; Anaheim, California, United States; Bellflower, California, United States; Los Angeles, California, United States; Ontario, California, United States; New Haven, Connecticut, United States and 86 more locations. Enter your location above to see the nearest enrolling site and check your eligibility.
Explore other conditions
BridgeMD is an information and trial-matching tool that is independent of the study sponsor. Details come from ClinicalTrials.gov. The study team decides eligibility, and your own doctor gives medical advice.