Clinical trial for Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Official title Testing the Addition of Anti-Cancer Drug, Cetuximab, to Standard of Care Treatment (Pembrolizumab) for Returning or Spreading Head and Neck Cancer After Previous Treatment
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06589804
What this study is testing
What is Cetuximab?
An investigational intravenous biologic being studied for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. It is designed to bind to the EGFR protein on some tumor cells.
Also referred to as Erbitux.
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 compares the effect of combining cetuximab with pembrolizumab versus using pembrolizumab alone in patients whose head and neck squamous cell cancer has returned or spread after earlier treatment.
- Who it's for
- Adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, including various subtypes such as hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, oral cavity, oropharyngeal, and cutaneous cancers.
- What's involved
- Participants receive either pembrolizumab alone or pembrolizumab plus cetuximab, with regular clinic visits for treatment, monitoring, and safety tests.
- Time commitment
- The trial lasts until the study ends, with visits every few weeks for treatment and monitoring; the exact duration depends on the study schedule.
- Phase 3: a large, late-stage study
- 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 and older
You may be able to join if
- Histologically confirmed diagnosis head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).
- Previously untreated for recurrent and/or metastatic disease incurable by local therapies.
- Primary tumor location of oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx.
- Note: Other primary tumor sites of HNSCC, including nasopharynx primary tumor are not eligible.
- Measurable disease.
See the full eligibility criteria
- Histologically confirmed diagnosis head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).
- Previously untreated for recurrent and/or metastatic disease incurable by local therapies.
- Primary tumor location of oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx.
- Note: Other primary tumor sites of HNSCC, including nasopharynx primary tumor are not eligible. Unknown primary tumors may be eligible and can be enrolled at the discretion of the treatment team with approval by the...
- Measurable disease.
- Must have platinum-refractory disease defined as disease progression during or ≤ 29 weeks after completion of definitive therapy (chemoradiation therapy) or adjuvant (post-operative) therapy.
- Patient must have a combined positive score PD-L1 positive (CPS \>/= 1) tumor.
- Any radiation therapy must be completed \>= 10 days prior to registration.
- Patients should not have received any prior treatment in the recurrent or metastatic setting.
- Prior therapy with neoadjuvant or induction anti PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody or cetuximab in the curative setting is allowed if last treatment dose was \>= 26 weeks prior to registration without evidence of disease...
- Patient has not received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to registration.
- Patient does not have a history of any contraindication or has a severe hypersensitivity to any component of pembrolizumab or cetuximab (≥ grade 3).
- Patient has not received chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone or equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to registration.
- Patient with oropharyngeal cancer only must have negative results from testing of human papillomavirus (HPV) status defined as p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or HPV in situ hybridization (ISH).
- Note: A Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) certified circulating tumor HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (ctHPVDNA) assay can be used if tissue sample is not available.
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2.
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm\^3.
- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3.
- Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL (if \< 9 g/dL, then transfusions are acceptable to increase hemoglobin above 9 g/dL).
- Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR calculated (calc.) creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula for participant with creatinine levels \> 1.5 x institutional ULN.
- Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR direct bilirubin \ 1.5 x institutional ULN.
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 3.0 x ULN unless liver metastases are present in which case...
- Not pregnant and not nursing, because this study involves an agent that has known genotoxic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects.
- Therefore, for women of childbearing potential only, a negative pregnancy test done ≤ 7 days prior to registration is required.
- Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or how well it works assessment of the investigational regimen should be...
- For treated/stable brain metastases: Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression.
- Patients with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is...
- HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months prior to registration are eligible for this trial.
- For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated.
- Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral...
- 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...
- Patients does not have a history of active myocarditis.
- Patients does not have a history of any form of pneumonitis or diffuse idiopathic or immune mediated interstitial pulmonary disease.
- Patient does not have a history of solid organ transplantation.
The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where it is enrolling
- Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
- Palo Alto, California, United States
- Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
- Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
- Golden, Colorado, United States
- Greeley, Colorado, United States
- Loveland, Colorado, United States
- Aventura, Florida, United States
- Miami Beach, Florida, United States
- Boise, Idaho, United States
- Caldwell, Idaho, United States
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
- Nampa, Idaho, United States
- Post Falls, Idaho, United States
- Sandpoint, Idaho, United States
- Barrington, Illinois, United States
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States
- Danville, Illinois, United States
- Decatur, Illinois, United States
+ 136 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 and older. 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; Palo Alto, California, United States; Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States; Fort Collins, Colorado, United States; Golden, Colorado, United States; Greeley, Colorado, United States and 150 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.