Head and Neck Cancer

EA3211



Combining Radiation Therapy with Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

STATUS: Active


This phase III trial compares pembrolizumab with radiation therapy to pembrolizumab without radiation therapy (standard therapy) given after pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Pembrolizumab is a type of immunotherapy that stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Pembrolizumab targets and blocks a protein called PD-1 on the surface of certain immune cells called T-cells. Blocking PD-1 triggers the T-cells to find and kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high-powered rays to kill cancer cells. Giving radiation with pembrolizumab may be more effective at treating patients with metastatic head and neck cancer than the standard therapy of giving pembrolizumab alone.
  • STEP 1 REGISTRATION:

  • Patient must be >= 18 years of age

  • Patient must have biopsy-proven metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, originating in the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx, with active disease present in both the head and neck and distant sites * NOTE: The tumor from an oropharynx primary site must have known p16 status; p16 positive cancer of unknown primary is allowed as well, provided the disease presentation in consistent with a head and neck primary

  • Patient can have prior surgical resection of a primary cancer in the head and neck at any previous time, however, residual/recurrent disease in the head and neck must be present on baseline imaging

  • Patients must not have prior head and neck radiotherapy

  • Any effects from prior cancer therapy for other diseases must be fully resolved and not pose a problem for giving the treatment on this trial

  • Patient must have 4 or fewer metastatic sites prior to starting any treatment, with thoracic nodal disease considered a single site if encompassable in a tolerable radiotherapy hypofractionated field (i.e.,15 fractions or less) * NOTE: Contiguous/adjacent metastases treatable in a single stereotactic field may be considered a single site * NOTE: Patients with additional indeterminate findings such that the total number of metastatic sites would be more than 4 may be enrolled if a non-malignant etiology to these findings is a reasonable consideration

  • Patient must have 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. Patients with impaired decision-making capacity (IDMC) who have a legally authorized representative (LAR) or caregiver and/or family member available will also be considered eligible

  • Patients must have measurable disease as follows: * For patients who have not started any initial systemic therapy (with pembrolizumab + chemotherapy) must have measurable disease documented by CT of the neck and chest, and abdomen obtained within 28 days prior to Step 1 registration * For patients who have started or completed their 3 cycles of initial systemic therapy (with pembrolizumab + chemotherapy) must have measurable disease documented by CT of the neck, chest and abdomen obtained within 28 days prior to the start of their initial systemic therapy

  • Leukocytes >= 3,000/mcL (obtained =< 28 days prior to Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,500/mcL (obtained =< 28 days prior to Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • Platelets >= 100,000/mcL (obtained =< 28 days prior to Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • Total bilirubin =< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN). Patients with a total bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN, that is attributed to confirmed Gilbert's syndrome, are allowed after consultation and approval from their treating physician (obtained =< 28 days prior to Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • 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 Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • Creatinine clearance: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >= 50 mL/min/1.73m^2 (for patients receiving carboplatin-based regimens, GFR > 30 mL/min/1.73m^2) (obtained =< 28 days prior to Step 1 registration or prior to the start of any chemotherapy if on Arm T)

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months of Step 1 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 load

  • Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial

  • 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 Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better

  • Patient must not have an active autoimmune disease (i.e., inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) that has required systemic treatment (i.e., disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs) in past 2 years. Replacement therapy (i.e., thyroxine, insulin, physiologic corticosteroid replacement) is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed

  • Patients on Arm S must have received chemoimmunotherapy

  • Patients will be enrolled in the quality of life (QOL) study if the patient can read and understand English, Spanish, French or Chinese (simplified or traditional characters) * NOTE: Sites cannot translate the associated QOL forms

  • 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. All patients of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 14 days prior to Step 1 registration to rule out pregnancy. A patient of childbearing potential is defined as anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point, 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 3) has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)

  • Patients of childbearing potential and/or sexually active patients must not expect to conceive or father children by using an accepted and effective method(s) of contraception or by abstaining from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study. Patients of childbearing potential must continue contraceptive measures for 4 months after the last dose of protocol treatment and must not breastfeed while on study treatment through 4 months after the last dose of protocol treatment

  • Patient must not have received any live vaccine within 30 days prior to Step 1 registration and while participating in the study. Live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, yellow fever, rabies, bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), and typhoid (oral) vaccine. Patients are permitted to receive inactivated vaccines and any non-live vaccines including those for the seasonal influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Note: intranasal influenza vaccines, such as Flu-Mist trademark are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed). If possible, it is recommended to separate study drug administration from vaccine administration by about a week (primarily, in order to minimize an overlap of adverse events

  • STEP 2 RANDOMIZATION:

  • Patient must have ECOG performance status 0-2

  • Patient must have completed 3 cycles of initial systemic chemotherapy

  • For patients registered to Arm S on Step 1, patients must have at least stable disease after completing 3 cycles of pembrolizumab + chemotherapy

  • Patient must have no signs of progression (complete response [CR]/partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]) on restaging imaging (consisting of neck, chest, and abdomen CT). Restaging imaging must have been done after completion of initial systemic chemotherapy with pembrolizumab + chemotherapy on Step 1 and within 7 days prior to step 2 randomization. Patients with stable or responding radiologic response are eligible for Step 2

United States
FL
Tampa
Moffitt Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: ClinicalTrials@moffitt.org

Moffitt Cancer Center - McKinley Campus
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: ClinicalTrials@moffitt.org

Moffitt Cancer Center-International Plaza
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: ClinicalTrials@moffitt.org

GA
Atlanta
Emory University Hospital Midtown
Contact: Site Public Contact

IA
Ankeny
Mission Cancer and Blood - Ankeny
Contact: Site Public Contact

Cedar Rapids
Mercy Hospital
Contact: Site Public Contact

Oncology Associates at Mercy Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

Des Moines
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates-Des Moines
Contact: Site Public Contact

ID
Boise
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute - Boise
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: eslinget@slhs.org

Fruitland
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute - Fruitland
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: eslinget@slhs.org

Meridian
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute - Meridian
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: eslinget@slhs.org

Nampa
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute - Nampa
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: eslinget@slhs.org

Twin Falls
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute - Twin Falls
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: eslinget@slhs.org

IL
Chicago
University of Illinois
Contact: Site Public Contact

Danville
Carle at The Riverfront
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Research@Carle.com

Effingham
Carle Physician Group-Effingham
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Research@carle.com

Mattoon
Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Research@carle.com

Urbana
Carle Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Research@carle.com

MN
Bemidji
Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicalTrialsFargo@sanfordhealth.org

ND
Bismarck
Sanford Bismarck Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicalTrialsFargo@sanfordhealth.org

Fargo
Sanford Broadway Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicalTrialsFargo@sanfordhealth.org

Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicalTrialsFargo@sanfordhealth.org

NY
Stony Brook
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

OH
Avon
UH Seidman Cancer Center at UH Avon Health Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

Cleveland
Case Western Reserve University
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: CTUReferral@UHhospitals.org

Mentor
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Lake Health Mentor Campus
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: CTUReferral@UHhospitals.org

OK
Oklahoma City
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: ou-clinical-trials@ouhsc.edu

OR
Newberg
Providence Newberg Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: CanRsrchStudies@providence.org

Portland
Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: CanRsrchStudies@providence.org

PA
Philadelphia
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

SC
Charleston
Medical University of South Carolina
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: hcc-clinical-trials@musc.edu

SD
Sioux Falls
Sanford Cancer Center Oncology Clinic
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicTrialsSF@sanfordhealth.org

Sanford USD Medical Center - Sioux Falls
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: OncologyClinicalTrialsSF@SanfordHealth.org

VA
Richmond
VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony Point
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: ctoclinops@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University/Massey Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: CTOclinops@vcu.edu

WI
Antigo
Langlade Hospital and Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Juli.Alford@aspirus.org

La Crosse
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: cancerctr@gundersenhealth.org

Mukwonago
ProHealth D N Greenwald Center
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: research.institute@phci.org

Oconomowoc
ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
Contact: Site Public Contact

Rhinelander
Ascension Saint Mary's Hospital
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Beth.Knetter@aspirus.org

Stevens Point
Ascension Saint Michael's Hospital
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Beth.Knetter@aspirus.org

Waukesha
UW Cancer Center at ProHealth Care
Contact: Site Public Contact
Email: Chanda.miller@phci.org

Wausau
Aspirus Regional Cancer Center
Contact: Site Public Contact

Wisconsin Rapids
Aspirus Cancer Care - Wisconsin Rapids
Contact: Site Public Contact

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: 
I. To compare overall survival (OS) between immunotherapy plus consolidative radiotherapy (CoRT) and immunotherapy alone following non-progression with systemic chemoimmunotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare progression-free survival (PFS) between the two arms.
II. To compare time-to-treatment failure (TTF) between the two arms. 
III. To determine the risk of non-hematologic high-grade (3 or higher) toxicity with the addition of CoRT. 
IV. To establish the prognostic value of quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) biomarkers at baseline (standardized uptake value maximum [SUVmax], metabolic tumor volume [MTV], total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) for overall survival in both arms.
V. To establish the predictive value of (a) structured qualitative read (Hopkins Criteria) and (b) quantitative analysis for assessment of the post-radiotherapy or chemotherapy restaging PET/computed tomography (CT) to evaluate its association with overall survival in both arms.

HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE (HRQL) OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare the time-to-definitive-deterioration (TTDD) between the two arms. (PRIMARY)
II. To compare the mean early change in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Head & Neck (FACT-HN) trial outcome index (TOI) between the arms, defined as the difference between the cycle 7 time point and randomization. (SECONDARY)
III. To compare the time-to-deterioration (TTD) between the arms (first deterioration). (SECONDARY)
IV. To compare the nadir of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Immune Checkpoint Modulator (FACT-ICM) score over the course of study participation between the arms. (EXPLORATORY)
V. To compare quality-adjusted survival between the arms. (EXPLORATORY)

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. To identify differences in patterns-of-failure with respect to local regional and distant recurrences following CoRT versus immunotherapy alone. 
II. To evaluate the risk of tracheostomy and/or gastrostomy in patients treated with CoRT versus immunotherapy alone.

OUTLINE:

STEP 1: Patients who have not completed initial systemic therapy prior to enrollment are assigned to Arm T and patients who have completed initial systemic therapy prior to enrollment are assigned to Arm S.

ARM T: Patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) with carboplatin IV on day 1 of each cycle and paclitaxel IV on day 1 of each cycle or days 1 and 8, or with cisplatin IV on day 1 of each cycle and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4 of each cycle, or with carboplatin IV on day 1 of each cycle and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4 of each cycle on study. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 

ARM S: Patients proceed directly to Step II.

STEP II: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM A: Patients receive one cycle of pembrolizumab IV with carboplatin IV on day 1 and paclitaxel IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, or with cisplatin IV on day 1 and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4, or with carboplatin IV on day 1 and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4 on study and then receive pembrolizumab IV on day 1 of each cycle until progression or a total of 2 years with radiation therapy once daily for a total of 30 fractions on study. Patients also undergo CT, PET/CT, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during baseline, after cycle 3 of step 1, then every 9 weeks as clinically indicated during the first two years after the initiation of treatment, then every 12 weeks during year 3. 

ARM B: Patients receive one cycle of pembrolizumab IV with carboplatin IV on day 1 and paclitaxel IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, or with cisplatin IV on day 1 and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4, or with carboplatin IV on day 1 and fluorouracil IV on days 1-4 on study and then receive pembrolizumab IV monotherapy on day 1 of each cycle for six cycles. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV on day 1 of each cycle on study. Treatment repeats every 42 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or a total of 2 years. Patients also undergo CT, PET/CT, and/or MRI during baseline, after cycle 3 of step 1, then every 9 weeks as clinically indicated during the first two years after the initiation of treatment, then every 12 weeks during year 3. 

After completion of study treatment, participants are followed up for 3 years.

Interactive content above is from the official study record on the National Cancer Institute website, cancer.gov.


The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group designed this trial and is conducting it with funding from the National Cancer Institute through its National Clinical Trials Network.


EA3211 Home Page
ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group