Pilot Study for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:1/1/2014
Start Date:December 2010
Contact:Athanassios E Argiris, MD
Email:argirisae@upmc.edu
Phone:412-623-4083

Use our guide to learn which trials are right for you!

Pilot Study of Induction Docetaxel, Cisplatin, Cetuximab and Bevacizumab (TPE-A) Followed by Concurrent Radiation, Cisplatin, Cetuximab and Bevacizumab (XPE-A) in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Induction chemotherapy is gaining momentum in the management of locally advanced squamous
cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The combination of docetaxel, cisplatin, and
5-FU (TPF) was superior compared with PF in a Phase III clinical trials73,74. We have
completed a Phase II clinical trial that showed that docetaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab
(TPE) is highly active and well tolerated as induction chemotherapy in SCCHN (Argiris et al.
ASCO 2008; A6002). Preliminary survival results are very encouraging. 39 patients were
enrolled and with median follow up 26 months the 2-year PFS was 70% and the 2-year OS
84%.The combination of chemotherapy plus cetuximab is already a standard treatment in
recurrent or metastatic SCCHN47. Therefore, TPE can be used as the platform for the addition
of novel agents.

EGFR and VEGF are among the most important and validated molecular targets in cancer
therapy. The incorporation of novel targeted therapies to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is
of particular interest in head and neck cancer, and may improve efficacy without
significantly increasing toxicity. A Phase III trial of carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab
with or without cetuximab in advanced NSCLC has been proposed by SWOG. Bevacizumab is
currently being investigated in SCCHN with promising results. A Phase II study investigating
the combination of pemetrexed and bevacizumab (UPCI 05-002) as well as a Phase II trial of
cetuximab and bevacizumab (UPCI 05-087) in recurrent or metastatic SCCHN are ongoing at the
University of Pittsburgh with encouraging results (ASCO 2008 and ASCO 2009). In this study,
32 have been already enrolled. There was only 1 patient with grade 3 hemorrhage. The
objective response rate is 20%, the median PFS 2.8 months and the median OS 8.1 months.

In order to further improve the efficacy of TPE and the rate of complete responses we
propose to add bevacizumab to the TPE followed by XPE regimen we developed at the University
of Pittsburgh. Due to non-overlapping toxicities and based on our prior experience we
anticipate that the regimen will be well tolerated. Moreover, we plan to obtain tumor
biopsies and blood samples in the first cycle and evaluate the modulation of biomarkers post
combination therapy. Data from induction with TPE (presented at ASCO 2009) indicate the
potential significance of cytokine levels in patient outcome. Also, we will evaluate the
feasibility of subsequent concurrent radiation, cisplatin, cetuximab and bevacizumab.
Patients with stable disease in the primary could be considered candidates to surgical
resection at the discretion of their physician, if the tumor is resectable.


Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients with AJCC 6th edition stage III-IVB head and neck cancer, all sites,
including unknown primary tumors.

- Prior to entry in the study the resectability and alternative treatment options for
each patient will be determined by a team composed of an Ear, Nose, and Throat
Surgeon, a Radiation Oncologist and a Medical Oncologist. Stage determination,
optimal local treatment, and its timing according to this protocol will be determined
at this evaluation. The unequivocal demonstration of distant metastasis (M1) confers
ineligibility.

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell or poorly
differentiated carcinomas, or WHO types I-III of the nasopharynx.

- Unidimensionally measurable disease is required (RECIST 1.1).

- No prior chemotherapy, biologic/molecular targeted therapy (including any prior
therapy which specifically and directly targets the EGFR pathway), or radiotherapy
for head and neck cancer.

- Prior surgical therapy will consist only of incisional or excisional biopsy, and
organ sparing procedures such as debulking of airway compromising tumors or neck
dissection in a patient with an existing primary tumor. Any non-biopsy procedure must
have taken place > 4 weeks but < 3 months of initiating protocol treatment.

- ECOG performance status 0-1.

- Age of at least 18 years.

- Informed consent must be obtained from all patients prior to beginning therapy.
Patients should have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written
informed consent document.

- All patients should have their tumor tissue tested for HPV and will consent to have
available archival tumor samples, unstained slides or blocks from previous diagnostic
or therapeutic procedures submitted for correlative studies, including assessment of
target molecules EGFR, VEGF and related biomarkers. Also, patients must agree to
submit blood samples for correlative studies at least at baseline.

- Absolute neutrophil count equal to or greater than 1500/µl, Platelet count equal to
or greater than 100,000/µl

- Creatinine clearance 60 ml/min or higher calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault
formula:

Calculated Creatinine Clearance = (140-age) X actual body wt.(kg) 72 X serum creatinine
Multiply this number by 0.85 if the patient is female

- Total bilirubin within normal limits and AST/ALT less than 3 times the upper limit of
normal.

- Urine to protein to creatinine (UPC) ratio should be <1.0 at screening

NOTE: UPC ratio of spot urine is an estimation of the 24 urine protein excretion - a UPC
ratio of 1 is roughly equivalent to a 24-hour urine protein of 1gm. UPC ratio is
calculated using one of the following formula:

- [urine protein]/[urine creatinine] - if both protein and creatinine are reported in
mg/DI

- [(urine protein) × 0.088]/[urine creatinine] - if urine creatinine is reported in
mmol/L

- Patients with a prior history of squamous cell or basal carcinoma of the skin or
in situ cervical cancer must have been curatively treated. Patients with a
history of other prior malignancy must have been treated with curative intent
and must have remained disease-free for 3 years post diagnosis.

- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of severe allergic reactions attributed to docetaxel or compounds of similar
chemical or biologic composition to docetaxel, or other drugs formulated with
polysorbate 80.

- Prior severe infusion reaction to a monoclonal antibody or known hypersensitivity to
any component of bevacizumab

- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active
infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with
study requirements.

- All patients will have a baseline EKG. If abnormalities consistent with active
coronary artery disease are detected, the patient will be referred to a cardiologist
for appropriate evaluation and management prior to treatment on study

- No patients with significant baseline sensory or motor neurologic deficits (> grade I
neuropathy) will be treated on this study.

- Because patients with immune deficiency are at increased risk of lethal Infections
when treated with marrow-suppressive therapy, HIV-positive patients are excluded from
the study. Appropriate studies will be undertaken in patients with HIV and those
receiving combination anti- retroviral therapies when indicated.

- Patients with HPV positive tumors

- Inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure >150 mmHg
and/or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg)

- Prior history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy

- New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure (see
Appendix F)

- History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 12 months prior to Day 1

- No history of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to Day 1

- Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, requiring surgical repair or
recent peripheral arterial thrombosis) within 6 months prior to Day 1

- History of hemoptysis (equal to or greater than 1/2 teaspoon of bright red blood per
episode) within 1 month prior to Day 1

- Evidence of bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy (in the absence of
therapeutic anticoagulation)

- Patients should not be on therapeutic anticoagulation therapy (prophylactic use of
warfarin 1mg per day is allowed) and INR should be <1.5 at registration

- The use of anti-platelet agents (e.g. dipyridamole (Persatine), ticlopidine (Ticlid),
clopidogrel (Plavix)) is allowed only if patient is not receiving aspirin or NSAID's
known to inhibit platelet function.

- Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days
prior to Day 1 or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course
of the study

- Core biopsy or other minor surgical procedure, excluding placement of a vascular
access device, within 7 days prior to Day 1

- History of abdominal fistula or gastrointestinal perforation within 6 months prior to
Day 1

- Serious, non-healing wound, active ulcer, or untreated bone fracture

- Pregnant or breast-feeding women will be excluded.
We found this trial at
1
site
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
?
mi
from
Pittsburgh, PA
Click here to add this to my saved trials