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Induction Chemotherapy Followed By Cetuximab and Radiation in HPV-Associated Resectable Stage III/IV Oropharynx Cancer

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Precancerous Condition
Head and Neck Cancer
Interventions
Biological: cetuximab
Radiation: intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Registration Number
NCT01084083
Lead Sponsor
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab to see how well they work when followed by cetuximab and two different doses of intensity-modulated radiation therapy in treating patients with HPV-associated stage III or stage IV cancer of the oropharynx that can be removed by surgery.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* To evaluate the efficacy of induction therapy comprising paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab followed by cetuximab in combination with low-dose or standard-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy, as measured by 2-year progression-free survival (PFS), in patients with human papillomavirus(HPV)-associated resectable stage III-IVB squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

Secondary

* To assess overall survival.

* To evaluate the objective response, local control, and metastatic rate.

* To evaluate early and late toxicities of treatment.

Tertiary

* To evaluate quality of life and speech and swallowing function as measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-HN), and Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey (VHNSS).

* To assess the effect of treatment-induced fatigue on general physical functioning in patients with head and neck cancer.

* To correlate functional decline with clinical, physical, and biologic correlatives.

* To evaluate radiation-resistance markers, including ERCC1 single nucleotide polymorphism and protein expression, and to correlate them with treatment efficacy.

* To demonstrate the usefulness of biomarkers, including ERCC1, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cytokine and chemokine markers, and plasma transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) levels, in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) and other outcome parameters.

* To evaluate the correlation between the efficacy of cetuximab and polymorphisms in FcγR-receptors.

* To evaluate functional outcome and biological parameters, including telomere length, angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism, and C-reactive protein level.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

* Induction therapy: Patients receive cisplatin intravenously (IV) over 1 hour on day 1 and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 3 courses. Patients then undergo evaluation of response to induction therapy. Patients with a clinical complete response (CR) at the primary tumor site proceed to group 1 of concurrent radiotherapy and cetuximab. Patients with a clinical partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) at the primary tumor site or those with grossly positive disease at the primary tumor site proceed to group 2 of concurrent radiotherapy and cetuximab.

* Concurrent radiotherapy and cetuximab: Treatment begins 14-21 days after the last day of induction therapy.

* Group 1 (CR): Patients undergo low-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 5 days per week for approximately 5 weeks (27 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 6 weeks.

* Group 2 (PR, SD, or grossly positive disease): Patients undergo standard-dose IMRT 5 days per week for approximately 6 weeks (33 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 7 weeks.

Patients complete questionnaires assessing fatigue, physical function, weight loss, quality of life, head and neck symptom burden, and speech and swallowing function at baseline and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after completion of study treatment.

Tumor tissue and serum samples may be collected periodically for correlative laboratory studies.

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

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: 83 patients

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
90
Inclusion Criteria
  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx as determined by Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining

    • Newly diagnosed disease
    • Resectable disease OR disease that is expected to become resectable after study treatment
    • Stage III, IVA, or IVB disease as determined by imaging studies (computed tomography (CT) scan with IV contrast or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) required) and a complete head and neck exam
  • Paraffin-embedded tumor specimen available for central confirmation of HPV-associated disease as determined by H&E staining and in-situ hybridization (ISH) for HPV-16 and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16

    • HPV-associated disease is defined as p16 IHC-positive and/or HPV-16 ISH-positive
    • Non-HPV-associated disease is defined as p16 IHC-negative
    • NOTE: If there is limited tumor material, p16 IHC will be performed before HPV-16 ISH
  • Measurable disease of the primary tumor or nodes by clinical and radiographic methods, defined as a lesion that is ≥ 2 cm in at least one dimension by clinical exam AND by radiographic exam with CT scan or MRI (or a lesion that is ≥ 1 cm in at least one dimension if the radiographic exam utilizes spiral CT scan)

  • No primary tumor or nodal metastasis fixed to the carotid artery, skull base, or cervical spine

  • No evidence of distant metastases

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1

  • Granulocytes ≥ 1,000/mm^3

  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

  • Total serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

  • Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

  • Negative pregnancy test

  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception

  • No history of another malignancy (except for carcinoma in situ of the cervix and/or nonmelanomatous skin cancer) unless it has been curatively treated and the patient has been disease-free for ≥ 2 years

  • Patients with any of the following within the past 6 months are eligible provided they have been evaluated by a cardiologist and/or neurologist before study entry:

    • New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV congestive heart failure
    • Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack
    • Unstable angina
    • Myocardial infarction (with or without ST elevation)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Prior chemotherapy
  • Prior radiotherapy above the clavicles
  • Prior surgery with curative intent for this disease (complete head and neck exam with biopsy allowed)
  • Prior therapy specifically and directly targeting the EGFR pathway
  • Prior severe infusion reaction to a monoclonal antibody
  • Uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled infection despite antibiotics, or uncontrolled hypertension within the past 30 days
  • Concurrent illness likely to interfere with study therapy or to prevent surgical resection
  • Pregnant or nursing

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group 2intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)After induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo standard-dose IMRT 5 days per week for approximately 6 weeks (33 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 7 weeks.
Group 1intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)After induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo low-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 5 days per week for approximately 5 weeks (27 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 6 weeks.
Group 1cetuximabAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo low-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 5 days per week for approximately 5 weeks (27 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 6 weeks.
Group 2cetuximabAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo standard-dose IMRT 5 days per week for approximately 6 weeks (33 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 7 weeks.
Group 1CisplatinAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo low-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 5 days per week for approximately 5 weeks (27 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 6 weeks.
Group 1PaclitaxelAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo low-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 5 days per week for approximately 5 weeks (27 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 6 weeks.
Group 2PaclitaxelAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo standard-dose IMRT 5 days per week for approximately 6 weeks (33 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 7 weeks.
Group 2CisplatinAfter induction therapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, patients undergo standard-dose IMRT 5 days per week for approximately 6 weeks (33 fractions). Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly for 7 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
24-month Progression-free Survivalassessed within 14 days after delivery of the third cycle of induction therapy, and 8 weeks and 6 months after completion of concurrent therapy, then every 6 months until progression or until 3 years from study entry

24-month progression-free survival is defined as the proportion of patients who were alive and progression-free at 24 months post registration. The primary study population for this endpoint is patients who were confirmed post-induction clinical complete response (CR) at their primary sites and subsequently received 5400 cGy radiation therapy to their primary sites.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
24-months Overall Survivalassessed within 14 days after delivery of the third cycle of induction therapy, and 8 weeks and 6 months after completion of concurrent therapy, then every 6 months until progression or until 3 years from study entry

OS was defined as the time from registration to death, or censored at last date known alive. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival rate at 24 months.

Primary Clinical Response Rateassessed within 14 days after delivery of the third cycle of induction therapy

Primary clinical response rate is defined as the proportion of patients with complete response or partial response at their primary sites after induction therapy. Response status for the primary site was classified by clinical examination using endoscopy. If, however, the clinical response status of the primary was unclear based on endoscopy, then the CT or MRI (required at the end of induction) was used to determine status of the primary. If clinical and radiological evaluation of the primary was unclear, a biopsy was considered at the discretion of the treating physician.

Trial Locations

Locations (121)

Northwest Ohio Oncology Center

🇺🇸

Maumee, Ohio, United States

McKee Medical Center

🇺🇸

Loveland, Colorado, United States

Hope Cancer Care Center at Longmont United Hospital

🇺🇸

Longmont, Colorado, United States

St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center at St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center

🇺🇸

Grand Junction, Colorado, United States

Exempla Lutheran Medical Center

🇺🇸

Wheat Ridge, Colorado, United States

Minnesota Oncology Hematology, PA - Maplewood

🇺🇸

Maplewood, Minnesota, United States

CCOP - MeritCare Hospital

🇺🇸

Fargo, North Dakota, United States

Penrose Cancer Center at Penrose Hospital

🇺🇸

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

North Colorado Medical Center

🇺🇸

Greeley, Colorado, United States

St. Mary - Corwin Regional Medical Center

🇺🇸

Pueblo, Colorado, United States

Sky Ridge Medical Center

🇺🇸

Lone Tree, Colorado, United States

Willmar Cancer Center at Rice Memorial Hospital

🇺🇸

Willmar, Minnesota, United States

Fergus Falls Medical Group, PA

🇺🇸

Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States

Front Range Cancer Specialists

🇺🇸

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

CCOP - Metro-Minnesota

🇺🇸

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, United States

Regions Hospital Cancer Care Center

🇺🇸

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

Hubert H. Humphrey Cancer Center at North Memorial Outpatient Center

🇺🇸

Robbinsdale, Minnesota, United States

St. Francis Cancer Center at St. Francis Medical Center

🇺🇸

Shakopee, Minnesota, United States

North Suburban Medical Center

🇺🇸

Thornton, Colorado, United States

George Bray Cancer Center at the Hospital of Central Connecticut - New Britain Campus

🇺🇸

New Britain, Connecticut, United States

CCOP - Christiana Care Health Services

🇺🇸

Newark, Delaware, United States

Tunnell Cancer Center at Beebe Medical Center

🇺🇸

Lewes, Delaware, United States

Community Cancer Center of Monroe

🇺🇸

Monroe, Michigan, United States

Mercy Memorial Hospital - Monroe

🇺🇸

Monroe, Michigan, United States

Swedish Medical Center

🇺🇸

Englewood, Colorado, United States

Waukesha Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

St. Anthony Central Hospital

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

Porter Adventist Hospital

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

Presbyterian - St. Luke's Medical Center

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

St. Joseph Hospital

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

CCOP - Colorado Cancer Research Program

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

Virginia Piper Cancer Institute at Abbott - Northwestern Hospital

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Hennepin County Medical Center - Minneapolis

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Lawrence Memorial Hospital

🇺🇸

Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Liberal

🇺🇸

Liberal, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Kingman

🇺🇸

Kingman, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Parsons

🇺🇸

Parsons, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Pratt

🇺🇸

Pratt, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Salina

🇺🇸

Salina, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Wellington

🇺🇸

Wellington, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Winfield

🇺🇸

Winfield, Kansas, United States

Hickman Cancer Center at Bixby Medical Center

🇺🇸

Adrian, Michigan, United States

Fairview Southdale Hospital

🇺🇸

Edina, Minnesota, United States

Mercy and Unity Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital

🇺🇸

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States

Minnesota Oncology Hematology, PA - Woodbury

🇺🇸

Woodbury, Minnesota, United States

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center - Baton Rouge

🇺🇸

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Fairview Ridges Hospital

🇺🇸

Burnsville, Minnesota, United States

Stony Brook University Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Stony Brook, New York, United States

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Borgess Medical Center

🇺🇸

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Union Hospital of Cecil County

🇺🇸

Elkton, Maryland, United States

Bronson Methodist Hospital

🇺🇸

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Mercy and Unity Cancer Center at Unity Hospital

🇺🇸

Fridley, Minnesota, United States

West Michigan Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Hutchinson Area Health Care

🇺🇸

Hutchinson, Minnesota, United States

Wood County Oncology Center

🇺🇸

Bowling Green, Ohio, United States

Ridgeview Medical Center

🇺🇸

Waconia, Minnesota, United States

Flower Hospital Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Sylvania, Ohio, United States

Park Nicollet Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, United States

Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper - Voorhees

🇺🇸

Voorhees, New Jersey, United States

United Hospital

🇺🇸

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

North Coast Cancer Care - Clyde

🇺🇸

Clyde, Ohio, United States

Lima Memorial Hospital

🇺🇸

Lima, Ohio, United States

St. Charles Mercy Hospital

🇺🇸

Oregon, Ohio, United States

Hematology Oncology Center

🇺🇸

Elyria, Ohio, United States

Fisher-Titus Medical Center

🇺🇸

Norwalk, Ohio, United States

Fredericksburg Oncology, Incorporated

🇺🇸

Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States

Holy Family Memorial Medical Center Cancer Care Center

🇺🇸

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States

Bay Area Cancer Care Center at Bay Area Medical Center

🇺🇸

Marinette, Wisconsin, United States

St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Medical University of Ohio Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center - Cool Springs

🇺🇸

Franklin, Tennessee, United States

Fulton County Health Center

🇺🇸

Wauseon, Ohio, United States

Toledo Clinic, Incorporated - Main Clinic

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States

St. Nicholas Hospital

🇺🇸

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States

Natalie Warren Bryant Cancer Center at St. Francis Hospital

🇺🇸

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Toledo Clinic - Oregon

🇺🇸

Oregon, Ohio, United States

Mercy Hospital of Tiffin

🇺🇸

Tiffin, Ohio, United States

North Coast Cancer Care, Incorporated

🇺🇸

Sandusky, Ohio, United States

St. Anne Mercy Hospital

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

UPMC Cancer Centers

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Aurora Presbyterian Hospital

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Butler Memorial Hospital

🇺🇸

Butler, Pennsylvania, United States

California Cancer Care, Incorporated - Greenbrae

🇺🇸

Greenbrae, California, United States

Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Palo Alto

🇺🇸

Palo Alto, California, United States

Stanford Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Stanford, California, United States

Boulder Community Hospital

🇺🇸

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Rose Medical Center

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

Poudre Valley Hospital

🇺🇸

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates - West Des Moines

🇺🇸

Clive, Iowa, United States

Siouxland Hematology-Oncology Associates, LLP

🇺🇸

Sioux City, Iowa, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Chanute

🇺🇸

Chanute, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Dodge City

🇺🇸

Dodge City, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - El Dorado

🇺🇸

El Dorado, Kansas, United States

Community Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Elyria, Ohio, United States

CCOP - Toledo Community Hospital

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Regional Cancer Center at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

🇺🇸

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, United States

Mercy Medical Center - Sioux City

🇺🇸

Sioux City, Iowa, United States

Evanston Hospital

🇺🇸

Evanston, Illinois, United States

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center

🇺🇸

Sioux City, Iowa, United States

MBCCOP - LSU Health Sciences Center

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Medical Center of Louisiana - New Orleans

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

CCOP - Iowa Oncology Research Association

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Mercy Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Lutheran Hospital

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Medical Arts Tower

🇺🇸

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Wichita

🇺🇸

Wichita, Kansas, United States

CCOP - Wichita

🇺🇸

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates at John Stoddard Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates at Mercy Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Via Christi Cancer Center at Via Christi Regional Medical Center

🇺🇸

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Associates in Womens Health, PA - North Review

🇺🇸

Wichita, Kansas, United States

John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center

🇺🇸

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

University of New Mexico Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

HealthEast Cancer Care at St. John's Hospital

🇺🇸

Maplewood, Minnesota, United States

Toledo Hospital

🇺🇸

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Cancer Center of Kansas, PA - Newton

🇺🇸

Newton, Kansas, United States

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