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Ph 3 Trial of MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) vs Standard Treatment in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Phase 1
Conditions
Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
MedDRA version: 17.0Level: PTClassification code 10067821Term: Head and neck cancerSystem Organ Class: 10029104 - Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
Therapeutic area: Diseases [C] - Cancer [C04]
Registration Number
EUCTR2014-001749-26-IT
Lead Sponsor
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Authorised-recruitment may be ongoing or finished
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
466
Inclusion Criteria

1. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial. The subject may also provide consent for Future Biomedical Research. However, the subject may participate in the main trial without participating in Future Biomedical Research.
2. Be > 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
3. Have histologically or cytologically-confirmed R/M HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx that is considered incurable by local therapies. Subjects may not have any other primary tumor site (e.g. nasopharynx).
4. Prior platinum failure as defined by:
a. Disease progression after treatment with a platinum-containing regimen for recurrent/metastatic disease
Note: Disease progression may occur at any time during or after a platinum-containing regimen (e.g. carboplatin or cisplatin) which was administered in either 1L or 2L in the recurrent/metastatic setting.
b. Recurrence/progression within 6 months of prior multimodal therapy using platinum (e.g. locally advanced setting)
5. Have results from local testing of HPV positivity for oropharyngeal cancer defined as p16 IHC testing using CINtec® p16 Histology assay and a 70% cutoff point.
Note: HPV stratification in this trial will be performed using local testing of HPV status in patients with oropharynx cancer. Oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx cancer are not required to undergo HPV testing by p16 IHC as by convention assumed to be HPV negative.
6. Have provided tissue for PD-L1 biomarker analysis from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy. Repeat samples may be required if adequate tissue is not provided or for indeterminate results.
Note: Patients for whom newly obtained samples cannot be obtained (e.g. inaccessible or patient safety concern) may submit an archived specimen only upon agreement from the Sponsor.
Note: If emerging data indicate a high concordance in PD-L1 expression scores between newly obtained and archival samples, archived samples may be acceptable.
7. Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the site. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
8. Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
9. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 1 of the protocol, all screening labs should be performed within 10 days of treatment initiation.
10. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. A urine test can be considered if a serum test is not appropriate.
11. Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication (Reference Section 5.7.2). Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the established and preferred contraception for the subject.
12. Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.

Are the trial subjects under 18? no
Number of subjects for this age range:
F.1.2 Adults (18-64 years) yes
F.1.2.1 Number of subje

Exclusion Criteria

1. Has disease that is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent.
2. Had progressive disease within three months of completion of curatively intended treatment for locoregionally advanced or metastatic HNSCC.
3. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
4. Was previously treated with 3 or more systemic regimens given for recurrent and/or metastatic disease.
5. Patients previously treated or resistant to one of the 3 standard of care agents in this trial (i.e. docetaxel, methotrexate, or cetuximab) may not receive the same agent if randomized to the standard treatment arm (see Section 5.2 for details).
6. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment. The use of physiologic doses of corticosteroids may be approved after consultation with the Sponsor.
7. Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., = Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
8. Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., = Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent.
Note: Subjects with = Grade 2 neuropathy or = Grade 2 alopecia are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.
Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
9. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
10. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
11. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Subjects with vitiligo diabetes Type I, or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Subjects with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjøgren’s syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
12. Has active, non-infectious pneumonitis;
13. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
14. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confoun

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional clinical trial of medicinal product
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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