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Clinical Trials/NCT06568172
NCT06568172
Recruiting
Phase 3

Randomized Phase III Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy With Response-Adapted Treatment Versus Standard-of-Care Treatment for Resectable Stage III/IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (C-PRE)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)363 sites in 1 country420 target enrollmentFebruary 18, 2025

Overview

Phase
Phase 3
Intervention
Biospecimen Collection
Conditions
Eyelid Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Enrollment
420
Locations
363
Primary Endpoint
Event-free survival (EFS)
Status
Recruiting
Last Updated
4 days ago

Overview

Brief Summary

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding cemiplimab to standard therapy (surgery with or without radiation) versus standard therapy alone in treating patients with stage III/IV squamous cell skin cancer that is able to be removed by surgery (resectable) and that may have come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). The usual treatment for patients with resectable squamous cell skin cancer is the removal of the cancerous tissue (surgery) with or without radiation, which uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Cemiplimab has been approved for the treatment of skin cancer that has spread or that cannot be removed by surgery, but it has not been approved for the treatment of skin cancer than can be removed by surgery. Adding cemiplimab to the usual treatment of surgery with or without radiation may be more effective in treating patients with stage III/IV resectable squamous cell skin cancer than the usual treatment alone.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine if neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with response-adapted oncologic surgery improves site-reported event-free survival (EFS) compared to standard-of-care surgery in resectable stage III/IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare utilization of adjuvant radiation between arms. II. To compare disease-free survival (DFS) between arms. III. To compare overall survival (OS) between arms. IV. To compare adverse events (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v\]5.0) between arms. V. To assess pathologic complete response in arm 2. PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES: I. Compare changes in patient reported quality of life as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery between treatment arms. (Primary objective) II. To compare patient reported symptoms functioning, and quality of life, as measured by the Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma NeoAdjuvant, Adjuvant and Perioperative 32 question scale (CSCC NAAP-32), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Short Form (SF)-Anxiety, PROMIS-SF-Fatigue, and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), between arms at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. III. Develop a scoring algorithm and validate the CSCC-NAAP-32 for use in this patient population. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare disease-specific survival (DSS) between arms. II. To correlate pathologic response with DFS in arm 2. III. To assess overall response rate (ORR) in arm 2. IV. To compare patterns of failure between arms. V. To compare pathologic measurements of lymph node yield between arms. VI. To compare primary tumor specimen dimensions and volume between arms. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM 1: Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study. ARM 2: Patients receive cemiplimab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pathologic complete response (pCR) receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 1, 6, and 12 months post-surgery then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months in year 3, and then annually thereafter.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
February 18, 2025
End Date
August 14, 2031
Last Updated
4 days ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Sponsor

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) or regional lymph node or in-transit metastasis of CSCC
  • The following CSCC subtypes are eligible according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification if the predominant histology is confirmed CSCC.
  • Spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
  • Squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation
  • Acantholytic SCC
  • Clear cell SCC
  • Lymphoepithelial carcinoma
  • Note: Keratoacanthoma SCC and Verrucous SCC subtypes are not eligible.
  • For patients with regional metastasis without a primary tumor at screening: a clinical history of CSCC that drains to the involved regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases in question is required
  • For example, a parotid mass shown to be SCC by cytologic analysis of a fine needle aspirate in a patient with a clinical history of CSCC on the ipsilateral scalp would be eligible

Exclusion Criteria

  • Not provided

Arms & Interventions

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Biospecimen Collection

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Computed Tomography

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Image Guided Radiation Therapy

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Positron Emission Tomography

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Image Guided Radiation Therapy

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Surgical Procedure

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Computed Tomography

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Questionnaire Administration

Arm 1 (surgery, radiation)

Patients undergo surgery per standard of care within 6 weeks of randomization. Starting within 6-12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Surgical Procedure

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Questionnaire Administration

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Biospecimen Collection

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Cemiplimab

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

Arm 2 (cemiplimab, surgery, radiation)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo response-adaptive surgery 21 days after last dose of cemiplimab. Starting within 12 weeks of surgery, patients may undergo IGRT with IMRT for 5 fractions per week for 6 weeks as clinically indicated. Starting within 6 weeks of completion of surgery or radiation therapy (if indicated), patients without pCR receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT, MRI, and/or PET/CT prior to treatment, and CT and/or MRI on study and during follow up. Patients may also undergo optional collection of tissue, whole blood, and plasma on study.

Intervention: Positron Emission Tomography

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Event-free survival (EFS)

Time Frame: Up to 6 years

Defined as the time from randomization to any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes surgery, toxic effects related to treatment that preclude surgery, inability to resect all gross disease), disease recurrence (local, regional, or distant) after surgery (or after radiographic complete response), disease progression after radiographic partial response or stable disease without surgery (or biopsy, as applicable), or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. EFS rates will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the stratified log-rank test will be used to assess whether perioperative immunotherapy (neoadjuvant/adjuvant) with response-adapted oncologic surgery improves EFS as recorded by the site compared to standard-of-care surgery in resectable stage III/IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

Event-free survival (EFS)

Time Frame: Up to 6 years

Defined as the time from randomization to any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes surgery, toxic effects related to treatment that preclude surgery, inability to resect all gross disease), disease recurrence (local, regional, or distant) after surgery (or after radiographic complete response), disease progression after radiographic partial response or stable disease without surgery (or biopsy, as applicable), or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. EFS rates will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the stratified log-rank test will be used to assess whether perioperative immunotherapy (neoadjuvant/adjuvant) with response-adapted oncologic surgery improves EFS as recorded by the site compared to standard-of-care surgery in resectable stage III/IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

Secondary Outcomes

  • Utilization of adjuvant radiation(Up to 6 years)
  • Disease-free survival (DFS)(From randomization to recurrent or death, assessed up to 6 years)
  • Overall survival (OS)(From randomization to death, assessed up to 6 years)
  • Incidence of adverse events(At 30 days and then up to 6 years)
  • Pathologic complete response(At 1 and 2 years)
  • Utilization of adjuvant radiation(Up to 6 years)
  • Disease-free survival (DFS)(From randomization to recurrent or death, assessed up to 6 years)
  • Overall survival (OS)(From randomization to death, assessed up to 6 years)
  • Incidence of adverse events(At 30 days and then up to 6 years)
  • Pathologic complete response(At 1 and 2 years)

Study Sites (363)

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