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A Study of Palifermin for the Reduction of Oral Mucositis in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Postoperative Radiotherapy and Concurrent Chemotherapy

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Mucositis
Head and Neck Cancer
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Radiation: Radiotherapy
Registration Number
NCT00626639
Lead Sponsor
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum
Brief Summary

Oral Mucositis associated with adjuvant radiation and concurrent chemotherapy in postoperative Head and Neck setting

Detailed Description

This study consisted of 2 phases. The acute oral mucositis (OM) evaluation phase includes the time from randomization to the time of severe OM (WHO Grade 3 or 4) resolution (up to Week 12 or up to Week 15 for participants whose severe OM is not resolved at Week 12). In the acute OM evaluation phase, participants were randomized to receive either a single IV bolus dose of palifermin or placebo at 120 μg/kg, 3 days before the start of radiotherapy, plus 7 once-weekly palifermin or placebo doses at the same dose level during a 7-week radio/chemotherapy course. In the long-term follow up phase, participants are followed until death, withdrawal of consent, or loss to follow-up. The long-term follow up phase is still ongoing.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
5
Inclusion Criteria
  • History of newly diagnosed histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Stage II, III, IVA, or IVB) involving either the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx, post surgical resection (R0, R1)
  • Scheduled to receive adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation treatment within 12 weeks of surgery
  • High-risk subject defined by presence of at least one of the following: R1 resection margins; T3 or T4 tumor stage; 3 or more positive lymph node metastases; <3 lymph node metastases with extracapsular extension of the disease
  • Radiation treatment field to receive planned dose of at least 50Gy to areas of the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa that can be visualized
Exclusion Criteria
  • Tumors of the lips, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, or of unknown primary tumors
  • Metastatic disease (M1) / Stage IV C
  • Presence or history of any other primary malignancy
  • History of pancreatitis
  • Prior radiotherapy to the site of disease
  • Prior chemotherapy
  • Other investigational procedures
  • Thirty days or less since receiving an investigational product or device in another clinical trial. Current enrollment in another clinical trial is not permitted unless the sole purpose of the trial is for long-term follow-up/survival data

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlaceboThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of matching placebo. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of matching placebo after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
PlaceboRadiotherapyThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of matching placebo. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of matching placebo after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
PaliferminRadiotherapyThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
PaliferminCisplatinThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
PlaceboCisplatinThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of matching placebo. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of matching placebo after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
PaliferminpaliferminThree days before the start of radiotherapy (Day -3), participants received a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg. During radiotherapy (beginning on Day 1), participants received a weekly single IV bolus injection of palifermin at 120 μg/kg after the last radiation fraction of that week (usually on Fridays) until grade ≥3 oral mucositis occurred, or for a maximum 8 doses (completion of radiotherapy). Participants also received cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 on days 1, 22 and 43.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Ratio of Ki67-positive Cells Before and After Palifermin TreatmentDay -3 predose and 24 or 48 hours post-dose

The effect of palifermin on cell proliferation was to be assayed by staining for the cell cycle proliferation marker Ki67 in buccal mucosal biopsy samples taken prior to the first dose and either 24 or 48 hours after the first dose. Due to the small sample size, this analysis was not performed.

Pharmacokinetics of PaliferminDay -3, predose and at 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the first dose

Due to the small sample size this analysis was not performed.

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Up to Week 12 (or Week 15 for participants with severe OM was not resolved by Week 12)

An adverse event is an undesirable medical occurrence (sign, symptom, or diagnosis) or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition occurring after start of study drug up to the end of acute oral mucositis (OM) evaluation phase, whether or not considered to be study drug related. If severe OM was not resolved by Week 12, AEs were documented until resolution of severe OM or Week 15, whichever occurred first. A serious AE is any event that is fatal, life threatening, requires or prolongs hospitalization, is a persistent or significant disability/incapacity or is a congenital anomaly/birth defect. The intensity of AEs was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3 based on the following: Grade 1 = Mild AE, Grade 2 = Moderate AE, Grade 3 = Severe AE, Grade 4 = Life-threatening or disabling AE, Grade 5 = Death related to AE. A Protocol-specific Limiting Toxicity (PSLT) is any non-hematologic Grade 3 or 4 AE considered related to study drug.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of Participants With Severe Oral Mucositis (OM) (Adapted RTOG/EORTC Grade ≥3)Assessed daily up to Week 12 (or Week 15 if severe oral mucositis not resolved ≤ adapted RTOG/EORTC Grade 2 by Week 12).

The adapted RTOG/EORTC mucositis assessment scale as follows: Grade 0 = no change; Grade 1 = mild enanthema, mild pain; Grade 2 = patchy mucositis, moderate edema, moderate pain; Grade 3 = confluent fibrinous mucositis, massive edema, massive pain; Grade 4 = extensive ulceration, confluent necrosis, massive hemorrhage.

Due to the small sample size this analysis was not performed.

Patient-Reported Mouth and Throat Soreness ScoreAssessed daily up to Week 12 (or Week 15 if severe oral mucositis not resolved ≤ adapted RTOG/EORTC Grade 2 by Week 12).

The average patient-reported mouth and throat soreness (MTS) score as reported on question 3 of the Oral Mucositis Questionnaire for Head and Neck Cancer \[OMQ-HN\]): "How much mouth and throat soreness did you experience in the past 24 hours?" Participants answered on a scale from 0 (no soreness) to 4 (extreme soreness).

Due to the small sample size this analysis was not performed.

Number of Participants With Disease Progression by Week 12Up to Week 12

Disease progression was determined by clinical examination and histopathologic examination by the Investigator.

Overall SurvivalDuring long-term follow-up phase, until December 2015

Deaths during long-term follow up of subject participating in the acute phase of the study receiving placebo or Palifermin.

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