Combination therapy for advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma

A Prospective, Randomised Controlled, Phase II Clinical Study of Tirilizumab in Combination with Albumin-bound Paclitaxel with Cisplatin for Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatment of Locally Advanced Resectable Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study is testing a new combination of treatments for people with advanced oral cancer to see if it helps them do better before surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 116 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: immunotherapy, prednisone, tirilizumab
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT06470217 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of tirilizumab combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Participants will receive three cycles of this combination therapy before surgery, followed by stratification based on their pathological response. If significant pathological remission is achieved, they will continue with tirilizumab monotherapy; otherwise, they will receive concurrent radiochemotherapy. The study aims to assess the impact of this neoadjuvant approach on surgical outcomes and overall patient prognosis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-75 with stage III-IVa resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Not a fit: Patients with non-resectable tumors or those with significant comorbidities that affect treatment tolerance may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could improve surgical outcomes and survival rates for patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar combination therapies in treating advanced cancers, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18-75 years, male or female; Patients with primary stage III-IVa surgically resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity with measurable lesions (≥10 mm on spiral CT scan, fulfilling RECIST 1.1 criteria) as confirmed by pathohistology; ECOG score of 0 or 1; Expected survival ≥ 12 weeks; Tumour tissue (paraffin specimen or fresh tumour tissue less than 2 years old) for PD-L1 detection is available; Organ function levels must meet the following requirements (14 days prior to first dose of study drug) Bone Marrow:Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, Platelet (PLT) ≥ 100 x 109/L, Haemoglobin (HB) ≥ 9g/dL (no blood transfusion or receipt of component blood within 14 days prior to the test); Liver: serum total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (if there is hepatic metastasis, AST and ALT are allowed to be ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal); and Kidney: blood creatinine level less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance ≥60ml/min, urea nitrogen ≤200mg/L; Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) ≤1×ULN (if abnormal, FT3 and FT4 levels should be examined at the same time; if FT3 and FT4 levels are normal, they can be enrolled) Urine protein ≤1+, if urine protein \>1+, 24-hour urine protein measurement should be collected, and its total amount should be ≤1g; and Normal cardiac function, i.e. normal ECG or abnormalities without clinical significance and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \>50% on cardiac ultrasound.

Reproductively active female subjects must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to the first dose of the test drug.

Reproductively active male or female subjects must be using a highly effective method of contraception (e.g., oral contraceptive pill, intrauterine device, abstinence from sexual intercourse, or barrier method of contraception combined with spermicide) throughout the course of the trial and continue to use contraception for 90 days after completion of treatment; Subjects volunteered to join the study, signed an informed consent form, were compliant and co-operated with follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

With distant metastatic lesions or localised lesions without indication for surgery (stage IVb or IVc patients); Prior history of a primary tumour of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Patients who have participated or are participating in a clinical trial of another drug/therapy within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug; Major surgical procedure performed/received within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug or have not recovered from the side effects of this procedure, live vaccination, immunotherapy, radiotherapy within 2 weeks; Concurrently receiving any other anti-tumour therapy; Patient has any active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease (e.g., the following, but not limited to: autoimmune hepatitis, interstitial pneumonitis, uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, pituitary gland inflammation, vasculitis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism; vitiligo that does not require systemic therapy may be included; asthma that has been in complete remission in childhood and does not require any intervention in adulthood may be be included; asthma in which the patient requires medical intervention with bronchodilators cannot be included); Patients who are on immunosuppressive, or systemic hormone therapy for immunosuppression (dose \>10mg/day prednisone or other equipotent hormone) and continue to do so within 2 weeks prior to enrolment; History of other malignancies within the past 5 years, except cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, early stage prostate cancer, and carcinoma in situ of the cervix; Patients who have received haematopoietic stimulating factors, such as those receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin, etc., within 1 week prior to the first dose of study drug; Prior treatment with PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2/CTLA-4 antibodies or activating or inhibitory drugs targeting T-cell receptors (e.g., OX40, CD137); Positive HIV antibody or syphilis spirochete antibody test results; Patients with active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C:. If HBsAg or HBcAb is positive, HBV DNA (results above the upper limit of the normal range).

If HCV antibody test result is positive, add HCV RNA (result above upper limit of normal range); Known hypersensitivity to recombinant humanised PD-1 monoclonal antibody drugs and their components; and Active lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis, pneumonia, obstructive lung disease, asthma) or a history of active tuberculosis; Have any uncontrolled clinical problems, including but not limited to. Persistent or active (serious) infections. Medication-uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure persistently greater than 150/90 mmHg); Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Heart disease (class III/IV congestive heart failure or heart block as defined by the New York Heart Association).

The following within 6 months prior to first dose: deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; myocardial infarction; severe or unstable arrhythmia or angina pectoris; percutaneous coronary intervention, acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery bypass grafting; cerebrovascular accidents, transient ischaemic attacks, cerebral embolism; Previous stem cell transplant or organ transplant; Persons with a history of psychotropic substance abuse that they are unable to abstain from or persons with a history of psychotic disorders; Other severe, acute, or chronic medical conditions or abnormal laboratory tests that, in the investigator's judgement, may increase the risks associated with participation in the study or may interfere with the interpretation of study results; Patients who, in the judgement of the investigator, have poor compliance, or other conditions that make participation in this trial unsuitable.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality

• the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Yue He, M.D. — the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
• Study coordinator: Yanan Wang, M.D.

Conditions Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma