Combining carbon-ion radiotherapy with camrelizumab for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer

A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial to Examine the Efficacy of Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy Plus Camrelizumab As Salvage Treatment for Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Phase 2 Interventional Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center · NCT04143984

This study is testing whether adding a new immunotherapy drug called camrelizumab to carbon-ion radiotherapy can help people with recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer live longer without their cancer getting worse.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment146 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorShanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, camrezlizumab, camrelizumab
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai)
Trial IDNCT04143984 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of camrelizumab in conjunction with carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for patients suffering from locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LR-NPC). A total of 146 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either CIRT alone or CIRT plus camrelizumab. The primary focus is on progression-free survival, while secondary outcomes include overall survival and various forms of progression-free survival. The trial seeks to clarify the potential benefits of combining immunotherapy with advanced radiotherapy techniques in this challenging patient population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 70 who have experienced recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma more than six months after initial treatment and have measurable lesions.

Not a fit: Patients with distant metastasis or those who have previously received radioactive particle implantation will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve progression-free survival rates for patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

How similar studies have performed: While carbon-ion radiotherapy has shown promise in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the combination with camrelizumab is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Completed a definitive course of intensity-modulated photon radiation therapy (IMRT) to a total dose of ≥ 66 Gy
* Recurrence at nasopharynx diagnosed more than 6 months after the initial course of IMRT
* Patients with neck lymphadenopathy should receive neck dissection before randomization
* With measurable lesion on contrast MR scan
* Age ≥ 18 and \< 70 years of age
* ECOG score: 0-1
* Leucocyte count ≥ 4000/µL, neutrocyte count ≥ 2000/µL, platelet count ≥ 100000/µL, hemoglobin ≥ 90g/L
* Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) \< 1.5×upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5×ULN, bilirubin ≤ ULN, serum creatinine ≤ ULN, creatinine clearance ≥ 60ml/min
* Willing to accept adequate contraception
* Ability to understand the nature of the clinical trial and sign the written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of distant metastasis
* Previously received radioactive particle implantation
* Prior malignancy within 5 years before randomization, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in-situ cervical cancer
* Patients who received local (such as surgery and cryotherapy) or systemic treatment, except for induction chemotherapy after diagnosis of recurrence
* With uncontrolled active infection
* With pneumonia
* With autoimmune disease
* With a known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
* Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA ≥ 500IU/mL for patients with positive HBV surface antigen, positive hepatitis C virus RNA for patients with positive HCV antigen
* Previously treated by immune checkpoint inhibitors
* Medical conditions requiring treatment of antibiotics and/or corticosteroid
* Treated with ≥ 5 days antibiotics one month before start of immunotherapy
* With known allergy to any of the study drugs
* Pregnant or lactating women
* Any severe intercurrent disease that may interfere with the current study

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.