Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 75

Combining dalpicilib with cetuximab for treating resistant head and neck cancer

Official title: Dalpicilib Plus Cetuximab Compared With Cetuximab Alone in Patients With HPV-negative, Anti-PD-1-resistant Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Open Label, Randomized Controlled, Phase II Trial

Run by Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University · NCT06935188 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if adding dalpicilib to cetuximab can help people with tough-to-treat head and neck cancer feel better compared to just using cetuximab alone.

More Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment98 (estimated)
SponsorShanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionscetuximab, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 17, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2030
Registry record updatedJuly 18, 2025
Trial IDNCT06935188 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-75 with HPV-negative, anti-PD-1-resistant recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Probably not a fit

Patients who have not received prior PD-1 immunotherapy or those with HPV-positive tumors may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness and safety of combining dalpicilib with cetuximab compared to using cetuximab alone in patients with HPV-negative, anti-PD-1-resistant recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the combination treatment or cetuximab monotherapy until specific termination criteria are met. The study aims to determine if the addition of dalpicilib can improve patient outcomes in this challenging cancer population.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment combination could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with resistant head and neck cancer.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on cetuximab and PD-1 inhibitors, the specific combination of dalpicilib with cetuximab in this context is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-75 years, both sexes.
* Patients with histologically confirmed post-surgical recurrent/metastatic or locally advanced inoperable surgically resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with measurable lesions (spiral CT scan ≥ 10 mm, meeting RECIST 1.1 criteria).
* Have received at least 1 cycle of prior PD-1 immunotherapy with imaging confirmation of progression or clinician determination of no continued benefit from treatment; provided that this is completed at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug and all associated toxic events have returned to normal or grade I or less as defined by CTCAE 4.03 classification.
* HPV viral testing determined to be negative, using the IHC method.
* Availability of tumor tissue (paraffin specimens less than 2 years old or fresh tumor tissue) for detection of PD-L1 and CDK4-related genes.
* ECOG score of 0 or 1.
* Expected survival of ≥ 12 weeks.
* Normal major organ function within 2 weeks prior to treatment, i.e., meeting the following criteria:Bone marrow function: hemoglobin ≥ 100 g/L without transfusion or colony-stimulating factor support therapy, white blood cell count ≥ 4.0\*10\^9/L or neutrophil count ≥ 2.0\*10\^9/L, and platelet count ≥ 100\*10\^9/L; Liver: serum total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal; Renal: blood creatinine level below 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance ≥ 60 ml/min and urea nitrogen ≤ 200 mg/L; Urine protein \<+, or if urine protein + then total 24-hour protein must be \<500mg; Blood glucose: within normal range and/or with diabetes in treatment but under stable glycemic control; Pulmonary function: baseline FEV1 of at least 2L; if baseline FEV1 \<2L then FEV1 \>800ml expected post-surgery as assessed by a surgical specialist; Cardiac function: no myocardial infarction within 1 year; no unstable angina; no symptomatic severe arrhythmias; no cardiac insufficiency.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients previously treated with cetuximab or other anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies or small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
* Patients who are currently receiving antineoplastic therapy.
* Patients who have participated or are participating in a clinical trial of another drug/therapy within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of the study drug.
* Patients who have received hematopoietic stimulating factors, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin, etc., within 1 week prior to the first dose of the study drug.
* Positive HIV antibody or syphilis spirochete antibody test results.
* Patients with active hepatitis B or C: If positive for HBsAg or HBcAb, additional HBV DNA testing (results above the upper limit of the normal range). If HCV antibody test result is positive, add HCV RNA test (result above the upper limit of the normal range).
* Known hypersensitivity to recombinant humanized EGFR monoclonal antibody drugs and their components.
* Massive pleural or ascites fluid with clinical symptoms and requiring symptomatic management.
* Active lung disease (interstitial pneumonia, pneumonia, obstructive lung disease, asthma) or a history of active tuberculosis.
* Has any uncontrollable clinical problem, including but not limited to: Persistent or active (severe) infection; Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus; Cardiac disease (Class III/IV congestive heart failure or heart block as defined by the New York Heart Association); Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; myocardial infarction; severe or unstable arrhythmia or angina; percutaneous coronary intervention, acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery bypass grafting; cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, cerebral embolism within 6 months prior to first dose.
* Previous stem cell transplantation or organ transplantation.
* Those with a history of psychotropic substance abuse and unable to abstain or a history of psychiatric disorders.
* Other serious, acute or chronic medical conditions or abnormalities in laboratory tests that, in the judgment of the investigator, may increase the risk associated with study participation or may interfere with the interpretation of study results.
* Patients who, in the judgment of the investigator, have poor compliance or other conditions that make them unsuitable for participation in this trial.
* Patients with a history of other malignancies within five years.

Where it's running

  • 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 — the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
  • Study coordinator: Guoxin Ren
  • Email: renguoxincn@sina.com
  • Phone: 13916948812

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.