Combining metronomic capecitabine with PD-1 antibody for high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Metronomic Capecitabine With or Without Tislelizuamb (PD-1 Antibody) as Adjuvant Therapy in High-risk Non-metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: a Multicentre, Open-label, Randomised Phase 3 Trial

This study is testing if adding a PD-1 antibody to a cancer drug called capecitabine can help people with high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma live longer after their initial treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 556 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: tislelizumab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong)
• Trial ID: NCT05342792 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase 3 trial investigates the effectiveness of adding a PD-1 antibody to metronomic capecitabine as adjuvant therapy for patients with high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Participants will be randomized to receive either metronomic capecitabine alone or in combination with the PD-1 antibody every three weeks for one year following curative chemoradiation. The study focuses on patients with specific staging and EBV DNA levels to assess improvements in survival outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 65 with pathologically confirmed non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma and specific staging criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with metastatic disease or those outside the specified age range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance survival rates for patients with high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with PD-1 antibodies in similar cancer types, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age at diagnosis: 18 \~ 65 years old;
2. Pathologically confirmed primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma with "non-keratinizing carcinoma (WHO criteria)";
3. Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T4N + or TanyN2-3M0, or TanyNanyM0 pretreatment EBVDNA ≥ 4000 copies/mL) was diagnosed according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) 8th edition clinical staging system.
4. Induction and concurrent chemoradiotherapy with the recommended regimen have been completed;
5. ECOG score: 0 \~ 1 points (Appendix II);
6. It is recommended to initiate adjuvant therapy within 1 month after the completion of the last radiotherapy treatment, no later than 6 weeks;
7. Normal bone marrow function: white blood cell count \> 4 × 109/L, hemoglobin concentration \> 90 g/L, platelet count \> 100 × 109/L;
8. Normal liver and kidney function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal; aspartate aminotransferase and/or alanine aminotransferase ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal; alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal; creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min;
9. Subjects must sign the informed consent form, and must be willing and able to comply with the visits, treatment regimen, laboratory tests and other requirements specified in the study protocol;
10. Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use reliable contraception (e.g., condoms, regular contraceptives as directed) from screening through 1 year after treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Positive hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B virus quantification \> 1 × 1000 copies/ml, or positive anti-hepatitis C virus antibody;
2. Positive anti-HIV antibody or diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (i.e., AIDS);
3. Conditions such as dysphagia, chronic diarrhea, or bowel obstruction that would interfere with oral medication.
4. Patients with severe chronic or active infection that must be treated with systemic antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral therapy before randomization, including but not limited to tuberculosis infection
5. Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease (including but not limited to uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, pituitary disease, nephritis, vasculitis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and asthma requiring bronchiectasis). Except for type I diabetes, hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement therapy and skin diseases not requiring systemic treatment (such as vitiligo, psoriasis or alopecia); clinicians should perform necessary history, examination and examination before enrollment for the above diseases and then exclude them;
6. Interstitial lung disease or pneumonia requiring oral or intravenous steroid therapy within 1 year;
7. Definite clinical evidence of persistent local disease or distant metastasis after chemoradiotherapy;
8. Systemic hormonal or other immunosuppressive therapy with an equivalent dose of \> 10 mg prednisone/day within 28 days prior to informed consent. Subjects with systemic sex hormone doses ≤ 10 mg prednisone/day or inhaled/topical corticosteroids may be included.
9. Uncontrolled heart disease, such as: 1) heart failure, NYHA level ≥ 2; 2) unstable angina; 3) history of myocardial infarction in the past year; 4) supraventricular arrhythmia or ventricular arrhythmia requiring treatment or intervention;
10. Pregnant or lactating women (pregnancy test should be considered for sexually active women of childbearing age);
11. Previous or current other malignancy other than adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, and papillary thyroid carcinoma;
12. Receipt of live vaccines within 30 days prior to the first course of tislelizumab;
13. History of organ transplantation;
14. Other conditions that may jeopardize patient safety or compliance as assessed by the investigator, such as serious illness (including psychiatric disorders) requiring prompt treatment, severely abnormal test results, and other family or social risk factors.
15. Patients who received surgical treatment, biological therapy, or immunotherapy during or before radiotherapy;
16. Patients who are receiving or are likely to receive other chemotherapy, biological therapy, or immunotherapy History of severe hypersensitivity to other monoclonal antibodies;
17. Chemotherapy or surgery (except diagnostic) of the primary tumor or lymph nodes before standard treatment.
18. History of radiation therapy prior to standard therapy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer).
19. Patients who are known to be intolerable or sensitive to any therapeutic agents.

Where this trial is running

Guangzhou, Guangdong

• Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jun Ma, MD — Sun Yet-senU
• Study coordinator: Jun Ma, MD

Conditions Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; PD-1 antibody; Metronomic capecitabine; Adjuvant therapy