Combining radiotherapy with PD-1 inhibitor and GM-CSF for advanced head and neck tumors

A Prospective, Multicenter, High- and Low-dose Radiotherapy Combined With PD-1 Inhibitors and GM-CSF in the Treatment of Advanced Recurrent Metastatic Head and Neck Tumors

This study is testing a new treatment combining different doses of radiation with a special medication to see if it helps people with advanced head and neck tumors that haven't improved with standard treatments.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 56 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Wuhan, Hubei)
• Trial ID: NCT05760196 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This intervention focuses on using both high and low doses of radiotherapy in conjunction with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and GM-CSF to evaluate their combined effects on anti-tumor immunity and long-term therapeutic response rates in patients with advanced recurrent metastatic head and neck tumors. The study aims to explore a new treatment model for patients who have not responded to standard therapies. Participants will be closely monitored for measurable lesions and overall response to the treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with recurrent or metastatic advanced head and neck malignancies who have not responded to standard treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage head and neck tumors or those who have not undergone first-line treatment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a novel treatment option for patients with advanced head and neck cancers who have limited alternatives.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy have shown promise in other cancer types, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18 years old;
2. Patients with recurrent or metastatic advanced head and neck malignancies (including nasopharyngeal malignancies), with a clear pathological diagnosis, imaging diagnosis, and medical history, no clearly recommended standard treatment regimen or inability to tolerate standard treatment regimens, and clear measurable lesions (\>1 cm);
3. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma who progress after first-line antineoplastic therapy must include a platinum-containing combination chemotherapy or platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and patients with secondary resistance after previous anti-PD-1/L1 therapy may also be enrolled;
4. There is no standard regimen recommended by guidelines after first-line treatment failure in patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma (eg, adenoid cystadenocarcinoma, lung metastases, sarcoma, etc.);
5. At least one lesion with a diameter of 1 cm to 5 cm (metastases ≥1 cm, if the patient has large metastases, partial tumor irradiation can be allowed) can be treated with radiation therapy at 16 to 24 Gy/2-3Fx doses; Lymph nodes can be used as stand-alone measurable lesions (if lymph nodes are evaluated as an evaluation lesion, they must meet the criteria for target lesions, see RECIST1.1 for definition of a lymph node target lesion);
6. Patients who have previously received radical radiotherapy need to have an interval of more than 6 months; Patients with an interval of more than 6 months from the previous radiotherapy;
7. In the past 6 months, there has been no acute coronary syndrome or malignant arrhythmia;
8. ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group), score 0-2, life expectancy assessment ≥ 3 months;
9. There were no previous severe hematopoietic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal dysfunction or immunodeficiency;
10. Ejection fraction of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound ≥ 50%;
11. Myocardial enzyme profile and NT-proBNP do not exceed twice the upper limit of normal;
12. Troponin and CKMB values do not exceed twice the normal upper limit;
13. Patients who have had grade 2 or higher AV block in the past six months and need to consider pacemakers will not be included;
14. Blood pressure hypertension≤ 160mmHg and/or low pressure≤90mmHg. 1 week prior to enrollment, the level of organ function meets the following criteria:

    Bone marrow function: hemoglobin ≥ 80g/L, white blood cell count ≥ 3.5\*10\^9/L or neutrophil count ≥1.5\*10\^9/L, platelet count ≥ 100\*10\^9/L, CD8+ T lymphocyte absolute value ≥200/μL; Liver: serum total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, when the serum total bilirubin level \> 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, direct bilirubin level must ≤ the upper limit of normal, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal; (5.0 times ≤the upper limit of normal in patients with liver metastases); Kidney: serum creatinine level \< 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance ≥ 50ml/min, urea nitrogen ≤ 200mg/L; serum albumin≥ 30g/L;
15. Patients must have the ability to understand and voluntarily sign informed consent forms.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Exclude single shot oligo transfer;
2. Pregnant or breastfeeding women;
3. Those who have a history of other malignant diseases in the past 5 years, except for cured skin cancer and cervical carcinoma in situ;
4. Patients with a history of uncontrolled epilepsy, central nervous system disease, or psychiatric disorders, as judged by the investigator, may hinder the signing of informed consent or affect the patient's adherence to drug therapy;
5. Clinically severe (i.e., active) heart disease such as symptomatic coronary heart disease, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or more congestive heart failure or severe arrhythmias requiring pharmacological intervention, or a history of myocardial infarction within the last 12 months;
6. Organ transplantation requires immunosuppressive therapy;
7. Known major active infection, or major blood, kidney, metabolic, gastrointestinal, endocrine function or metabolic disorders, or other serious uncontrolled concomitant diseases. Those who are allergic to any of the ingredients used in the study;
8. Those with a history of immunodeficiency, including those who test positive for HIV or have other acquired or congenital immunodeficiency disorders, or have a history of organ transplantation, or who have other immune-related disorders that require long-term oral hormone therapy;
9. Are in the period of acute and chronic TB infection (positive T-spot test, chest x-ray in patients with suspected tuberculosis);
10. Other circumstances that the investigator does not consider suitable for inclusion.

Where this trial is running

Wuhan, Hubei

• Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University — Wuhan, Hubei, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Xiangpan Li — Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University
• Study coordinator: Xiangpan Li, PhD

Conditions Objective Response Rate