Combining Toripalimab with chemotherapy for non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer

Efficacy and Safety ofToripalimab Combined With AP-induced Chemotherapyfollowed by Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy and Toripalimab-maintenance Therapysequentially in Patients With Non-metastatic IVB Hypopharyngeal Cancer : Aopen-lablc, Single-arm ,Phase II Clinical Study

This study is testing if combining a new drug called Toripalimab with chemotherapy can help people with non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer feel better and live longer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Chinese PLA General Hospital (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Toripalimab, Nimotuzumab
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing)
• Trial ID: NCT05860335 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of Toripalimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy (cisplatin/nedaplatin and albumin paclitaxel) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and maintenance therapy in patients with non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer. The study aims to determine the objective remission rate, progression-free survival, and safety profile of this treatment approach. Secondary objectives include assessing long-term survival rates and quality of life metrics. This is a single-center exploratory trial designed to provide insights into a potentially effective treatment regimen for advanced head and neck cancer.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 70 with non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer who have not received prior anti-tumor therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy, or those with significant comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could improve remission rates and overall survival for patients with non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: While similar approaches using PD-1 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy have shown promise in other cancers, this specific combination for hypopharyngeal cancer is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 to 70 years old
2. The clinical stage was Ivb stage (AJCC 8th edition),
3. ECOG score was 0-1
4. Have not received any anti-tumor therapy such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or biological therapy
5. No contraindications of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy
6. The functional level of major organs conforms to the following criteria: 1) the standard of blood routine examination should meet the following criteria: WBC ≥ 3.0x109, G-CSF and other hematopoietic stimulating factors. 2) biochemical tests should meet the following criteria: TBIL ≤ 2.0 × ULN,ALT, AST ≤ 2.5 × ULN,BUN and CRE ≤ 1.5 × ULN or endogenous creatinine clearance ≥ 60ml/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula); 3) good coagulation function: defined as international standardized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT) ≤ 1.5 times ULN; if the subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy, as long as PT is within the range of anticoagulant use. 4) Myocardial zymogram is within the range of normal value;
7. Women of childbearing age must have taken reliable contraceptive measures, or conducted pregnancy tests (serum or urine) within 7 days before admission, and the results were negative, and were willing to use effective methods of contraception during the trial period and within 2 months after the last administration of anti-PD-1 antibody. For male subjects whose partners are women of childbearing age, effective methods of contraception should be used during the trial and within 2 months after the last administration of anti-PD-1 antibody. 8. The subjects voluntarily joined the study, signed the informed consent form, had good compliance and cooperated with follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous or simultaneous suffering from other uncured malignant tumors, except cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ of the cervix and superficial bladder cancer
2. Patients with hypopharyngeal necrosis at the same time with the risk of bleeding.
3. Suffer from any active autoimmune disease or have a history of autoimmune disease (e.g. interstitial pneumonia, uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, hypophysitis, vasculitis, myocarditis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism (can be included when hormone replacement therapy is normal). Patients with vitiligo or asthma who have been completely relieved in childhood and can be included after adulthood without any intervention, and asthma patients who need bronchodilators for medical intervention can not be included.
4. Suffering from uncontrolled cardiovascular disease: myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction of grade Ⅱ or above, poorly controlled arrhythmias (including QTc interval ≥ 470ms); cardiac insufficiency of grade Ⅲ \~ IV according to NYHA criteria, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50% indicated by color Doppler ultrasound; myocardial infarction occurred within 1 year.
5. There is an active infection or an unexplained fever occurs during the screening period and before the first administration of the drug \> 38.5 ℃ (according to the researchers, the fever caused by the tumor can be included in the group).
6. Suffer from congenital or acquired immune deficiency (such as HIV infection), active hepatitis B (HBV-DNA ≥ 104copies / ml) or hepatitis C (hepatitis C antibody positive and HCR-RNA higher than the lower limit of detection by analytical method).
7. Have previously received other PD-1 antibody therapy or other immunotherapy for PD-1/PD-L1.
8. Known to be allergic to paclitaxel, cisplatin, macromolecular protein preparations, or any anti-PD-1 antibody component.
9. If the subject has undergone a major operation, the toxic reactions and / or complications caused by the surgical intervention must be fully recovered before starting the treatment.
10. Within 4 weeks before the first use of research drugs (subjects who have entered the follow-up period are calculated on the basis of their last use of experimental drugs or devices) or are participating in other clinical studies.
11. Live vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine are given within 4 weeks before the first use of the study; inactivated virus vaccine for seasonal influenza is allowed; live attenuated influenza vaccine for nasal use is not allowed.
12. Pregnant or lactating women.
13. The researchers determined that the subjects had other factors that might force them to stop the study, such as other serious illnesses (including mental illness) requiring combined treatment, seriously abnormal laboratory tests, family or social factors, which may affect the safety of the subjects or the collection of trial data.

Where this trial is running

Beijing

• 中国人民解放军总医院 — Beijing, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Xinxin Zhang

Conditions Hypopharyngeal Cancer; non-metastatic IVB hypopharyngeal cancer; Toripalimab; Combine therapy