Pembrolizumab with nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin for locally advanced head and neck cancer

Is this trial a fit for you?

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

What this trial studies

This is a single-arm Phase II study giving two three-week cycles of induction therapy with nab-paclitaxel (260 mg/m² IV), cisplatin (75 mg/m² IV), and pembrolizumab (200 mg IV) to patients with resectable, locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. After induction, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviews response: patients with good shrinkage may receive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) while others proceed to surgery, with adjuvant CRT for high-risk cases. Maintenance therapy is considered for patients with high-risk features after MDT discussion, and outcomes are evaluated three months after CRT. Primary outcomes include objective response rate, safety, and the rate of organ preservation.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (oral cavity, oropharynx, laryngeal and hypopharynx) with locoregionally-advanced disease stage III or IVA without metastasis , previously untreated (AJCC 8th) and had at least one tumour lesion measurable per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1
2. Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1
3. ECOG performance status 0-1
4. Men and women, Age ≥18 and ≤ 70 years at the time of signing informed consent,
5. Adequate hepatic, cardiac and renal function as demonstrated by 1) Hematology: ANC≥1.5×10\^9 /L, HGB≥9 g/dL, PLT≥80×10\^9 /L; 2) Renal: Serum creatinine \< 1.5x ULN or CrCl \> 60mL/min; 3) Hepatic: Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN, AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN and ALP≤5 x ULN.
6. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test result within 28 days prior to enrollment. If the result is more than 7 days before receiving the first dose of study medication, a urine pregnancy test is required for verification.
7. Voluntary informed consent, joining the study with good compliance

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease or Type I diabetes or hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement therapy and skin diseases requiring systemic treatment.
2. currently received systemic steroid therapy with dose superior to 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 14 days prior to the enrollment
3. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive and HBV DNA≥1×10\^4 copies /mL) or Hepatitis C or HIV
4. Active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) infection was judged according to chest X-ray examination/CT, sputum examination and clinical physical examination.
5. Patients with severe heart disease include congestive heart failure, uncontrollable high-risk arrhythmias, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and intractable hypertension.
6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
7. The patient (male or female) has the possibility of fertility, but is unwilling or does not take effective contraceptive measures.
8. Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device
9. Has had another known invasive malignancy or unresectable cancer.
10. Received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy.
11. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might influence the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.

Where it's running

• Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital
  Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Haiqing Ma
• Email: mahaiqing@gdph.org.cn
• Phone: +86 18575604025

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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.