Using Trilaciclib to Protect Bone Marrow in Head and Neck Cancer Patients After Surgery

Bone Marrow Protective Effect of Trilaciclib in Postoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Phase 2 Clinical Study

This study is testing if adding a new drug called trilaciclib to standard treatment after surgery can help protect the bone marrow of patients with advanced head and neck cancer from the harmful effects of chemotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Hunan Cancer Hospital (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Changsha, Hunan)
• Trial ID: NCT06752798 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of trilaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, when combined with standard postoperative chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The aim is to reduce the incidence of bone marrow suppression that often occurs with chemotherapy. Patients who have undergone radical surgery will receive trilaciclib alongside cisplatin as part of their treatment regimen. The study focuses on those with specific pathological features that indicate a higher risk of complications.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have undergone radical surgery and meet specific pathological criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with cancers of the lip or nasopharynx, or those who do not meet the inclusion criteria, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce bone marrow suppression in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer, improving their overall treatment tolerance and outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While trilaciclib has shown promise in other cancer types, this specific application in head and neck cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be enrolled in this study:

  * Pathologically or histologically confirmed locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (this study includes cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx, excluding cancers of the lip and nasopharynx).
  * Indications for surgery and postoperative chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, and meeting the following conditions:
* (1) Staging of T1-4N0-3M0, having undergone radical surgery;
* (2) At least one of the following factors: positive surgical margin, tumor close to the surgical margin, postoperative pathological staging pT3-4 or pN2-3, positive lymph nodes in neck level IV or V, tumor invasion of nerves/blood vessels/lymphatic vessels.

  * ECOG performance status score of 0-1.
  * Normal major organ function, meeting the following criteria:
* (1) Hematology standards (no blood transfusion or blood products within 14 days): a. HB ≥ 90 g/L; b. Neu ≥ 1.5×10\^9/L; c. PLT ≥ 100×10\^9/L;
* (2) Biochemical criteria: a. TBIL \< 1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN); b. ALT and AST \< 2.5× ULN; c. Serum Cr ≤ 1.0× ULN or creatinine clearance rate \> 60 ml/min.

  * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to enrollment and must agree to use reliable contraception during the study and for a specified period after the last dose of the study drug.
  * Women of childbearing potential must have taken reliable contraceptive measures or have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to enrollment, and must agree to use appropriate contraceptive methods during the study and for 8 weeks after the last dose of the study drug. For male participants, they must agree to use appropriate contraceptive methods during the study and for 8 weeks after the last dose of the study drug or have undergone surgical sterilization.
  * The subjects voluntarily join this study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pathologically confirmed non-squamous cell carcinoma.
* Patients with recurrence or distant metastasis (M1).
* Previous chemotherapy for any reason, or prior surgery, radiotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, etc.) in the head and neck region.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* Previous or concurrent other malignancies.
* Patients with other uncontrolled serious diseases.
* Abnormal function of vital organs such as the heart, brain, or lungs: Hypertension that cannot be controlled to normal range with antihypertensive drugs (systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \> 90mmHg); Grade I or higher myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and Grade II heart failure; stroke or cardiovascular events within 6 months prior to enrollment; abnormal coagulation function (INR \> 1.5 or prothrombin time (PT) \> ULN + 4 seconds or APTT \> 1.5 ULN), with a tendency to bleed or receiving thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy; clear tendency to bleed; patients with positive proteinuria (urine protein test 2+ or above, or 24-hour urine protein quantification \> 1.0 g).
* Active infections requiring systemic treatment, such as tuberculosis.
* Previous hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
* Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (i.e., HIV 1/2 antibody positive).
* Untreated active hepatitis B; Note: Hepatitis B subjects meeting the following criteria are eligible: HBV viral load must be \< 1000 copies/ml (200 IU/ml) before the first dose, and subjects should receive anti-HBV therapy throughout the study chemotherapy to prevent viral reactivation. For subjects who are anti-HBc (+), HBsAg (-), anti-HBs (-), and HBV viral load (-), prophylactic anti-HBV therapy is not required, but close monitoring for viral reactivation is necessary; active HCV infection subjects (HCV antibody positive and HCV-RNA levels above the detection limit).
* History of substance abuse that cannot be abstained from or mental disorders.
* Allergy to the study drug or its components.
* Any other conditions that the investigator judges may affect the conduct of the clinical study and the determination of the study results.
* Concurrent participation in another therapeutic clinical study.

Where this trial is running

Changsha, Hunan

• Hunan Cancer hospital — Changsha, Hunan, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Feng Liu, Doctoral Degree

Conditions Head and Neck Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Trilaciclib; Head and neck cancer; Adjuvant treatment; chemoradiotherapy