Chemotherapy and Locoregional Therapy Trial (Surgery or Radiation) for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Summary

Carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, and nivolumab combination will be administered for three cycles of three weeks duration each. TORS or RT/CRT will be performed after induction chemotherapy (i.e. day 64 of therapy). Patients with low risk and small volume tonsillar disease (T1-T2, non-bulky N2A-N2B with ≤2 non-lower neck lymph nodes measuring ≤5 cm in size) or base of tongue disease (T1-2 with lateralized primary ≤3 cm, non-bulky N2A-N2B with ≤2 non-lower neck lymph nodes measuring ≤5 cm in size) who have ≥50% reduction by RECIST following induction chemotherapy will undergo TORS and selective nodal dissection. De-intensified adjuvant RT will be given for adverse pathologic features. Patients may refuse TORS treatment.

Patients with low risk, who do not qualify for TORS (due to volume of disease or poor visualization/access) or refuse TORS, who have ≥50% reduction by RECIST following induction chemotherapy will be given de-intensified treatment with radiation alone to 50 Gy.

Before induction chemotherapy, patients will undergo examination under anesthesia and direct laryngoscopy to tattoo and photograph the primary tumor to plan the post-induction resection. Adjuvant nivolumab will be offered to all patients for 6-months post completion of definitive therapy (7 doses given as a flat dose of 480mg, every four weeks).

Conditions

• HPV-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• HNSCC

Interventions

DRUG

nab-paclitaxel

All enrolled patients will receive three 21-day cycles of nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15; 9 doses total)

DRUG

Carboplatin

All enrolled patients will receive three 21-day cycles of carboplatin (AUC 6 on day 1; 3 doses total).

DRUG

Nivolumab

All enrolled patients will receive three 21-day cycles of nivolumab (360 mg on days 1; 3 doses total). Adjuvant nivolumab will be offered to all patients for 6-months post completion of locoregional therapy for a total of 7 doses.

DRUG

Cisplatin

Cisplatin will be given on an every 3 weeks basis at a dose of 100 mg/m2 IV over 3-4 hrs day 1 (or 2) and 22 (or 23). Only for patients on the Intermediate Dose Arm and additionally on day 43 (or 44) for patients on the Regular Dose Arm.

DRUG

Hydroxyurea

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On day 0 patients will start hydroxyurea at 500 mg PO q 12 hours x 6 days (11 doses). The first daily dose of hydroxyurea on days 1 - 5 is given 2 hours prior to the first fraction of daily radiotherapy.

DRUG

5-FU

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On day 0 at 1800 patients will start continuous infusion of 5-FU at 600 mg/m2/day x 5 days (120 hours).

DRUG

Dexamethasone

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On days 1-5 patients will receive dexamethasone 20 mg PO (IV) in am Day 1, 1 hr prior to paclitaxel

DRUG

Famotidine

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On days 1-5 patients will receive famotidine 20 mg PO (IV) in am Day 1, 1 hr prior to paclitaxel.

DRUG

Diphenhydramine

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On days 1-5 patients will receive diphenhydramine 50 mg PO (IV) in am Day 1, 30 mins prior to paclitaxel.

DRUG

Paclitaxel

Patients on the Intermediate or Regular Dose Arms will receive chemoradiation for 3-5 cycles (6-10 weeks). On days 1-5 patients will start paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 after first RT fraction on day 1 of each cycle. Paclitaxel should be administered in 250 ml 0.9% NaCl over 60 minutes.

PROCEDURE

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS)

Patients with low risk and small volume tonsillar disease (T1-T2, non-bulky N2A-N2B with ≤2 non-lower neck lymph nodes measuring ≤5 cm in size) or base of tongue disease (T1-2 with lateralized primary ≤3 cm, non-bulky N2A-N2B with ≤2 non-lower neck lymph nodes measuring ≤5 cm in size) who have ≥50% reduction by RECIST following induction chemotherapy will undergo TORS and selective nodal dissection. Patients may refuse TORS treatment. Patients will receive RT or TORS.

RADIATION

Adjuvant RT

Patients with low risk, who do not qualify for TORS (due to volume of disease or poor visualization/access) or refuse TORS, who have ≥50% reduction by RECIST following induction chemotherapy will be given de-intensified treatment with radiation alone to 50 Gy. Patients will receive RT or TORS.

RADIATION

Chemoradiotherapy

Patients who have low risk disease with \<50% but ≥30% reduction, or patients who have high risk disease and ≥50% reduction of tumor by RECIST with induction chemotherapy will receive CRT to 50 Gy with concurrent bolus cisplatin (x2 doses) or TFHX to 45 Gy (3 cycles). Patients who have low risk disease and \<30% reduction of tumor, patients who have high risk disease and \<50% reduction of tumor by RECIST, or any patient who has progressive disease with induction chemotherapy will receive CRT to 70 Gy with concurrent bolus cisplatin (x3 doses) or TFHX to 75 Gy (5 cycles).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Chicago

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Everett Vokes, MD · University of Chicago

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-06-27

Primary Completion

2024-09-06

Completion

2024-09-06

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations