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Study of Front Line Pembrolizumab and Valemetostat in PD-L1 Positive, HPV-Negative Recurrent/Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the Head and Neck: The PANTHERAS

NCT05879484 · Status: WITHDRAWN · Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Last updated 2025-07-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6th most common cancer worldwide. These cancers have different causes, with smoking/tobacco exposure and human papilloma virus infection being the most common. . When HNSCC occurs in people who are not infected with HPV, the cancers are more likely to return after treatment; when this happens, overall survival is only about 10 months, thus better treatments are needed.

Objective:

To test a combination treatment using 2 drugs (valemetostat and pembrolizumab) in people with HNSCC. Phase 1b of the study will determine a recommended dose of the 2 drugs and evaluate how safe the combination is.; this will include patients with HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC, as well as squamous cell NSCLC that have progressed on anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 therapies.Phase II will determine how effective the combination is and will focus on patients with HPV-negative HNSCC.

Eligibility:

People aged 18 years and older with HPV-negative HNSCC, sinonasal carcinoma of the head and neck, or squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Design:

Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam. They will have blood and urine tests and tests of their heart function. They will have imaging scans. They may have a biopsy: A small sample of tissue will be removed from the tumor.

Treatment will be given in 21-day cycles.

Pembrolizumab is administered through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. Participants will receive pembrolizumab on the first day of each cycle.

Valemetostat is a tablet taken by mouth. Participants will take the tablet once a day at home. They will record the date and time of each dose in a diary. They will also write down any adverse effects they experience.

Participants may remain in the study up to 2 years.

Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

pembrolizumab

Phase Ib: Pembrolizumab 200mg will be administered by IV infusion every 3 weeks. Phase II: Pembrolizumab 200mg will be administered by IV infusion every 3 weeks.

DRUG

valemetostat

Phase Ib: Valemetostat will be given orally every day of every cycle (DL-1: 100mg, DL1: 150mg, DL2: 200mg). Phase II: Valemetostat will be given orally daily at the recommended phase 2 dose.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Vassiliki Saloura, M.D. · National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
120 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-07-09
Primary Completion
2025-07-09
Completion
2025-07-09
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Drugs
Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05879484 on ClinicalTrials.gov