Cetuximab, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel Followed by Radiation Therapy, With or Without Cisplatin, in Treating Patients With Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Phase II Trial of Induction Therapy With Cetuximab (C225) and Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Chemotherapy in Previously Untreated Patients With Advanced (Stage IV) Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some find tumor cells and kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Others interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells. Giving cetuximab together with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with or without cisplatin, may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving cetuximab together with carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by radiation therapy, with or without cisplatin, works in treating patients with metastatic head and neck cancer.

Clinical Trial Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the increase in clinical/radiographic complete response rate in patients with previously untreated metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with induction therapy comprising cetuximab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

• Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.

Secondary

• Determine the pattern of tumor recurrence in patients treated with this regimen.

• Determine the quality of life of patients treated with this regimen.

• Determine the duration of response, time to progression, and survival of patients treated with this regimen.

• Correlate effects of this regimen with biomarkers of response and predictors of long-term outcome in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized, open-label study.

Patients receive induction therapy comprising cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours, paclitaxel IV over 1 hour, and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 1. Treatment repeats weekly for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Beginning 2-3 weeks later, patients undergo radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Patients with T0, 1, 2 disease undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Patients with T3, 4 disease or unresectable nodal disease undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks and receive concurrent cisplatin IV over 1-2 hours on days 1 and 22. Some patients may undergo primary surgical resection before or instead of radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months after completion of radiotherapy or surgery.

After study completion, patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 1 year, and every 6 months for 2 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 80 patients will be accrued for this study. ;

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Head and Neck Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00301028
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: April 2006
• Completion date: September 2011