Bortezomib, Cetuximab, and Radiation Therapy With or Without Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Phase I Study of Bortezomib and Cetuximab Without or With Cisplatin in Combination With Radiation Therapy for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

RATIONALE: Bortezomib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Radiation therapy uses high energy x- rays to kill tumor cells. Bortezomib and cetuximab may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving bortezomib together with cetuximab, radiation therapy, and cisplatin may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of bortezomib when given together with cetuximab and radiation therapy with or without cisplatin in treating patients with stage IV head and neck cancer.

Clinical Trial Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of bortezomib, cetuximab, and radiotherapy with or without cisplatin in patients with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

• To identify the maximum tolerated dose of bortezomib for further clinical phase II development.

Secondary

• To evaluate the objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

• To determine the effects of bortezomib and cetuximab with or without cisplatin on inhibiting activation of the NF-kB, EGFR, MAPK, and STAT3 signal pathways, expression of pro-survival and pro-angiogenesis genes regulated by these pathways, and on proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study of bortezomib. Patients are simultaneously accrued to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Patients are initially accrued to group I until there are a sufficient number of patients to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of bortezomib. Patients are then accrued to group II.

• Group I: Patients receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50. Patients also receive bortezomib IV over 3-5 seconds on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, 32, 43, 46, 50, and 53. Beginning on day 8 or 9, patients undergo standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) once daily, 5 days a week, for up to 8 weeks.

Once the MTD of bortezomib is determined, at least 6 and up to 10 additional patients are accrued and treated at the MTD.

• Group II: Patients receive cetuximab, bortezomib (beginning at one dose level below the MTD determined in group I), and IMRT as in group I. Patients also receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, and 57.

Once the MTD of bortezomib is determined, 6 additional patients are accrued and treated at the MTD.

Patients undergo blood sample collection periodically for correlative laboratory studies. Samples are analyzed for biomarkers by immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and ELISA.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed periodically for 2-5 years. ;

Study Design

Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Head and Neck Cancer
• Head and Neck Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00629226
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: October 2007