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Clinical Trial Summary

This phase II trial studies the side effects and best dose of ipilimumab, nivolumab, and radiation therapy and how well they work in treating patients with advanced human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving ipilimumab, nivolumab, and radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with HPV positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.


Clinical Trial Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the safety, tolerability and feasibility of ipilimumab and nivolumab when administered concurrently with reduced-field radiotherapy (intensity-modulated radiation therapy [IMRT]). II. To evaluate the clinical complete response rate to ipilimumab, nivolumab and IMRT with reduced field at six months as indicated by fluorodeoxyglucose - positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) post completion of radiation therapy (RT). III. To evaluate the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of subjects with low-intermediate volume, local-regionally advanced, human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) treated with ipilimumab, nivolumab and reduced-field IMRT. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate overall response rate to six weeks of induction immunotherapy (IO). II. To evaluate the frequency of pharyngeal dysphasia as measured by Dynamic Imaging (Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity [DIGEST]) grade on modified barium swallow (MBS) and patient-reported symptoms (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory [MDADI]) at 6 month, 1 and 2 years after radiotherapy ([IMRT]. III. To measure acute and chronic toxicities per Patient-Reported Outcomes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE PRO). IV. To measure acute toxicity profiles at the end of radiation therapy and IO and at 6 months. V. To measure late toxicity profiles at 1 and 2 years. VI. To determine local and regional control at 6 and 12 months. VII. To determine patterns of failure (local-regional relapse vs. distant) at 1 and 2 years. VIII. To determine overall survival (OS) at 1 and 2 years. CORRELATIVE OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate associations between total mutational load, interferon (INF) gamma score, T cell clonality at diagnosis with clinical response to induction, combination CTLA-4 PD-1 checkpoint blockade. II. To evaluate changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (CD8 + INF gamma score, T cell clonality, in tumor biopsy specimens pre and post induction immunotherapy (IO). III. To evaluate dynamic changes in and clearance of oral HPV and cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) viral load during therapy and to investigate associations with PFS and OS. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes and serum cytokine profiles before and after induction IO. II. To evaluate changes in the T cell receptor repertoire in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) and the peripheral blood in tumor biopsy specimens pre and post induction IO. III. To determine the negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) of FDG-PET/CT 12-14 weeks after end of RT for 1 year and 2 year PFS and OS. OUTLINE: Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days 1, 15, and 29 and ipilimumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every for 6 weeks for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Beginning on day 1 of cycle 2, patients also undergo IMRT 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 2 weeks, every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
  • Clinical Stage I HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Clinical Stage II HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Human Papillomavirus Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Oropharyngeal Basaloid Carcinoma
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms
  • Pathologic Stage I HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Pathologic Stage II HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Posterior Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Soft Palate Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Stage III Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7
  • Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7
  • Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

NCT number NCT03799445
Study type Interventional
Source M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Contact Maura Gillison
Phone 713-792-6363
Email mgillison@mdanderson.org
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Start date July 25, 2019
Completion date June 30, 2025

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