Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Cancer

Not currently recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Elaine Eng

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Assuntina Sacco, M.D.

Must not be taking: Steroids, Immunosuppressants, Monoclonal antibodies, others

Disqualifiers: Metastatic disease, Active TB, Autoimmune disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 19

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA, an immunotherapy drug) can help individuals with squamous cell head and neck cancer remain disease-free longer after surgery to remove recurring cancer. Participants must have experienced a disease-free period of at least 16 weeks after their initial treatment and be eligible for surgery to remove the cancer. The study excludes individuals with cancer that has metastasized or those with certain other medical conditions. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on evaluating the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of participants.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be on systemic steroid therapy or any form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days before starting the trial, and you should not have received chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks before the trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that pembrolizumab is likely to be safe for humans?

Research has shown that pembrolizumab is generally well-tolerated by patients. Other studies reported some side effects, but no new safety issues emerged. Serious side effects did occur, but researchers monitored and managed them.

The FDA has already approved pembrolizumab for other uses, indicating that its safety profile is well-understood. While side effects can occur, they are usually manageable and expected. Concerns should be discussed with the trial team. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising?

Pembrolizumab is unique because it is an immunotherapy drug that revs up the body's own immune system to fight cancer, specifically targeting the PD-1 pathway. Unlike standard treatments for head and neck cancer, which often include chemotherapy and radiation that directly attack cancer cells, pembrolizumab works by releasing the brakes on immune cells, allowing them to detect and destroy cancer more effectively. Researchers are excited about pembrolizumab because it offers a different approach that could potentially lead to fewer side effects and might provide more durable responses in some patients.

What evidence suggests that pembrolizumab might be an effective treatment for head and neck cancer?

Research has shown that pembrolizumab can be helpful for head and neck cancer. Studies have found that it can increase survival in patients with recurring or spreading head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer in the mouth, nose, or throat. Adding pembrolizumab to standard treatment significantly extends the time patients live without the cancer returning. Real-world evidence also supports its positive effects in these patients. These findings suggest that pembrolizumab could help prevent head and neck cancer from returning after surgery. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ezra Cohen, MD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Diego

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that has come back after initial treatment. They must have been disease-free for at least 16 weeks, be a candidate for salvage surgery, and agree to use contraception. People can't join if they've had certain other treatments recently, have active infections or autoimmune diseases, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have metastatic disease.

Inclusion Criteria

I agree to use birth control during the trial.

My organs are functioning well.

I agree to use contraception during and up to 120 days after the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial.

I have not had major surgery or fully recovered from surgery within the last 2 weeks.

I have an autoimmune disease treated within the last 2 years.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Window of Opportunity

Patients are randomized to receive pembrolizumab or placebo prior to salvage surgery

3-6 weeks

1-2 visits (in-person)

Salvage Surgery

Patients undergo salvage surgery; tumor tissue and blood are collected for immune correlative studies

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Adjuvant Treatment

Pembrolizumab 200 mg administered by IV infusion every 3 weeks up to 12 months or until disease progression

12 months

Up to 17 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for disease-free survival and overall survival

3 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Pembrolizumab

Trial Overview The study tests whether pembrolizumab helps patients stay disease-free longer after their cancer returns locally in the head and neck area. Pembrolizumab is given post-salvage surgery to see if it's effective in preventing recurrence.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Pembrolizumab Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered by IV infusion every 3 weeks up to 12 months or until disease progression

Pembrolizumab is already approved in United States, European Union, United Kingdom for the following indications:

Approved in United States as KEYTRUDA for:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial carcinoma

Approved in European Union as KEYTRUDA for:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial carcinoma

Approved in United Kingdom as KEYTRUDA for:

• Untreated metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with PD-L1 CPS ≥1

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Assuntina Sacco, M.D.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

30+

Assuntina G. Sacco, MD

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

80+

Ezra Cohen

Lead Sponsor

Trials

5

Recruited

70+

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Industry Sponsor

Trials

4,096

Recruited

5,232,000+

Chirfi Guindo

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Marketing Officer since 2022

Degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business

Robert M. Davis

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2021

JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University

Published Research Related to This Trial

Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) received accelerated FDA approval for treating recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) based on a study of 174 patients, showing an objective response rate of 16% and a duration of response ranging from 2.4 to 27.7 months.

The safety profile included serious adverse reactions such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, but the overall benefit-risk assessment was deemed acceptable, marking pembrolizumab as the first new treatment option for HNSCC since 2006.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval Summary: Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Disease Progression on or After Platinum-Containing Chemotherapy. Larkins, E., Blumenthal, GM., Yuan, W., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 882 participants with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), pembrolizumab alone significantly improved overall survival compared to cetuximab with chemotherapy, especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression (CPS of 20 or more).

Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy also showed improved overall survival compared to cetuximab with chemotherapy across all populations, indicating that pembrolizumab is an effective first-line treatment option for HNSCC, particularly for those with PD-L1 positivity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy versus cetuximab with chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-048): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. Burtness, B., Harrington, KJ., Greil, R., et al.[2021]

In a phase IB study involving 59 patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the combination of pembrolizumab with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy was found to be safe, with a high completion rate of treatment and only 8.8% of patients experiencing immune-related adverse events.

The treatment showed promising efficacy, with complete response rates of 85.3% for HPV-positive and 78.3% for HPV-negative patients, suggesting that this combination warrants further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and Efficacy of Pembrolizumab With Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase IB Study. Powell, SF., Gold, KA., Gitau, MM., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 133 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, pembrolizumab combined with radiotherapy did not show a significant improvement in locoregional control or survival compared to the standard treatment of cetuximab with radiotherapy.

However, patients receiving pembrolizumab experienced significantly lower toxicity, with only 74% reporting severe adverse events compared to 92% in the cetuximab group, suggesting it may be a safer option for patients unfit for high-dose cisplatin.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab versus cetuximab concurrent with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck unfit for cisplatin (GORTEC 2015-01 PembroRad): a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial. Tao, Y., Biau, J., Sun, XS., et al.[2023]

Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treating platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), offering a new option with potentially improved efficacy compared to traditional chemotherapy and EGFR inhibitors.

This review discusses the pharmacology and tolerability of pembrolizumab, emphasizing its mechanism of action by blocking the PD-1 receptor, which may enhance the immune response against HNSCC tumors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab and its use in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. Sheth, S., Weiss, J.[2019]

In a phase 3 study involving 495 patients with recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma, pembrolizumab demonstrated a median overall survival of 8.4 months, compared to 6.9 months for standard-of-care treatments, indicating a significant improvement in survival rates.

Pembrolizumab was associated with fewer severe treatment-related adverse events (13%) compared to standard-of-care therapies (36%), suggesting a better safety profile for patients receiving pembrolizumab.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab versus methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab for recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-040): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. Cohen, EEW., Soulières, D., Le Tourneau, C., et al.[2019]

The Phase III trial KEYNOTE-412 is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, when used alongside chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Previous Phase Ib studies have indicated that combining pembrolizumab with CRT is safe and feasible, supporting its potential use in this larger trial to improve treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced HNSCC.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab given concomitantly with chemoradiation and as maintenance therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: KEYNOTE-412. Machiels, JP., Tao, Y., Burtness, B., et al.[2021]

In a study of 38 patients with p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, there was a 76% agreement in PD-L1 combined positive scores (CPS) between primary tumors and lymph node metastases, indicating variability in scoring between these specimens.

The interobserver agreement for CPS scoring was fair to substantial, suggesting that additional evaluations may be necessary to ensure accurate scoring, especially for patients who might benefit from immunotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Programmed Death Ligand-1 Combined Positive Score Concordance and Interrater Reliability in Primary Tumors and Synchronous Lymph Node Metastases in Resected Cases of p16+ Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Kaur, A., Kuchta, K., Watkin, W., et al.[2023]

In a phase 1b trial involving 60 patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, pembrolizumab was found to be well tolerated, with only 17% experiencing severe drug-related adverse events and no drug-related deaths.

The treatment showed clinically meaningful antitumor activity, with an overall response rate of 18%, and particularly higher in HPV-positive patients at 25%, indicating its potential as a viable therapy for advanced head and neck cancers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and clinical activity of pembrolizumab for treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-012): an open-label, multicentre, phase 1b trial. Seiwert, TY., Burtness, B., Mehra, R., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11694497/

Real-World Evidence on the Effectiveness of Pembrolizumab ... The study showed some beneficial effects of pembrolizumab monotherapy in recurrent/metastatic/unresectable HNSCC patients in real-world scenarios.

2. nejm.org nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2415434

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Locally ... The addition of neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab to standard care significantly improved event-free survival among participants with locally advanced ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36219809/

Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study - PubMed Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy demonstrated efficacy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in KEYNOTE-048.

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02252042

Study Details | NCT02252042 | Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) ... The primary study hypothesis is that pembrolizumab treatment prolongs Overall Survival (OS) when compared to standard treatment.

5. merck.com merck.com/news/mercks-keytruda-pembrolizumab-significantly-improved-overall-survival-compared-to-standard-of-care-as-monotherapy-and-in-combination-with-chemotherapy-as-first-line-treatment-for-patients/

Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Significantly ... “In this study, KEYTRUDA showed the potential to significantly prolong survival when used as first-line therapy for patients whose head and neck cancer had ...

6. merck.com merck.com/news/keytruda-pembrolizumab-as-perioperative-treatment-with-standard-of-care-soc-adjuvant-therapy-significantly-improved-event-free-survival-compared-to-soc-alone-in-patients-with-resectable-loca/

KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as Perioperative Treatment ... Results at the first interim analysis of the trial showed KEYTRUDA significantly improved event-free survival (EFS) as part of a perioperative treatment regimen ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02252042?tab=results

Study Results | Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus ... Serious AEs and Other AEs were reported according to treatment course for all randomized participants who received ≥1 dose of study treatment. Per protocol, ...

8. clinicaltrialsarena.com clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/msd-keytruda-combo/

MSD reports outcomes from trial of Keytruda combination ... After a median follow-up at 38.3 months, the therapy had decreased the EFS event risk by 34% in subjects whose combined positive score (CPS) was ...