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SBRT + Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Cancer (KEYSTROKE Trial)

Phase 2
Recruiting
Led By Stuart J. Wong, MD
Research Sponsored by RTOG Foundation, Inc.
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Disease must be limited to a single site or adjacent sites that can be treated in a single contiguous target volume with a maximum total tumor dimension <7.5cm
Hematologic, hepatic, renal, and coagulation criteria within specified ranges
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up assessed up to 5 years
Awards & highlights

KEYSTROKE Trial Summary

This trial will evaluate whether adding pembrolizumab to Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) re-irradiation will improve progression-free survival for patients with recurrent or new second primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with a confirmed diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back or is a new second primary. It's not for those who can be cured by surgery without high risk, have distant metastases, recent other cancer treatments, immune deficiencies, certain heart conditions within the last 6 months, active infections needing IV antibiotics, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those unwilling to use contraception.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study tests if adding Pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) to Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy improves progression-free survival in patients with recurrent or new head and neck cancer. The phase II trial includes an initial safety review before fully proceeding.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab may cause immune system-related side effects like inflammation in various organs including lungs (pneumonitis), liver issues, skin reactions; it could also lead to fatigue and infusion-related reactions.

KEYSTROKE Trial Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
My cancer is in one area or close areas, all under 7.5cm in size.
Select...
My blood, liver, kidney, and clotting tests are within normal ranges.
Select...
My head or neck cancer cannot be removed with surgery.
Select...
Surgery to remove my cancer is not an option for me due to high risk or medical reasons.
Select...
I am 18 years old or older.

KEYSTROKE Trial Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~assessed up to 5 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and assessed up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Progression Free Survival (PFS)
Secondary outcome measures
Overall Survival (OS)

Side effects data

From 2024 Phase 2 trial • 57 Patients • NCT03004183
21%
Fatigue
13%
Nausea
11%
Back pain
9%
Shortness of Breath
9%
Anemia
9%
Abdominal pain
9%
Diarrhea
7%
Pneumonia
7%
Kidney Injury and/or Infection
7%
Dyspnea
7%
Weight Loss
5%
Malnutrition, Hypercalcemia and Weakness
5%
Pneumothorax
5%
Intractable pain, back pain, hip pain
5%
Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged
4%
Pleural effusion
4%
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response
2%
Thrombocytopenia
2%
Respiratory failure
2%
Skin rash
2%
colitis
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Single Arm

KEYSTROKE Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Arm IIExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients receive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) over 2 weeks. Arm II patients who experience progressive disease within 2 years after the start of SBRT will be allowed to cross over to receive pembrolizumab for up to 2 years.
Group II: Arm IExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Patients receive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) over 2 weeks and then receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks for up to 2 years.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 2
~2010
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
2018
Completed Phase 2
~740

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

RTOG Foundation, Inc.Lead Sponsor
6 Previous Clinical Trials
1,410 Total Patients Enrolled
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry Sponsor
3,888 Previous Clinical Trials
5,054,902 Total Patients Enrolled
Stuart J. Wong, MDPrincipal InvestigatorRTOG Foundation
4 Previous Clinical Trials
77 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03546582 — Phase 2

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

How hazardous is the use of Pembrolizumab to human health?

"Our team at Power gave Pembrolizumab a score of 2 out of 3 due to the fact that it is currently in phase two of testing, meaning there is some data indicating safety but none validating efficacy."

Answered by AI

How many people are actively involved in this experiment?

"This research requires 102 qualified participants. If you meet the criteria, you can enroll at either University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas or the University of Arizona Cancer Center - North Campus in Tucson."

Answered by AI

What numbers of healthcare facilities are presently participating in this experiment?

"This clinical trial has 17 sites, including the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, University of Arizona Cancer Center - North Campus in Tucson and Ohio State University in Columbus."

Answered by AI

Is there still availability for participants in this experiment?

"Affirmative. Information hosted on clinicaltrials.gov confirms that this trial is presently enrolling individuals; it was first posted to the website on November 14th 2018 and last updated July 18th 2022. The study necessitates 102 participants across 17 different medical centres."

Answered by AI

What conditions can Pembrolizumab typically be administered to address?

"Patients suffering from malignant neoplasms, unresectable melanoma, and microsatellite instability high can be offered relief through pembrolizumab."

Answered by AI

Has Pembrolizumab been studied in past clinical trials?

"Pembrolizumab was first investigated at City of Hope in 2010, and since then there are 260 completed clinical trials. Currently, 961 medical studies that include this medication are actively recruiting patients - with many based out of Dallas, Texas."

Answered by AI
~38 spots leftby Jul 2027