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Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Precancerous Lesions of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract

Phase II Study of Single-Agent Cetuximab for Treatment of High-Risk Pre-malignant Upper Aerodigestive Lesions

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00524017
Enrollment
35
Registered
2007-09-03
Start date
2007-05-31
Completion date
2011-12-31
Last updated
2020-03-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer, Precancerous Condition

Keywords

hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, lip and oral cavity cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer, salivary gland cancer, precancerous condition

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block abnormal cell growth in different ways. Some block the ability of abnormal cells to grow and spread. Others find abnormal cells and help kill them or carry cell-killing substances to them. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well cetuximab works in treating patients with precancerous lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To determine the histologic response rate in patients with high-risk, premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract treated with cetuximab. Secondary * To determine the clinical response rate in these patients. * To determine if patterns of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) component expression are altered in these patients. * To determine the change in status of genetic alterations, including loss of heterozygosity, in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified by lesion type \[diffuse dysplasia vs recurrent dysplasia vs dysplastic lesions with 3p or 9p loss of heterozygosity (LOH)\]. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. * Arm I (treatment): Patients receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II (control): Patients receive regular follow-up care. Patients have the option of receiving cetuximab after completion of the study. In both arms, patients with persistent or recurrent high-grade dysplasia or dysplastic lesions with 3p or 9p LOH undergo surgical resection, if feasible, after week 8. Tumor biopsy samples are obtained at baseline\* and after week 8 for histologic and biomarker correlative studies. Tissue samples are analyzed by histopathology to determine histologic changes in post-treatment lesions and by immuno-histochemistry (IHC) to measure expression and activation of EGFR signaling pathway components. LOH studies are also performed. NOTE: \*Paraffin-embedded tissue from the original diagnostic biopsy may be used for baseline assessment, if the diagnostic biopsy was performed within 3 months prior to study entry. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed at approximately 1 month, every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for up to 5 years as per routine standard of care.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALcetuximab

given IV

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 120 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed high-risk, premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract, meeting one of the following criteria: * Unresectable, diffuse high-grade dysplasia, defined as moderate or severe dysplasia that is not assessable by physical examination and/or that cannot be excised by standard surgical techniques * previously treated HNSCC with persistent or recurrent high grade dysplasia with no evidence of head and neck malignancy for three months prior to enrollment or who have successfully completed therapy for head and neck malignancy more than 3 months prior to enrollment. * Dysplastic lesions with 3p or 9p loss of heterozygosity * Disease location amenable to endoscopic biopsy in an outpatient clinical setting or operative biopsy within the routine scheduling and practice of clinical care * No medical contraindication to biopsy of the target lesion * Pathology must be reviewed by the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Pathology PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1,000/mm³ * Platelet count \> 75,000/mm³ * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * Total serum bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study therapy * No concurrent illness likely to preclude study therapy or surgical resection * Patients with a history of a curatively treated malignancy are eligible provided they are disease-free and have a survival prognosis that exceeds 5 years * No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease * Patients with chronic, stable radiographic changes who are asymptomatic are eligible * No history or radiological evidence of pulmonary fibrosis * No acute myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No uncontrolled angina, arrhythmia, or congestive heart failure * No evidence of other severe or uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., unstable or uncompensated respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease) * No evidence of any other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that would preclude study participation * No known severe hypersensitivity to cetuximab or any of its excipients * No prior hypersensitivity reaction to chimerized or murine monoclonal antibody therapy * No severe abnormality of the cornea PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior oncologic or other major surgery or biopsy * More than 30 days since prior non-approved or investigational drugs * No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery for the premalignant lesions * No prior EGFR-targeted agents (e.g., cetuximab, gefitinib, or erlotinib)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Histologic Grade8 weeksHistologic downgrade by at least one grade of dysplasia (e.g Severe to Moderate).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Clinical Assessment8 weeksClinical visualization on whether lesion responded to treatment (i.e., direct visualization of the lesion combined with histologic grade)
Status of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Pathway Components and Molecular Alterations in Pre-treatment BiopsiesBaseline (pre-treatment)
Status of EGFR Pathway Components and Molecular Alterations in Post-treatment BiopsiesAt 8 weeks post-treatment
SurvivalUp to year 5 years post-treatment
Lesion RecurrenceUp to year 5 years post-treatment

Countries

Canada, United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Study enrolled patients with premalignant lesions of the Head and Neck with mild, moderate or severe dysplasias

Pre-assignment details

16 participants did not have biopsy proven dysplasia as required by protocol and were not randomized to treatment.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm I (Treatment)
Patients receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. cetuximab: given IV
13
Arm II (Control)
Patients receive regular follow-up care
6
Total19

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm I (Treatment)Arm II (Control)Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
5 Participants2 Participants7 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
8 Participants4 Participants12 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
13 Participants6 Participants19 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants1 Participants7 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants5 Participants12 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 130 / 6
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 130 / 6
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 130 / 6

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Histologic Grade

Histologic downgrade by at least one grade of dysplasia (e.g Severe to Moderate).

Time frame: 8 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Treatment)Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Histologic Grade13 Participants
Arm II (Control)Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Histologic Grade6 Participants
Secondary

Lesion Recurrence

Time frame: Up to year 5 years post-treatment

Population: No patients were followed for this outcome measure

Secondary

Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Clinical Assessment

Clinical visualization on whether lesion responded to treatment (i.e., direct visualization of the lesion combined with histologic grade)

Time frame: 8 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Treatment)Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Clinical Assessment13 Participants
Arm II (Control)Number of Participants With Objective Response Based on Clinical Assessment6 Participants
Secondary

Status of EGFR Pathway Components and Molecular Alterations in Post-treatment Biopsies

Time frame: At 8 weeks post-treatment

Population: Data was not collected for this outcome

Secondary

Status of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Pathway Components and Molecular Alterations in Pre-treatment Biopsies

Time frame: Baseline (pre-treatment)

Population: Data was not collected for this outcome

Secondary

Survival

Time frame: Up to year 5 years post-treatment

Population: No patients were followed for this outcome measure

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026