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Radiation + Cisplatin or Panitumumab in Locally Advanced Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

A Phase III Study of Standard Fractionation Radiotherapy With Concurrent High-Dose Cisplatin Versus Accelerated Fractionation Radiotherapy With Panitumumab in Patients With Locally Advanced Stage III and IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00820248
Enrollment
320
Registered
2009-01-12
Start date
2008-12-30
Completion date
2017-02-17
Last updated
2023-08-22

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

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Keywords

stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, stage III verrucous carcinoma of the larynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, stage IV verrucous carcinoma of the larynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage III verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage IV verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving radiation therapy in higher doses over a shorter period of time may kill more tumor cells and have fewer side effects. 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. Monoclonal antibodies, such as panitumumab, 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. It is not yet known whether giving standard radiation therapy together with high-dose cisplatin is more effective than giving higher-dose radiation therapy together with panitumumab in treating patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is comparing two radiation therapy regimens to see how well they work when given together with cisplatin or panitumumab in treating patients with locally advanced stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with standard fractionation radiotherapy and high-dose cisplatin vs accelerated fractionation radiotherapy and panitumumab. Secondary * To compare overall survival of patients treated with these regimens. * To compare local and regional PFS of patients treated with these regimens. * To compare distant metastasis in patients treated with these regimens. * To compare adverse events, including late radiotherapy-related adverse events in patients treated with these regimens. * To compare quality of life (QOL) of patients treated with these regimens. * To compare swallowing-related QOL of patients treated with these regimens. * To compare economic evaluation (cost effectiveness analysis and cost utility), including both healthcare utilization and indirect costs. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to T category (T1-3 vs T4), nodal status (N0-1 vs N2 vs N3), radiotherapy delivery modality (intensity-modulated \[IMRT\] vs 3-D conformal \[3D CRT\]), anatomic location (hypopharynx vs oral cavity vs oropharynx vs larynx), and participation in the optional swallowing impairment substudy (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients undergo standard fractionation radiotherapy (IMRT or 3D CRT) once daily, 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. Patients receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1, 22, and 43 of radiotherapy. * Arm II: Patients undergo accelerated fractionation radiotherapy (IMRT or 3D CRT) once or twice daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. Patients receive panitumumab IV over 30-90 minutes 1 week prior to and on days 15 and 36 of radiotherapy. Treatment in both arms continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life (QOL) (FACT-H&N), swallowing-related QOL (MDADI, SWAL-QOL), swallowing function (FOIS), and economic evaluations (Lost Productivity questionnaire) are assessed periodically during the study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for at least 5 years.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALpanitumumab

Given IV

DRUGcisplatin

Given IV

RADIATION3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy

Patients undergo radiotherapy

Patients undergo accelerated fractionation radiotherapy

RADIATIONintensity-modulated radiation therapy

Patients undergo radiotherapy

Sponsors

NCIC Clinical Trials Group
Lead SponsorNETWORK

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed (primary lesion or regional lymph nodes) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx * Locally advanced disease, defined by any of the following criteria: * Any T, N+, M0 * T3-4, N0, M0 * No current history of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, primary nasopharyngeal, paranasal, or salivary gland tumors of the head and neck PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L * Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST or ALT ≤ 3 times ULN * Creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min * Magnesium \> 0.5 mmol/L * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 6 months after completion of study treatment * Must be accessible for treatment and follow-up * Able (sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life (QOL) and swallowing QOL questionnaires in either English or French * Must be assessed by a radiation oncologist and medical oncologist and deemed suitable for study participation * No other malignancies within the past 5 years, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ cancer of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumors * No history of allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to any of the study drugs or their excipients * No prior or concurrent interstitial lung disease (e.g., pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis) on baseline CT scan * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 (CTCAE v3.0) * No hearing loss/tinnitus ≥ grade 3 (CTCAE v3.0) * No thromboembolic event within the past 12 months despite being treated with anticoagulation drugs * Prior thromboembolic event \> 12 months allowed provided patient is stable on anticoagulation or on preventative anticoagulation * None of the following allowed: * Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months * Uncontrolled severe congestive heart failure * Unstable angina * Active cardiomyopathy * Unstable ventricular arrhythmia * Uncontrolled hypertension * Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder * Active serious infection * Active peptic ulcer disease * Any other medical condition that might interfere with protocol therapy delivery PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior surgical treatment except diagnostic biopsy for this disease * No prior induction chemotherapy for this disease * No prior radiation to the head and neck region that would result in overlap of fields for this study * No prior cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy * No prior targeted anti-EGFR therapy of any kind * At least 30 days since any prior investigational agent * No concurrent granulocytic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\]) during radiotherapy * No concurrent erythropoietic growth factors, pilocarpine, amifostine, other anticancer therapy (e.g., cytotoxic agents, biological response modifiers, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy), or other investigational drug therapy * The following radiological investigations must be done within 8 weeks of randomization: * MRI or CT of the head and neck * CT chest

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression-free Survival (PFS) Rate6.2 yearsThe progression event is defined by first event of the following, Local-regional progression or recurrence Distant metastasis Non-protocol RT, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy without documentation of the site of failure Surgery of primary site with tumour present/unknown Neck dissection with tumour present/unknown, \> 15 weeks from end of RT Death due to study cancer or from unknown causes or any other reason Number of patients with and without progression event will be reported.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Survival Rate6.2 yearsOverall survival is defined as the time interval between the date of randomization to date of death from any cause (calculated in months). Otherwise, survival is censored at the last date that the patient is known to be alive. Number of death and alive patients will be reported.

Countries

Canada

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Cisplatin
Patients undergo standard fractionation radiotherapy (IMRT or 3D CRT) once daily, 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. Patients receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1, 22, and 43 of radiotherapy. cisplatin: Given IV 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy: Patients undergo radiotherapy intensity-modulated radiation therapy: Patients undergo radiotherapy
160
Panitumumab
Patients undergo accelerated fractionation radiotherapy (IMRT or 3D CRT) once or twice daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. Patients receive panitumumab IV over 30-90 minutes 1 week prior to and on days 15 and 36 of radiotherapy. panitumumab: Given IV 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy: Patients undergo radiotherapy accelerated radiation therapy: Patients undergo accelerated fractionation radiotherapy intensity-modulated radiation therapy: Patients undergo radiotherapy
160
Total320

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyNo treated41

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTotalCisplatinPanitumumab
Age, Continuous56.54 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.46
56.68 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.5
56.40 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.43
Anatomic Location
Hypopharynx
19 Participants8 Participants11 Participants
Anatomic Location
Larynx
35 Participants18 Participants17 Participants
Anatomic Location
Oral Cavity
7 Participants2 Participants5 Participants
Anatomic Location
Oropharynx
259 Participants132 Participants127 Participants
ECOG Performance Status
0
226 Participants111 Participants115 Participants
ECOG Performance Status
1
94 Participants49 Participants45 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
8 Participants1 Participants7 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
308 Participants158 Participants150 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
52 Participants26 Participants26 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
268 Participants134 Participants134 Participants
Smoking
No
91 Participants47 Participants44 Participants
Smoking
Yes
229 Participants113 Participants116 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
43 / 16032 / 160
other
Total, other adverse events
156 / 156159 / 159
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 1560 / 159

Outcome results

Primary

Progression-free Survival (PFS) Rate

The progression event is defined by first event of the following, Local-regional progression or recurrence Distant metastasis Non-protocol RT, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy without documentation of the site of failure Surgery of primary site with tumour present/unknown Neck dissection with tumour present/unknown, \> 15 weeks from end of RT Death due to study cancer or from unknown causes or any other reason Number of patients with and without progression event will be reported.

Time frame: 6.2 years

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
CisplatinProgression-free Survival (PFS) RatePFS event50 Participants
CisplatinProgression-free Survival (PFS) Rateno PFS event110 Participants
PanitumumabProgression-free Survival (PFS) RatePFS event43 Participants
PanitumumabProgression-free Survival (PFS) Rateno PFS event117 Participants
Comparison: The log rank test stratified by the stratification factors at randomization was used to compare the difference in PFS between two treatment arms.p-value: 0.8395% CI: [0.6, 1.5]Regression, Cox
Secondary

Overall Survival Rate

Overall survival is defined as the time interval between the date of randomization to date of death from any cause (calculated in months). Otherwise, survival is censored at the last date that the patient is known to be alive. Number of death and alive patients will be reported.

Time frame: 6.2 years

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
CisplatinOverall Survival RateDeath43 Participants
CisplatinOverall Survival RateAlive117 Participants
PanitumumabOverall Survival RateDeath32 Participants
PanitumumabOverall Survival RateAlive128 Participants
p-value: 0.6695% CI: [0.54, 1.48]Log Rank

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026