Head and Neck Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Conditions
Keywords
squamous cell, OncoVEX^GM-CSF, Oncovex, chemoradiation, Cisplatin
Brief summary
This study is being conducted to learn about the safety and risks of using talimogene laherparepvec to treat patients with head and neck cancer and to see if talimogene laherparepvec and chemoradiation together can destroy the tumours versus the use of chemoradiation alone. This study may provide information on the usefulness of talimogene laherparepvec combined with chemoradiation as a future treatment for head and neck cancer.
Detailed description
The objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with chemoradiation (CRT) plus talimogene laherparepvec compared to CRT alone in previously untreated patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) for which surgical resection is not clinical indicated. The efficacy endpoints of the study aim to demonstrate overall clinical benefit for patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec as compared to CRT alone.
Interventions
BIOLOGICALTalimogene Laherparepvec
Administered by intratumoral injection
RADIATIONRadiation
70 grays of radiation administered in 35 fractions over 7 weeks
DRUGCisplatin
Administered by intravenous infusion
Sponsors
Amgen
BioVex Limited
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
1. Male or female ≥ 18 years 2. Eastern Co-Operative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤ 1 3. Histological evidence (from the primary lesion and/or lymph nodes) of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx 4. Stage III or IV disease (T2N2-3M0, T3-4N1-3M0) 5. No evidence of distant metastases by computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan 6. Life expectancy \> 4 months 7. Neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm\^3 8. Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 9. Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL 10. Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) 11. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN 12. Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN 13. Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min 14. Female patients of child-bearing potential (i.e. not surgically sterile, or not having spontaneous amenorrhea for at least 12 months) must agree to use an effective form of contraception during the treatment phase of the study. 15. Male patients must agree to use a condom with spermicide or their female partner must use an effective method of birth control. 16. Provide written informed consent in accordance with all applicable regulations and follow the study procedures. Patients must be capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study.
Exclusion criteria
1. Prior treatment for locally advanced SCCHN (No prior surgery for SCCHN except nodal sampling or biopsy for study disease). 2. Patients with T1-2N1 or T1N2-3. 3. Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ Grade 2 (motor or sensory). 4. Weight loss \> 20% of body weight within 3 months of screening (unless purposeful). 5. Surgery ≤ 28 days before randomization with the exception of feeding tube placement, dental extractions, central venous catheter placement, biopsies and nodal sampling. 6. Cancer of the nasopharynx, sinus, salivary gland or skin. 7. Previous radical radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck region, excluding superficial RT for a non-melanomatous skin cancer. 8. Prior cancers, except: those diagnosed \> 5 years ago with no evidence of disease recurrence and clinical expectation of recurrence of less than 5%; or successfully treated non-melanoma skin cancer; or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. 9. Significant intercurrent illness that will interfere with the chemotherapy or radiation therapy such as human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection, cardiac failure, pulmonary compromise (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia or respiratory decompensation) resulting in hospitalization within 12 months of screening, or active infection. 10. Any significant cardiac disease (e.g., New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class 3 or 4; myocardial infarction within the past 6 months; unstable angina; coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) within the past 6 months; or uncontrolled atrial or ventricular cardiac arrhythmias.. 11. High risk for poor compliance with therapy or follow up as assessed by the investigator. 12. Active herpes labialis, other lesions due to herpes simplex virus type I (HSV1) or dermatoses involving or within 50 cm of the lesions to be injected; active HSV1 lesions must have resolved before talimogene laherparepvec is injected. 13. Prior systemic chemotherapy for any type of cancer. 14. Patients for whom radiation therapy is contraindicated. 15. Pregnant or breast-feeding female. Confirmation that women of child-bearing potential are not pregnant. A negative serum β- human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test result must be obtained during the screening period. 16. Currently enrolled and receiving an investigational agent in a clinical research study or received an investigational agent for any reason within 4 weeks prior to screening. 17. Require intermittent or chronic treatment with an anti-herpetic drug (e.g., acyclovir), other than intermittent topical use.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year Event-free Survival | 2 years | Event-free survival is defined as the time from randomization until the first evidence of relapse, disease progression (local, regional, metastatic, or second primary), or death from any cause. Because this study was terminated with only 5 participants enrolled, and the study was terminated in the first year, this endpoint was not analyzed. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | End of study; the maximum time on study was 20 weeks. | Response to therapy was assessed using \[(18)F\] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging to detect metabolically active tumors. Metabolic complete response (mCR) is defined as complete disappearance of FDG uptake attributable to tumor compared to baseline scan. Partial metabolic response (mPR) is defined as a \> 40% decrease in specific uptake compared to the initial value in over half of the lesions. Disease progression (mPD) is defined as a specific uptake increase in any lesion, appearance of new lesions, or presence of extended areas of disease activity. Stable metabolic response (mSD) is defined as a decrease in uptake \< 40% of the initial value of over half the lesions. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the metabolic complete response rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of metabolic response at end of study is reported. |
| Pathologic Complete Response (mCR) | Up to Week 20 | Response to therapy was assessed histopathologically from biopsies taken at surgery for those participants who had surgery prior to Week 22. If no viable tumor cells were identified in surgical specimens (where the patient had surgery) the patient was classified as having a pathological complete response (pCR), and if viable tumor cells were identified, the patient was classified as having an incomplete pathologic response. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the pathologic complete response rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of participants with a pathologic complete response before the end of study is reported. |
| Time to Locoregional Failure | Up to 27 months | Locoregional failure is defined as disease progression in the head and neck area at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 subjects enrolled, time to locoregional failure was not analyzed. |
| Time to Distant Failure | Up to 27 months | Distant failure is defined as disease progression at any site other than the head and neck area at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, time to distant failure was not analyzed. |
| Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | End of trial; the maximum time on study was 20 weeks. | Tumor response was assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan according to a modified version of the revised Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria (version 1.1). Objective response is defined as achieving a clinical partial response (cPR) or complete response (cCR). cCR is defined as disappearance of all baseline lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes must have a reduction in short axis to \< 10 mm. cPR is defined as at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of baseline lesions. Progressive disease (PD) is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of baseline lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study, and an absolute increase of at least 5 mm, or the appearance of any new lesions. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the cOR rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of response at the end of study is reported. |
| Overall Survival | Up to 5 years after chemoradiotherapy | Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, overall survival was not analyzed. |
| Disease-specific Survival | Up to 5 years after chemoradiotherapy | Disease-specific survival is defined as the time from randomization to death of the patient due to the cancer under study. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, disease-specific survival was not analyzed. |
| Participants With N1-2 Disease at Baseline Requiring Neck Dissection | Weeks 19 - 21 | Participants with Baseline Nl or N2 disease (lymph node metastasis not more than 6 cm in greatest dimension) with persistent disease as determined at the post chemoradiotherapy assessment of response were to proceed to neck dissection as permitted by the institution no later than Week 22. Since this study terminated prematurely neck dissection data were not collected or analyzed. |
| Time to Any Failure | Up to 27 months | Any failure is defined as disease progression at any site at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, time to any failure was not analyzed. |
Countries
United Kingdom, United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
This study was open to patients with advanced, non-metastatic, stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Radiation/Cisplatin Participants received cisplatin (100 mg/m²) administered intravenously on Days 0, 21, and 42. Radiation was administered concurrently with cisplatin in 35 fractions over a 7-week period. | 3 |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin The first dose of talimogene laherparepvec was up to 8 mL total volume (up to 4 mL per lesion) at 10⁶ PFU/mL, administered into all injectable affected nodes on Day 0. Subsequent doses were up to 8 mL total volume (up to 4 mL per lesion) at 10⁸ PFU/mL on Days 21, 42, and 63. Participants also received cisplatin (100 mg/m²) administered intravenously on Days 0, 21, and 42 and radiation administered concurrently in 35 fractions over a 7-week period. | 2 |
| Total | 5 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | Disease Progression | 0 | 1 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Radiation/Cisplatin | Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 3 Participants | 1 Participants | 4 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 1 Participants | 0 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 2 Participants | 2 Participants | 4 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 3 / 3 | 2 / 2 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 2 / 3 | 2 / 2 |
Outcome results
Primary
2-year Event-free Survival
Event-free survival is defined as the time from randomization until the first evidence of relapse, disease progression (local, regional, metastatic, or second primary), or death from any cause. Because this study was terminated with only 5 participants enrolled, and the study was terminated in the first year, this endpoint was not analyzed.
Time frame: 2 years
Secondary
Clinical Objective Response (cOR)
Tumor response was assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan according to a modified version of the revised Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria (version 1.1). Objective response is defined as achieving a clinical partial response (cPR) or complete response (cCR). cCR is defined as disappearance of all baseline lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes must have a reduction in short axis to \< 10 mm. cPR is defined as at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of baseline lesions. Progressive disease (PD) is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of baseline lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study, and an absolute increase of at least 5 mm, or the appearance of any new lesions. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the cOR rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of response at the end of study is reported.
Time frame: End of trial; the maximum time on study was 20 weeks.
Population: All randomized participants
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Clinical Complete Response (cCR) | 2 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Clinical Partial Response (cPR) | 0 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Progressive Disease | 1 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Unevaluable | 0 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Unevaluable | 1 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Clinical Complete Response (cCR) | 1 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Progressive Disease | 0 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Clinical Objective Response (cOR) | Clinical Partial Response (cPR) | 0 participants |
Secondary
Disease-specific Survival
Disease-specific survival is defined as the time from randomization to death of the patient due to the cancer under study. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, disease-specific survival was not analyzed.
Time frame: Up to 5 years after chemoradiotherapy
Secondary
Metabolic Complete Response (mCR)
Response to therapy was assessed using \[(18)F\] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging to detect metabolically active tumors. Metabolic complete response (mCR) is defined as complete disappearance of FDG uptake attributable to tumor compared to baseline scan. Partial metabolic response (mPR) is defined as a \> 40% decrease in specific uptake compared to the initial value in over half of the lesions. Disease progression (mPD) is defined as a specific uptake increase in any lesion, appearance of new lesions, or presence of extended areas of disease activity. Stable metabolic response (mSD) is defined as a decrease in uptake \< 40% of the initial value of over half the lesions. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the metabolic complete response rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of metabolic response at end of study is reported.
Time frame: End of study; the maximum time on study was 20 weeks.
Population: All randomized participants
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Partial Response (mPR) | 0 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Stable Metabolic Response (mSD) | 0 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Progressive Disease (mPD) | 1 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Unevaluable | 1 participants |
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | 1 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Unevaluable | 1 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | 1 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Partial Response (mPR) | 0 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Metabolic Progressive Disease (mPD) | 0 participants |
| Talimogene Laherparepvec + Radiation/Cisplatin | Metabolic Complete Response (mCR) | Stable Metabolic Response (mSD) | 0 participants |
Secondary
Overall Survival
Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, overall survival was not analyzed.
Time frame: Up to 5 years after chemoradiotherapy
Secondary
Participants With N1-2 Disease at Baseline Requiring Neck Dissection
Participants with Baseline Nl or N2 disease (lymph node metastasis not more than 6 cm in greatest dimension) with persistent disease as determined at the post chemoradiotherapy assessment of response were to proceed to neck dissection as permitted by the institution no later than Week 22. Since this study terminated prematurely neck dissection data were not collected or analyzed.
Time frame: Weeks 19 - 21
Secondary
Pathologic Complete Response (mCR)
Response to therapy was assessed histopathologically from biopsies taken at surgery for those participants who had surgery prior to Week 22. If no viable tumor cells were identified in surgical specimens (where the patient had surgery) the patient was classified as having a pathological complete response (pCR), and if viable tumor cells were identified, the patient was classified as having an incomplete pathologic response. Because this study was terminated with 5 patients enrolled, data for this endpoint were summarized in by-patient listings only and the pathologic complete response rate was not calculated. Therefore a summary of participants with a pathologic complete response before the end of study is reported.
Time frame: Up to Week 20
Population: Randomized participants who had protocol-specified surgery
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation/Cisplatin | Pathologic Complete Response (mCR) | 0 participants |
Secondary
Time to Any Failure
Any failure is defined as disease progression at any site at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, time to any failure was not analyzed.
Time frame: Up to 27 months
Secondary
Time to Distant Failure
Distant failure is defined as disease progression at any site other than the head and neck area at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 participants enrolled, time to distant failure was not analyzed.
Time frame: Up to 27 months
Secondary
Time to Locoregional Failure
Locoregional failure is defined as disease progression in the head and neck area at any time following completion of chemoradiotherapy. Because this study was terminated with 5 subjects enrolled, time to locoregional failure was not analyzed.
Time frame: Up to 27 months