Skip to content

5-Fluorouracil Response and Optimization STudy (The FROST Trial)

The 5-Fluorouracil Response and Optimization STudy (The FROST Trial): A Randomized Phase II Trial of Two Dosage Regimens (2D-Q2W vs 4D-Q3W) of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in Patients With Platinum and PD-1 Inhibitor Pre-treated Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07419464
Enrollment
46
Registered
2026-02-19
Start date
2026-04-21
Completion date
2031-07-31
Last updated
2026-04-27

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

Conditions

Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Keywords

5-FU, HNSCC, RM-HNSCC, Oral cavity, Oropharynx, Larynx, Hypopharynx

Brief summary

This randomized phase II trial will characterize the efficacy, adverse event (AE) profile, and safety of two regimens of 5-FU given as 2L+ treatment to patients with RM-HNSCC. Eligible patients for this trial will have previously received platinum and PD-1 inhibitor therapy. The experimental regimen (Arm 1) will comprise the two days every two weeks (2D-Q2W) regimen of 5-FU. The standard regimen (Arm 2) will consist of the four days every three weeks (4D-Q3W) regimen of 5-FU. The primary hypotheses is that each regimen of 5-FU will result in an ORR of 10% of greater assessed by RECIST v1.1 criteria. The study will also describe treatment-related AEs assessed by CTCAE v5.0, dose interruptions, discontinuations, and modifications in each regimen.

Interventions

DRUG5-Fluorouracil

Dose modifications or reductions are determined by patient's tolerability to the drug.

Sponsors

Washington University School of Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER
The Joseph Sanchez Foundation
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

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

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed: * RM-HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx, OR * p16+ (HPV-related) level 2-3 neck node and unknown primary site, OR * Second primary HNSCC in a previously radiated field not amenable to curative-intent surgery and/or re-radiation. * Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1. * Previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, RM disease within 6 months of definitive cisplatin + radiation therapy (DCisRT) or post-operative adjuvant cisplatin + radiation therapy (POACisRT) OR progressive disease on or after or intolerance to platinum agent given for RM disease. * Previously treated with PD-1 inhibitor, RM disease within 6 months of PD-1 inhibitor given as part of curative-intent therapy OR progressive disease on or after PD-1 inhibitor given for RM disease OR intolerance to prior PD-1 inhibitor in the curative or metastatic setting. * At least 18 years of age * ECOG performance status ≤ 2 * Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined below: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 K/cumm * Platelets ≥ 100 K/cumm * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN (for subjects with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3 x IULN) * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT)/Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 3.0 x IULN. For subjects with documented bone metastasis, ALP ≤ 5.0 x IULN. * Serum creatinine \<3 mg/dL or creatinine clearance \> 30 mL/min by Cockcroft- Gault. * The effects of 5-FU on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 30 days after last dose of 5-FU * Recovery to baseline or ≤ grade 1 from AEs due to prior therapy, unless AEs are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy (e.g., physiological replacement of corticosteroid). Low-grade or controlled toxicities such as alopecia, ≤ grade 2 hypomagnesemia, or ≤ grade 2 neuropathy are permitted. * Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants.

Exclusion criteria

* Prior 5-FU given to treat RM-HNSCC. * Prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen. Patients with prior or concurrent malignancy that does NOT meet that definition are eligible for this trial. * Currently receiving any other investigational agents. * RM or incurable second primary SCC of cutaneous, nasopharynx, paranasal/nasal/sinus origin. * DPYD deficiency (poor or intermediate metabolizer) as determined by next generation sequencing through blood or saliva (results of historical testing are accepted). * Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) or history of hepatitis B or C. * Patients with untreated brain metastases. Patients with treated brain metastases are allowed if post-treatment brain-imaging after CNS-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression. * A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to 5-FU or other agents used in the study. * Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test within 14 days of study registration. * HIV-infected if not on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load for 6 months. Patients with HIV who are receiving effective anti-retroviral therapy and have had an undetectable viral load for at least 6 months are eligible. HIV testing not required in the absence of known history of infection.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall response rate (ORR)Start of treatment through completion of treatment (estimated time up to 4 months)* ORR, defined as CR and PR per RECIST v1.1. * Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Disappearance of all non-target lesions and normalization of tumor marker level. All lymph nodes must be non-pathological in size (\<10 mm short axis). * Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of patients requiring a dose reduction due to treatment related adverse events (TRAEs)Start of treatment through completion of treatment (estimated time up to 4 months)
Incidence of patients requiring a dose interruption or delay due to treatment related adverse events (TRAEs)Start of treatment through completion of treatment (estimated time up to 4 months)
Incidence of patients requiring treatment discontinuation due to treatment related adverse events (TRAEs)Start of treatment through completion of treatment (estimated time up to 4 months)
Daily dose intensityStart of treatment through completion of treatment (estimated time up to 4 months)Daily dose intensity will be measured as the average daily dose/m2 of 5-FU administered in the treatment interval for each regimen (Days 1-2 and Days 15-16 for Arm 1 and Days 1-4 for Arm 2).
Overall Adverse Events (AEs) by grade (3, 4, and 5) and typeStart of treatment to 28 days after completion of treatment (estimated time up to 5 months)Adverse events are classified and graded by CTCAE v5.0.
Number of adverse events of specific interest (AESI)Start of treatment through 28 days after completion of treatment (estimated time up to 5 months)Adverse events of special interest are as follows: diarrhea, mucositis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (Hand-Foot Syndrome) (PPE/HRS), neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Adverse events are classified by CTCAE v5.0.
Number of treatment-related deathsStart of treatment through 28 days after completion of treatment (estimated time up to 5 months)
Duration of Response (DoR)From time criteria is met for CR or PR through 3 years after completion of treatment (up to 3 years and 4 months)* DoR is defined as the duration from the onset of first response (CR + PR) to disease progression or death for any reason * Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Disappearance of all non-target lesions and normalization of tumor marker level. All lymph nodes must be non-pathological in size (\<10 mm short axis). * Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.
Progression-free survival (PFS)Start of treatment through 3 years after completion of treatment (up to 3 years and 4 months)PFS is defined as the time from the date of treatment start to progression or death, which occurs first. The alive patients without progression are censored at the last follow-up.
Overall survival (OS)Start of treatment through 3 years after completion of treatment (up to 3 years and 4 months)OS is defined as the time from the start of treatment to the date of death, censored at the last follow-up otherwise.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTChristine Auberle, MD
auberlec@wustl.edu314-747-1459
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristine Auberle, MD

Washington University School of Medicine

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 28, 2026