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H&N NEO-COMBAT XL: Neoadjuvant XL-092 (Zanzalintinib) and Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in Surgically Resectable, HPV Negative Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC)

H&N NEO-COMBAT XL: Neoadjuvant XL-092 (Zanzalintinib) and Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in Surgically Resectable, HPV Negative Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC)

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07484139
Acronym
NEO COMBAT XL
Enrollment
26
Registered
2026-03-19
Start date
2026-05-01
Completion date
2028-05-01
Last updated
2026-03-20

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

Conditions

Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Head and Neck Cancer

Keywords

surgically resectable, neoadjuvant treatment, XL092, pembrolizumab, pathologic response, HPV negative

Brief summary

This is a multicenter, single arm Phase 2B study in subjects with locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) with surgically resectable disease. The study will assess the combination of neoadjuvant XL092 and pembrolizumab for safety and improvement of pathologic response rates compared to historical standard of care with perioperative pembrolizumab. The primary objective is to estimate the pathologic response rate defined as either pathological complete response (pCR), which is the absence of residual viable tumor, or major pathologic response (MPR), which is \<10% of residual tumor following the completion of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery. The study will be conducted in two stages. Per Simon's Stage 1, 11 patients will be enrolled. Simon Stage 2 will be gated on multiple factors. If ≥2 pathologic response is observed (pCR or MPR), the trial will proceed with cohort expansion and enroll an additional 15 patients for a total of 26 patients.

Interventions

DRUGXL092

60 mg oral once a day

DRUGPembrolizumab

200 mg intravenous for 30 minutes in every 21 days for

Sponsors

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
Exelixis
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. * Subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgement of the investigator or protocol designee. * Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent. * Tumors must have PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥ 1. * ECOG or Karnofsky Performance Status of 0-1 * Measurable disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) within 30 days prior to treatment .

Exclusion criteria

* Known HPV-positive cancer * Active infection requiring systemic therapy. * Prior treatment with XL-092 * Pregnant or breastfeeding (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of pathologic responseUp to 66 daysRate of pathologic response, assessed following surgery, will be defined as either pathological complete response (pCR), which is the absence of residual viable tumor or major pathological response (MPR), which is \<10% residual tumor.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Neoadjuvant Adverse EventsUp to 66 daysSafety will be defined as the rate of treatment emergent adverse events with neoadjuvant XL-092 and pembrolizumab (CTCAE v5.0).
Events Free Survival (EFS)Up to 15 monthsEFS will be defined as the time from first treatment to an event which may include disease progression, discontinuation of the treatment for any reason, or death from any cause, where disease progression will be determined based on Radiographic response will be measured according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). RECIST indicating if subject experienced a Complete Response (CR), disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Stable Disease (SD), no response or less response than Partial or Progressive; or Progressive Disease (PD), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.
Objective response rate (ORR)Up to 15 monthsORR following neoadjuvant therapy: an objective response will be classified per the Radiographic response will be measured according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) if a partial or complete response is observed. RECIST indicating if subject experienced a Complete Response (CR), disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Stable Disease (SD), no response or less response than Partial or Progressive; or Progressive Disease (PD), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.
Time to surgeryUp to 66 daysTime to surgery: defined as the time from completion of neoadjuvant therapy to date of surgery. Individuals who do not receive surgery due to progressive disease, non-TEAE death or individuals who experience surgery delays due to toxicity will not be counted.
Overall survival (OS)Up to 15 monthsOS is defined as the time from time of first treatment to death due to any cause.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTRose Hall
rose_hall@med.unc.edu919-984-0000
CONTACTShamina Williams
shamina_williams@med.unc.edu919-984-0000
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSiddharth Sheth, MD

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 21, 2026