Pembrolizumab Plus Docetaxel for the Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer (NCT02718820) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 1/2
Pembrolizumab Plus Docetaxel for the Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Austria22 participantsStarted 2016-03
Plain-language summary
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, which accounts for 90% of head and neck cancers, is the tenth most common cancer worldwide with over 650000 new cases per year. The major risk factors for HNSCC development comprise alcohol and tobacco consumption. During the last decades human papilloma virus infection (HPV) has been identified to contribute to the development of oropharyngeal HNSCC in a subgroup of patients5. Standard treatment options include surgery, (chemo)radiation and chemotherapy. Despite improvements of treatment regimens the recurrence rate of stage III/IV disease after curative therapy is about 30-40%. In locoregionally unresectable recurrent or metastatic disease palliative poly-chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapy.The median survival time of these patients is 6-8 months. Based on the results of the EXTREME study a combination regimen containing a platinum drug, 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) and weekly cetuximab has become standard of care in this setting. For patients, who progressed after platinum based therapy, treatment options are scarce. Besides platinum drugs, taxanes such as paclitaxel or docetaxel were shown to be of particular use in this setting. Apart from that there has been increasing preclinical and clinical evidence that immune-checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab might play a role in HNSCC. Thus, it is the aim of this study to test if the combination of docetaxel and pembrolizumab after platinum failure is an effective and safe regimen.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* The patient has provided written informed consent prior to any study-related procedure.
* The patient is at least 18 years of age
* Histologically proven locally advanced unresectable, recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx or oral cavity not amenable for salvage surgery
* P16 mutation status has to be determined
* Documented progressive disease based on investigator assessment according to RECIST 1.1, following receipt of a cisplatin and/or carboplatin based regimen independent of whether patient progressed during or after platinum based therapy. Platinum therapy might have been administered either as part of induction chemotherapy (12 months), chemoradiation (6 months) or as first line systemic palliative chemotherapy (6 months).
* Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1.
* The patient has a life expectancy of at least 3 months.
* Has a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale
* Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy prior to study registration and re-tested within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.