Overview

Afatinib and Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ALPHA Study)

Status:
Active, not recruiting
Trial end date:
2021-04-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
The primary objectives of the trial is to examine the toxicities and efficacies of afatinib and pembrolizumab for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
National Taiwan University Hospital
Treatments:
Afatinib
Pembrolizumab
Criteria
Inclusion criteria

1. Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx,
hypopharynx, or larynx.

2. The recurrent disease is not suitable for curative surgery or definitive
chemoradiation, and/or metastatic diseases which are not amenable to surgery and/or
curative radiotherapy.

3. Tumor progression or recurrence within 6 months of last dose of platinum therapy in
the adjuvant (ie with radiation after surgery), primary (ie, with radiation),
recurrent, or metastatic setting. Clinical progression after platinum therapy is an
allowable event for entry and is defined as progression of a lesion at least 10 mm in
size that is amenable to caliper measurement (eg superficial skin lesion as per RECIST
1.1) or a lesion that has been visualized and photographically recorded with
measurements and shown to have progressed.

4. Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1. Lesions situated in a previously
irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such
lesions.

5. Age ≥ 20 years

6. ECOG performance status: ≤ 2

7. Adequate organ function

8. Recovered from any previous therapy related toxicity to ≤Grade 1 at study entry
(except for stable sensory neuropathy ≤Grade 2 and alopecia)

9. Agree to take biopsy before and during the treatment

10. The participant (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written
informed consent for the trial.

11. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine pregnancy test
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.

12. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of
contraception, for the course of the study through 60 days after the last dose of
study medication.

Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred
contraception for the subject.

13. Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of
contraception, starting with the first dose of study therapy through 150 days after
the last dose of study therapy.

Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception
for the subject.

3.3.3 Exclusion criteria

1. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nasal cavity malignancies other than HNSCC

2. Concurrent malignancies other than HNSCC

3. Prior exposure to anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4, or other immune checkpoint
inhibitors

4. Prior exposure to gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib, osimertinib, or other known EGFR TKI
inhibitors

5. Has a known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]
reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as positive anti-HCV) infection.

6. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).

7. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy 14 days before signing informed
consent.

8. Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment.
Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require
corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis. A 1-week washout is permitted
for palliative radiation (≤2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non-CNS disease.

9. Major surgery within 4 weeks before starting study treatment or scheduled for surgery
during the projected course of the study.

10. History or presence of clinically relevant cardiovascular abnormalities such as
uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure NYHA classification of ≥ 3,
unstable angina or poorly controlled arrhythmia as determined by the investigator.
Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to randomisation.

11. Has known history of pneumonitis requiring steroids, or any evidence of active,
non-infectious pneumonitis, or other known interstitial lung disease

12. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy
(in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of
immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.

13. Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years
(i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive
drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid
replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a
form of systemic treatment. Topical or inhaled steroids is not considered as systemic
treatment.

14. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality
that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's
participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of
the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.

15. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with
cooperation with the requirements of the trial.

16. Any history of or concomitant condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator,
would compromise the patient's ability to comply with the study or interfere with the
evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the test drug

17. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the
projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit
through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.

18. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles,
mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus
Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection
are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza
vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.

19. Any history or presence of poorly controlled gastrointestinal disorders that could
affect the absorption of the study drug (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis,
chronic diarrhoea, malabsorption)