This is an open label, single arm, non-randomized, multi-site, phase 2 clinical trial of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in combination with gemcitabine-cisplatin for 2 cycles,followed by concurrent pembrolizumab-cisplain-radiation, and then maintainence pembrolizumab monotherpy given every 3 weeks for a total treatment duration of 12 months, in previously untreated stage IVA ( UICC 8 th Edition ) nasopharyngeal cancer(NPC).
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a predominantly Asian disease, with approximately 80% of the world's 86000 cases occurring in Asian countries (12). With advances in radiation technology such as intensity modulation radiotherapy (IMRT), local and nodal control exceeds 85-90% in most reported series. Distant metastasis remains the main mode of failure, particularly in locally advanced NPC. As an example, in a study by Pan et al (13), 5 years local and nodal control of 86% and 89% was achieved with concurrent chemo-IMRT respectively, but distant failure free survival of 77% and 72% was reported for patients with T4 and N3 disease respectively (AJCC 8th edition). Current strategies to reduce distant metastasis, including the use of adjuvant chemotherapy have been inconclusive. One major disadvantage of adjuvant chemotherapy following the completion of chemoradiation is that approximately half of patients are unable to complete the full 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, due to treatment related toxicities. The use of induction chemotherapy has two potential benefits: the first is to downsize the tumour, making radiotherapy more tolerable; the second, it allows for patients to be able to complete the chemotherapy before the onset of chemoradiation associated toxicities. There are at least two studies now supporting the use of induction chemotherapy. A recent publication by Ma et al (14), showed the addition of induction docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil prior to concurrent chemoradiation resulted in 8% improvement (80% vs 72%) in 3-year failure-free survival. Similarly, Cao et al showed that 2 cycles of cisplatin and fluorouracil prior to chemoradiation improved the 3 years disease free survival in patients (15). Gemcitabine and cisplatin has been shown to be more effective than 5-FU plus cisplatin as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (16). There are currently no studies looking at the addition of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody such as pembrolizumab either in the in the induction or maintenance setting. Hence, we are proposing the use of pembrolizumab in combination with 2 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation. Following completion of chemoradiation, patients will receive maintenance pembrolizumab for total treatment duration of one year. The main objective of this Phase II study is to test the safety, efficacy and tolerability of this combination in the setting of locally advanced NPC (limited to T4 or N3, stage IVA by UICC 8th edition), as this group has the greatest risk of recurrence after the current standard treatment. Preliminary evidence supporting the clinical efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy in NPC came from the KEYNOTE-028 trial, which was a global, nonrandomized, multi-cohort, phase Ib trial of pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-positive advanced solid tumors (17). Key eligibility criteria for the NPC cohort included unresectable or metastatic disease, failure on prior standard therapy, and PD-L1 expression in 1% or more of tumor cells or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Patients received pembrolizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks up to 2 years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In the initial report, twenty-seven NPC patients was evaluated. Median age was 52.0 years (range, 18 to 68 years); 92.6% received prior therapies for recurrent or metastatic NPC; 70.4% had received three or more therapies. Partial response and stable disease were observed in seven and 14 patients, respectively, for an ORR of 25.9% (95% CI, 11.1 to 46.3) over a median follow-up of 20 months. Drug-related adverse events that occurred in 15% or more of patients included rash (25.9%), pruritus (25.9%), pain (22.2%), hypothyroidism (18.5%), and fatigue (18.5%). Grade ≥ 3 drug-related adverse events occurred in eight patients (29.6%), and there was one drug-related death (sepsis). It was concluded that pembrolizumab demonstrated antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
43
200mg every 3 weeks infusion
Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
National Cancer Centre of Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Two-year Progression Free Survival
Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST 1.1), including * Increase in the sum of diameters of target lesion(s) identified at baseline to ≥ 20% and ≥ 5 mm from nadir * Unequivocal progression of non-target lesion(s) identified at baseline * Development of new lesion(s)
Time frame: 2 years
Grade 4 Mucositis/Skin Reaction or Any Grade 5 Adverse Event Assessed to be Definitely, Probably, or Possibly Related to Protocol Treatment During the First Year
use toxicity chart to capture
Time frame: during the first year
Grade 4 Mucositis/Skin Reaction or Any Grade 5 Adverse Event Assessed to be Definitely, Probably, or Possibly Related to Protocol Treatment Occurring After the First Year
Time frame: after the first year, up to 24 months
Patient Tolerability to Each Component (Neoadjuvant, Concurrent and Maintenance Part) of the Protocol Treatment Regimen
Time frame: 2 year
Other ≥ Grade 3 Adverse Events
Time frame: 2 year
Death During or Within 30 Days of Discontinuation of Protocol Treatment
Time frame: during or within 30 days
One- and Two-year Distant Metastases Rates
Time frame: 1 year and 2 years
One- and Two-year Local-regional Progression Rates
Time frame: 1 year and 2 years
One- and Two-year Rates of Second Primary Cancer
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Time frame: 1 year and 2 years
One- and Two-year Overall Survival Rates
Time frame: 1 year and 2 years