This phase III trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy combined with serplulimab (induction/maintenance therapy) with omission of concurrent chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC).
This multicenter phase III trial enrolls high-risk locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (AJCC 9th edition, Stage T1-3N2 \[II\] or T1-4N3/T4N1-2 \[III\]) who achieves ≥50% tumor regression (RECIST v1.1) and undetectable plasma EBV DNA after three cycles of GP induction chemotherapy (gemcitabine + cisplatin) combined with serplulimab. Eligible patients will be randomized to either: Experimental arm: Radiotherapy alone followed by serplulimab maintenance, or Control arm: Cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by serplulimab maintenance. Primary study endpoint * 3-year event-free survival (EFS) * 5-year overall survival (OS) * incidence of treatment-induced vomiting Secondary study endpoints * 3-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) * 3-year locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) * Quality of life (QoL) assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0) and its head-and-neck cancer module (EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 v1.0), both validated Chinese versions. * Incidence rate of investigator-reported adverse events (AEs) ⑤ Incidence rate of patient-reported AEs
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
456
Following induction therapy, eligible patients will receive radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy per protocol. Photon or proton radiotherapy techniques were permitted. Prescribed doses were: Primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes: 70 Gy/33 fractions High-risk lymphatic drainage areas: 60 Gy/33 fractions Low-risk regions: 54 Gy/33 fractions PTV dose specifications: GTVnx: 70 Gy GTVnd: 66-70 Gy (reducible to 63 Gy for suspicious small nodes) CTV1: 60-62 Gy CTV2: 54-56 Gy All treatments will employ simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) intensity-modulated radiotherapy delivered once daily, 5 fractions per week.
Serplulimab will be used in the induction phase for 3 cycles and the maintenance phase for 14 cycles.
Wuhan Union Hospital
Wuhan, Hubei, China
Event-free survival (EFS)
EFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the first occurrence of disease recurrence (locoregional or distant) or death from any cause, whichever comes first.
Time frame: 3-year
Overall survival (OS)
OS is defined as the time from the date of randomization until death from any cause.
Time frame: 5-year
Incidence rate of all-grade vomiting
Incidence rate of all-grade vomiting during treatment assessed by clinicians according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 5.0.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS)
DMFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the first radiological or pathological confirmation of distant metastasis.
Time frame: 3-year
Locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS)
LRFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the first histologically or radiologically confirmed locoregional recurrence.
Time frame: 3-year
Health-Related Quality of Life assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30
Changes in health-related quality of life from baseline (informed consent) until 60 months after radiotherapy completion, assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), version 3.0. The QLQ-C30 includes functional scales (e.g., physical, role, emotional), global quality of life scale, and symptom scales (e.g., fatigue, pain, nausea/vomiting). Scores range from 0 to 100. For functional scales and global quality of life, a higher score represents a better level of functioning or well-being. For symptom scales, a higher score represents a greater severity of symptoms.
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On days 64 and 85, patients will receive cisplatin chemotherapy at a dose of 100 mg/m² via intravenous infusion.
Time frame: From baseline (at informed consent) up to 60 months after radiotherapy completion.
Head and Neck Cancer-Specific Symptoms assessed by EORTC QLQ-H&N35
Changes in head and neck cancer-specific symptoms and side effects from baseline (informed consent) until 60 months after radiotherapy completion, assessed using the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Module (QLQ-H\&N35), version 1.0. The QLQ-H\&N35 assesses symptoms relevant to head and neck cancer patients (e.g., pain, swallowing, senses, speech, social eating). Scores range from 0 to 100. For all symptom scales, a higher score represents a greater severity of symptoms.
Time frame: From baseline (informed consent) until 60 months after radiotherapy completion.
Incidence rate of investigator-reported adverse events (AEs)
Analysis of investigator-reported adverse events (AEs) are based on treatment-related AEs (trAEs) and immune-related AEs (irAEs), and all-grade AEs and grade 3-4 AEs. AEs are evaluated by investigators according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0.
Time frame: 3-year
Incidence rate of patient-reported adverse events (AEs)
Analysis of patient-reported adverse events (AEs) are based on treatment-related AEs (trAEs) and immune-related AEs (irAEs), and all-grade AEs and grade 3-4 AEs. AEs are evaluated by patients themselves
Time frame: 3-year