The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether a perioperative PD-1 antibody-based treatment strategy, consisting of neoadjuvant PD-1 antibody plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant PD-1 antibody after surgery, improves outcomes compared with the current standard treatment in patients with resectable locally recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study will also evaluate the safety of this perioperative treatment approach. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does perioperative PD-1 antibody-based therapy improve event-free survival compared with the current standard treatment? What adverse events occur during treatment with neoadjuvant PD-1 antibody plus chemotherapy and adjuvant PD-1 antibody? Researchers will compare a perioperative PD-1 antibody-based treatment strategy with the current standard treatment to determine which approach provides better clinical outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of two study groups. Receive either neoadjuvant PD-1 antibody plus chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant PD-1 antibody, or undergo upfront surgery followed by standard postoperative treatment as indicated. Visit the clinic regularly for physical examinations, blood tests, imaging assessments, and other study procedures. Be followed after treatment to monitor disease status, treatment response, survival outcomes, and adverse events.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
217
Administered once every 3 weeks for 2 to 4 cycles before surgery
Surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy as clinically indicated.
Administered postoperatively every 3 weeks for up to 15 cycles.
Event-Free Survival (EFS)
Event-free survival (EFS) is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of disease recurrence or metastasis after surgery; disease progression according to RECIST version 1.1 that prevents definitive surgery during preoperative treatment or occurs in participants who do not undergo definitive surgery; a second primary malignancy; or death from any cause. Disease progression during preoperative treatment that does not prevent definitive surgery is not considered an EFS event. Failure to undergo definitive surgery for reasons other than disease progression is not itself considered an EFS event. Participants without an EFS event will be censored at the date of the last adequate disease assessment. EFS will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The planned primary EFS analysis will be performed after all participants have had the opportunity for at least 24 months of follow-up after randomization.
Time frame: 2 years after randomization
Overall Survival (OS)
Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause. Participants without a documented death will be censored at the date they were last known to be alive. OS will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The planned primary OS analysis will be performed after all participants have had the opportunity for at least 24 months of follow-up after randomization.
Time frame: 2 years after randomization
5-Year Event-Free Survival (EFS)
Event-free survival (EFS) is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of disease recurrence or metastasis after surgery; disease progression according to RECIST version 1.1 that prevents definitive surgery during preoperative treatment or occurs in participants who do not undergo definitive surgery; a second primary malignancy; or death from any cause. Disease progression during preoperative treatment that does not prevent definitive surgery is not considered an EFS event. Failure to undergo definitive surgery for reasons other than disease progression is not itself considered an EFS event. Participants without an EFS event will be censored at the date of the last adequate disease assessment or at 5 years after randomization, whichever occurs first. EFS will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Time frame: 5 years after randomization
5-Year Overall Survival (OS)
Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause. Participants without a documented death will be censored at the date they were last known to be alive or at 5 years after randomization, whichever occurs first. OS will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Time frame: 5 years after randomization
Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events
The number and percentage of participants with adverse events and serious adverse events will be summarized. Events will be assessed and graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Summaries will include event type, incidence, severity, onset and resolution dates, seriousness, relationship to study treatment, and outcome.
Time frame: From initiation of assigned treatment through 30 days after treatment completion or discontinuation; serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest through 90 days after treatment completion or discontinuation.
Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Rate
The percentage of participants receiving neoadjuvant treatment who undergo surgery and have no residual viable tumor cells in either the resected primary tumor or any sampled regional lymph node, corresponding to ypT0N0, based on postoperative pathological assessment.
Time frame: Within 2 weeks after surgery
Major Pathologic Response (MPR) Rate
The percentage of participants receiving neoadjuvant treatment who undergo surgery and have 10% or less residual viable tumor in the resected specimen. MPR is defined as a residual viable tumor area divided by the total tumor bed area of 10% or less, as determined by blinded review by the pathology review committee.
Time frame: Within 2 weeks after surgery
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
The percentage of participants receiving neoadjuvant treatment who achieve a best overall radiographic response of complete response or partial response, as assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1.
Time frame: At the preoperative tumor assessment after completion of 2 to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment (each cycle is 21 days; approximately 6 to 12 weeks after initiation of neoadjuvant treatment).
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