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Neoadjuvant Toripalimab in Combination with Chemotherapy followed by Transoral Robotic Surgery or Risk and Response-based Chemotherapy and/or Radiation for the Treatment of Locoregional HPV16+ Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer, TARGET HPV Cohort 2 Trial

Trial Status: active

This phase II trial tests the effect of toripalimab in combination with standard of care (SOC) carboplatin and paclitaxel before primary treatment (neoadjuvant) with risk and response-based treatment transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or cisplatin and/or radiation therapy (RT) in treating patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)16 positive oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby areas including lymph nodes (locoregional). HPV-related head and neck cancer is usually treated with radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery. However, many patients may experience long-term side effects from these treatments that impact quality of life, including eating and swallowing. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as toripalimab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops tumor cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. TORS is a surgery in which a robot with arms is used to remove tumors from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat. Cameras attached to the robot give a 3-dimensional (3D) image that a surgeon can see. The surgeon guides tools at the ends of the robot arms to remove the tumor. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. RT uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), is a type of 3D RT that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of RT reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor. Volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a type of RT delivered to the whole volume of the tumor by a single rotation of the RT machine. After neoadjuvant therapy, patients may receive further treatment (subsequent), such as chemotherapy and RT. Assigning post-neoadjuvant therapy using tumor characteristics (risk) and response to therapy may reduce the amount of subsequent chemotherapy and/or RT needed. Giving neoadjuvant toripalimab in combination with SOC carboplatin and paclitaxel may be safe, tolerable and/or effective in increasing tumor shrinkage while decreasing the amount of subsequent treatment needed, including cisplatin and/or RT, in patients with locoregional HPV16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer.