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.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT07290621.
Locations matching your search criteria
United States
Illinois
Chicago
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer CenterStatus: Active
Contact: Ari Joseph Rosenberg
Phone: 773-702-9306
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To assess the deep response rate (DRR) with neoadjuvant toripalimab + chemotherapy.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. Assess toxicity and safety of neoadjuvant toripalimab + chemotherapy in the setting of a definitive treatment paradigm for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).
II. Assess progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), locoregional control (LRC), and distant control (DC) of HPV+ OPC receiving treatment with neoadjuvant toripalimab+chemotherapy followed by risk and response-stratified de-escalated therapy.
III. Assess delays, reduction, and discontinuations for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. Estimate the pathologic response in patients undergoing TORS following neoadjuvant toripalimab + chemotherapy.
II. Characterize and assess functionality of antigen specific T-cells in patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) being treated with neoadjuvant toripalimab+chemotherapy.
III. Assess long-term/late toxicities including enteral tube dependence.
IV. Evaluate quality of life in patients who receive dose-reduced chemoradiotherapy or TORS.
OUTLINE: Patients receive neoadjuvant toripalimab intravenously (IV) over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of each cycle and SOC treatment with carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 and paclitaxel IV on days 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 3 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are assigned to 1 of 4 arms based on initial risk stratification and response to neoadjuvant therapy.
ARM I (TORS [SURGICAL]): Starting 2-4 weeks after 3rd cycle of neoadjuvant therapy, patients who are low-risk and eligible, undergo TORS and selective nodal dissection. Starting 4-6 weeks after surgery, patients with adverse pathologic features also undergo adjuvant standard fractionated IMRT or VMAT once daily (QD) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM II (RT-ALONE): Patients who are low-risk but are not eligible for, or decline TORS undergo standard fractionated IMRT or VMAT QD in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM III (INTERMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION): Patients who are low-risk with 30-50% tumor shrinkage, or high-risk with >= 50% tumor reduction, undergo standard fractionated IMRT or VMAT QD and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour once weekly (QW) during radiation for up to 5 weeks (cycles) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM IV (REGULAR DOSE): Patients with high-risk disease and < 50% tumor reduction undergo standard fractionated IMRT or VMAT QD and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour QW during radiation for up to 7 weeks (cycles) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients also undergo blood sample collection and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) throughout the study. Additionally, patients may also undergo positron emission tomography (PET), PET/CT, and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for year 1, every 6 months for years 2 and 3, then annually for years 4 and 5.
Lead OrganizationUniversity of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
Principal InvestigatorAri Joseph Rosenberg