A randomized phase II study of chemoradiation (CRT) +/- nivolumab (Nivo) with sequential safety evaluations of Nivo +/- lirilumab (Liri) or ipilumumab (Ipi) concomitant with (C) RT in intermediate (IR) and high-risk (HR) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (RTOG 3504, NCT02764593).

Abstract

TPS6097 Background: Nivolumab (Nivo), a monoclonal antibody to the programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint receptor, improved overall survival (OS) for patients (pts) with platinum-refractory, recurrent/metastatic HNSCC compared with standard therapy. A placebo controlled phase IIR trial was designed to investigate the hypothesis that Nivo added to platinum-based CRT will improve progression free survival (PFS) for pts with newly diagnosed IR/HR HNSCC. Methods: Eligibility includes IR HNSCC (p16+, oropharynx T1-2N2b-N3/T3-4N0-3, > 10 pack-years (pys) or T4N0-N3, T1-3N3 ≤ 10 pys) and HR HNSCC (oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, or p16(-) oropharynx, stage T1-2N2a-N3 or T3-4N0-3). After safety evaluation in 8 evaluable pts, 176 pts will be randomized (1:1) to cisplatin (40 mg/m2/week X 7) with radiation (IMRT, 70 Gy in 7 weeks) +/- Nivo/placebo (240 mgs q14 days X 5, then 480 mgs q28 X3). Primary endpoint is PFS. Secondary endpoints include OS, acute and chronic toxicity, quality of life and biomarkers (tumor PD-L1 expression; E6/7 seroreactivity and frequency of functional circulating and intraumoral T cells). Parallel with Phase IIR are sequential safety evaluations (see Table) in platinum eligible and ineligible ( > 70 years; ≥3 grade neuropathy; ≥2 hearing loss; or CrCl < 60 ml/min) cohorts (N = 10-20) of Nivo +/- Liri (anti-KIR) or Ipi (anti-CTLA4) concomitant with RT alone, cisplatin-RT or cetuximab-RT platforms followed by 3 months of adjuvant immunotherapy. The primary endpoint is safety and feasibility. With 8 evaluable pts, the probability of treatment assessed as toxic is > 78% when the true toxicity rate is > 45% and treatment assessed tolerable is > 80% if the true toxicity rate is < 20%. Clinical trial information: NCT02764593. [Table: see text]