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A Study on Using Cell-Free Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Testing to Decide When to StartRoutine Treatment in People With Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)- Associated Oropharynx Cancer (OPC)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) logo

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status and phase

Enrolling
Phase 2

Conditions

HPV-Related Carcinoma
Oropharynx Cancer
HPV
HPV-Related Malignancy
HPV Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Treatments

Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (Arm A)
Behavioral: MDADI-HN
Behavioral: EORTC QLQ H&N 35 and C30
Diagnostic Test: MRI Studies
Behavioral: COST-FACIT
Combination Product: Chemoradiation (Arm B)
Diagnostic Test: HPV ctDNA Assay

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will look at whether monitoring HPV ctDNA levels is an effective way to detect cancer relapse risk in people with HPV-OPC. All participants will have recently had surgery to treat their disease, or they will be scheduled to have this surgery.

In Arm A the researchers will see whether monitoring participants' HPV ctDNA levels can safely identify patients who do not need radiation therapy (RT) after surgery and whose RT can be delayed until their HPV ctDNA levels become detectable.

In Arm B, the researchers will see whether patients who usually need 6-6.5 weeks of CRT can be selected by HPV ctDNA to receive 3 weeks of CRT.

Enrollment

30 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18

  • ECOG 0-2

  • HPV-16 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or HPV-16 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary . HPV status must be confirmed by in-situ hybridization.

  • HPV ctDNA detectable by HPV digital PCR (Naveris assay) with a minimum of 50 copies/mL pre-operatively.

  • Surgical resection of all gross disease with no gross disease visualized on post-operative imaging.

    o For patients with pT0 (unknown primary) evaluation for the primary should include PET/CT, direct laryngoscopy, ipsilateral tonsillectomy, and targeted biopsy. This should be followed by a neck dissection.

  • Two, undetectable (<1 copy/mL) post-operative HPV ctDNA within 2-6 weeks following surgery (blood drawn at least one week apart preferred).

  • A minimum of one of the following pathologic criteria: (Arm A)

    • AJCC 7 Stage: pT0N1-N2b, pT1N1, pT2N1, or ≥pT3
    • AJCC 7 ≥pN2
    • Lymphovascular invasion
    • Perineural invasion
    • Close pathologic margin (≤ 3 mm)
  • Signed informed consent form by the participant or their legally authorized representative (LAR).

  • A minimum of one of the following pathologic criteria (Arm B):

    • Microscopic positive margin
    • Extracapsular extension
  • Signed informed consent form by the participant or their legally authorized representative (LAR).

Additional criteria for Arm B only:

  • Adequate hematologic function within 30 days prior to registration, defined as follows:

    • White Blood Count (WBC) ≥ 2 K/mcL
    • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000 cells/mm3
    • Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3
    • Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl; Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 8.0 g/dl is acceptable
  • Adequate renal function within 30 days prior to registration, defined as follows:

    • Serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance (CC) ≥ 50 ml/min determined by 24-hour collection or estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula:
    • CCr male = [(140 - age) x (wt in kg)] divided by [(Serum Cr mg/dl) x (72)]
    • CCr female = 0.85 x (CrCl male)
  • Adequate hepatic function within 30 days prior to registration, defined as follows:

    • Bilirubin < 2 mg/dl o AST or ALT < 3 x the upper limit of normal
  • Negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to registration for women of childbearing potential

Exclusion criteria

  • Metastatic disease

  • Non-HPV16 genotype (i.e. HPV-18,-31, -33, -35)

  • Patients who receive surgery at outside institution. Exceptions can be made for high-volume surgical centers at the discretion of the PI/co-PI

  • Prior head and neck radiation

  • Patients without pre-operative HPV ctDNA or pre-operative HPV ctDNA ≤ 50 copies/mL

  • Subjects with simultaneous primary cancers outside of the oropharynx

    o Note: Exceptions can be made for patients with simultaneous primaries outside of the oropharynx if determined by the PI/Co-PI, then the patient can proceed with protocol activities

  • Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for 3 years or if cure rate from treatment at 5 years is 90% or greater

    o Note: Exceptions can be made for patients with prior invasive malignancy if determined by the PI/Co-PI, then the patient can proceed with protocol activities

  • Prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer

    o Note: prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable

  • Severe, active co-morbidity defined as follows:

    • Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
    • Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
    • Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization within 30 days of registration
    • Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects
  • Lack of ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent and complete questionnaires.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Diagnostic

Allocation

Non-Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Screening, active surveillance, and treatment (Arm A)
Experimental group
Description:
Participants who meet criteria for the treatment phase (a post-operative HPV ctDNA which rose from initial undetectable to meet HPV16 ctDNA criteria and have no clinical or radiographic evidence of gross disease) will undergo delayed standard of care adjuvant radiation (50-60 Gy administered in 1.8-2 Gy fractions) based on the patient's initial pathology. Treatment will be initiated within 4 weeks of a NavDx result. Subjects will undergo FDG PET/CT simulation and standard radiation treatment planning and this FDG PET/CT will also be utilized to rule out distant metastases. Diagnostic FDG PET/CT fusion is also allowed for treatment planning and to rule out distant metastases. Non-therapeutic assessments will be completed.
Treatment:
Diagnostic Test: HPV ctDNA Assay
Behavioral: COST-FACIT
Diagnostic Test: MRI Studies
Behavioral: EORTC QLQ H&N 35 and C30
Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (Arm A)
Behavioral: MDADI-HN
Screening and deescalated treatment (Arm B)
Experimental group
Description:
Participants who meet criteria for the de-escalated treatment phase (Arm B) will undergo adjuvant radiation (30 Gy administered in 2 Gy fractions) with concurrent chemotherapy. They will undergo FDG PET/CT simulation and standard radiation treatment planning and this FDG PET/CT will also be utilized to rule out distant metastases. Diagnostic FDG PET/CT fusion is also allowed for treatment planning and to rule out distant metastases. Non-therapeutic assessments will be completed and the Study calendar.
Treatment:
Diagnostic Test: HPV ctDNA Assay
Combination Product: Chemoradiation (Arm B)
Behavioral: COST-FACIT
Diagnostic Test: MRI Studies
Behavioral: EORTC QLQ H&N 35 and C30
Behavioral: MDADI-HN

Trial contacts and locations

7

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Central trial contact

Acharf Shamseddine, MD; Nancy Lee, MD

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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