Anti-platelet + Pembro for H&N Tumors

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer

Treatments: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: acetylsalicylic acid; Drug: Clopidogrel

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03245489

102727

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to see if anti-platelet therapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy can cause a more favorable immunologic response thatn with immunotherapy alone in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Subject has pathologic confirmation of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC, regardless of HPV status.

2. Subject has tumor that expresses PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] > 1) as determined by an FDA-approved test or subject has experienced disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

3. Subject's scans have been reviewed at head and neck tumor board to assess tumor involvement.

4. Subject is 18 years of age or older.

5. Subject has measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1. Tumor lesions situated in previously irradiated areas are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.

6. Subject has an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2

7. Subject has estimated life expectancy of at least 3 months.

8. Subject has adequate hematologic function, defined as:

   1. ANC >1000 K/CUMM
   2. Hemoglobin >8.0 Grams/dL
   3. Platelets >75,000 K/CUMM
   4. INR < 1.7

9. Subject has adequate renal function, defined as estimated creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula.

10. Subject has adequate hepatic function, defined as:

    1. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
    2. AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN

11. Female and male subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Effective forms of contraception include abstinence, hormonal contraceptive in conjunction with a barrier method, or a double barrier method. Women of non-child-bearing potential may be included if they are either surgically sterile or have been post-menopausal for > 1 year.

Note: Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 14 days of registration. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subject is receiving concomitant immunosuppressive therapy, defined as:

   1. Immunosuppressants, including: tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus, cyclosporine, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, antithymocyte globulin, basiliximab, belatacept
   2. Systemic corticosteroids (except for short term treatment of allergic reactions or for treatment of irAE). Steroids with no or minimal systemic effect (topical, inhalation) are allowed.
   3. Chemotherapy
   4. Immunotherapy
   5. Monoclonal antibodies

2. Concurrent anticancer treatment within 14 days before the start of trial treatment.

3. Subject has had major surgery within the last 28 days.

4. Subject has an underlying bleeding disorder.

5. Subjects requiring re-irradiation to head and neck.

6. Subject is receiving anticoagulation (see section 7.2 for medication examples). Subjects must have a washout period of 7 days from registration.

7. Subject has HNSCC with abutment or encasement of the internal carotid artery, external carotid artery or common carotid artery or any of the arterial branches.

8. Subject has a draining fistula or wound in the head/neck.

9. Subject with known aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm of the head/neck related to surgery.

10. Subject has uncontrolled CNS metastases. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases will be allowed if the brain metastases have been stable without CNS-directed therapy (such as radiation or surgery) or steroid treatment for for at least 4 weeks prior to registration.

11. Receipt of any organ transplantation.

12. Active or history of any autoimmune disease (except type I DM, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroid disease not requiring immunosuppressive treatment, which are allowed) or immunodeficiencies.

13. Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (grade ≥ 3NCI-CTCAE v4.0), any history of anaphylaxis or uncontrolled asthma.

14. Subjects who have a hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs.

15. Concurrent NSAID therapy (see section 7 for examples). Subjects must have a washout period of 7 days from registration.

16. Subjects with an acute gastrointestinal ulcer.

17. Subjects with active hemorrhagic diathesis.

18. Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (< 6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (< 6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina, congestive heart failure (NYHA class ≥ II), or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.

19. All other significant diseases, which in the opinion of the investigator, may impair the subject's tolerance of trial treatment.

20. Vaccination within 4 weeks of the 1st dose of pembrolizumab and while on study is prohibited EXCEPT for administration of inactivated vaccines (e.g. inactivated influenza vaccine).

21. Women who are pregnant or nursing.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Group 1 will be treated with Regimen A, followed by Regimen B. Regimen A is pembrolizumab, ASA and clopidogrel daily for 6 weeks. Regimen B is pembrolizumab alone for 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Clopidogrel

Drug: acetylsalicylic acid

Drug: Pembrolizumab

Group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Group 2 will be treated with Regimen B, followed by Regimen A. Regimen B is pembrolizumab alone for 6 weeks. Regimen A is pembrolizumab, ASA and clopidogrel daily for 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Clopidogrel

Drug: acetylsalicylic acid

Drug: Pembrolizumab