QL1706 (PD-1/CTLA-4 Bi-specific Antibody) and Chemoradiotherapy in Locoregionally-advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Sun Yat-sen University

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 3

Conditions: Nasopharyngeal Cancer; Nasopharyngeal Cancinoma (NPC)

Treatments: Radiation: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Drug: QL1706; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Cisplatin

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT06749899

2024-FXY-409-FLK

Details and patient eligibility

About

The trial aimed to compare QL1706 combined with induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC+CCRT) versus IC+CCRT alone in High-risk Locoregionally-Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (LANPC).

Full description

The trial plans to enroll patients with stage T4N1and T1-4N2-3 (AJCC 9th) locoregionally-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin and concurrent cisplatin-radiation or the same regimen plus QL1706 in induction chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. All patients will receive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). QL1706 will begin on day 1 of induction chemotherapy and continue every 3 weeks for 3 cycles in induction therapy and for 9 cycles in adjuvant therapy.

Enrollment: 580 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥18 and ≤65 years

2. Patients with histologically confirmed non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma according to WHO criteria.

3. Tumor staged as T4N1 and T1-4N2-3 (AJCC 9th)

   • Stage II: T1-3N2
   • Stage III: T1-4N3, T4N1-2

4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 0-11.

5. Adequate marrow function: white blood cell count > 4 × 10⁹/Lhemoglobin >90g/L and platelet count >100×10⁹/L

6. Adequate hepatic and renal function：

   • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
   • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)/Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5×ULN
   • Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 × ULN
   • clearance rate ≥ 60 ml/min

7. Other laboratory and clinical criteria

   • Normal thyroid function, serum amylase and lipase, pituitary hormone levels, inflammatory markers, cardiac enzyme tests and electrocardiogram (ECG)
   • For patients aged >50 years with a history of smoking, normal pulmonary function test (PFT) results are required
   • For patients with abnormal ECG findings or a prior history of cardiovascular disease (not meeting any exclusion criteria listed in Item 8), additional assessments including myocardial function evaluation and cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) must be performed, with results within normal limits

8. Patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and give written informed consent, and be willing and able to comply with the study schedule, including follow-up visits, treatment procedures, laboratory testing, and other protocol-related requirements.

9. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be willing to adhere to effective contraception during treatment and for 1 year after the last dose of study drug (e.g., condoms, physician-guided regular use of oral contraceptives).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with hepatitis B virus DNA >1×103 copies/mL, positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody , positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody

2. Positive for anti-HIV antibody or diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

3. Active pulmonary tuberculosis: Patients with a history of active tuberculosis within the past year should be excluded regardless of treatment status. Patients with a history of active pulmonary tuberculosis more than one year prior should also be excluded, unless they received confirmed and regular anti-tuberculosis treatment.

4. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to uveitis, colitis, hepatitis, hypophysitis, nephritis, vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and asthma requiring bronchodilators. Type I diabetes, hypothyroidism treated with replacement therapy, and skin disease that doesn't require systemic treatment (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) are allowed.

5. Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), including thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and thymic neuroendocrine tumors (NETTs).

6. History of interstitial lung disease or pneumonia requiring oral or intravenous corticosteroids within the past year; use of vancomycin within the past month.

7. Ongoing chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy (equivalent to or greater than prednisone >10mg per day) or any other immunosuppressive therapy. Patients received inhale or topical corticosteroid are allowed.

8. Uncontrolled cardiac conditions, such as:

   • Heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification ≥ Class II;
   • Unstable angina;
   • History of myocardial infarction within the past year;
   • Supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias requiring treatment or intervention

9. Pregnant or breastfeeding women (pregnancy testing should be considered for women of childbearing potential with active sexual life)

10. History or presence of other malignancies, except for adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, and papillary thyroid carcinoma.

11. Known hypersensitivity to macromolecule protein products or any component of QL1706.

12. Active infections requiring systemic treatment within 1 week prior to enrollment.

13. Administration of live vaccines within 30 days prior to the first dose of epalurilimab-tovorolimab.

14. History of organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

15. Any other condition assessed by the investigator as potentially compromising patient safety or compliance, such as severe illnesses requiring urgent treatment (including psychiatric disorders), significantly abnormal laboratory values, or other psychological, familial, or social risk factors.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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580 participants in 2 patient groups

QL1706 Arm

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will receive induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1g/m2, d1 \& 8 of every cycle) and cisplatin (80mg/m2, d1 of every cycle), every 3 weeks for 3 cycles before radiation. Definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of 6996cGy in 33 fractions will be given. Concurrent cisplatin of 100mg/m2 will be administered every 3 weeks for 2 cycles during IMRT. QL1706 5mg/kg will be given every 3 weeks for 3 cycles in induction chemotherapy and for 9 cycles in adjuvant chemotherapy, started on day 1 of induction chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, respectively.

Treatment:

Drug: Cisplatin

Drug: Gemcitabine

Drug: QL1706

Radiation: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Chemoradiation Arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1g/m2, d1 \& 8 of every cycle) and cisplatin (80mg/m2, d1 of every cycle), every 3 weeks for 3 cycles before radiation. Definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of 6996cGy in 33 fractions will be given. Concurrent cisplatin of 100mg/m2 will be administered every 3 weeks for 2 cycles during IMRT.

Treatment:

Drug: Cisplatin

Drug: Gemcitabine

Radiation: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy