Validation of Molecular Diagnostic Assays to Detect Cancer Biomarkers in Blood and Primary Tumor in HNSCC/NSCLC/Melanoma

December 23, 2025 updated by: Pharmassist Ltd

A Clinical Performance Study to Validate the Use of Novel Molecular Diagnostic Assays for the Detection of Cancer Biomarkers in Peripheral Blood and Primary Tumor Tissue of Patients With Recurrent/Metastatic HNSCC, NSCLC or Melanoma.

Conventional biopsy and surgical tumor resection are invasive procedures that capture only one instance of the progression of the tumor. However, the genome of tumor is not static, but it is constantly altered during treatment.

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach based on the extraction of information through peripheral blood analysis. It makes it possible to characterize the development of a solid tumor in real time, through detailed molecular analysis of circulating genetic material in peripheral blood.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Conventional biopsy and surgical tumor resection are invasive procedures that capture only one instance of the progression of the tumor. However, the genome of tumor is not static, but it is constantly altered during treatment.

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach based on the extraction of information through peripheral blood analysis. It makes it possible to characterize the development of a solid tumor in real time, through detailed molecular analysis of circulating genetic material in peripheral blood.

Study procedure:

  1. Initial Visit (V0-Baseline): For the purposes of the study the following information will be collected: the demographics, medical and social history, the characteristics of the disease (stage, molecular characterization e.t.c) and the treatment regimen that is followed. As part of the visit, 20 mL of peripheral blood will be drawn prior to their treatment according to physician's suggestion as per common clinical practice. Blood samples will be then sent to ACTC laboratory for plasma/CTC isolation, DNA and RNA extraction and subsequent test for biomarkers. Primary tumor tissue samples will be also collected.

  2. Follow-up visit (V1): All patients will provide a 10 mL peripheral blood sample during their planned visit at the end of a series of immunotherapy cycles as per clinical practice and physician's judgment. More specifically:

    For HNSCC/NSCLC: at the end of four (4) treatment cycles with nivolumab (2 months) or at the end of three (3) treatment cycles with pembrolizumab (2 months) or on disease progress (PD) For melanoma: at 6 months after treatment initiation (antiPD-1) Blood samples will be then sent to laboratory for plasma/CTC isolation, DNA and RNA extraction and subsequent test for biomarkers. Clinical response (CR, PR, SD, PD) will be also documented.

  3. Follow-up visit (V2): All patients will provide a 10 mL peripheral blood sample on progress of the disease or at the end of the observation period, as diagnosed during their planned visit as per clinical practice and physician's judgment. Blood samples will be then sent to laboratory

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
135

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Greece
    • Alexandroupolis
      • Alexandroupoli, Alexandroupolis, Greece, 68100
        • University General Hospital of Alexandroupoli
    • Attica
      • Athens, Attica, Greece, 11528
        • Aretaieio University Hospital of Athens
      • Athens, Attica, Greece, 124 62
        • University General Hospital of Athens Attikon
      • Athens, Attica, Greece, 11527
        • Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens
    • Piraeus
      • Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece, 18547
        • Metropolital Hospital
    • Thessaloniki
      • Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, 546 22
        • Bioclinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

155 subjects as follows: 25 patients with metastatic/recurrent HNSCC 120 patients with metastatic NSCLC 10 patients with metastatic melanoma 30 healthy subjects

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Male or female aged ≥ 18 years of age.

  2. Patients with a diagnosis of

    1. recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab OR
    2. metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab,OR
    3. metastatic melanoma, who are going to receive to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab.
  3. Available tumor tissue sample for immunohistochemical and molecular analysis.
  4. Life expectancy ≥ 4 months.
  5. Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Male or female younger than 18 years old.
  2. History of another malignancy within 3 years or current 2nd primary malignancy.
  3. Patients that have not signed the informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
HNSCC, NSCLC, melanoma Patients
The study population are subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab or ii) metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab or iii) metastatic melanoma, who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, embrolizumab. The selected inclusion/exclusion criteria have been set to include in the performance study appropriate population of interest, as broad as possible, but to exclude these subjects that have another current malignancy or any history of recent malignancy within 3 years.
Diagnostic test: PD-L1 Kit
Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples
Healthy volunteers
In case of healhty volunteers, only peripheral blood samples will be collected.
Diagnostic test: PD-L1 Kit
Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples
Time Frame: 12 months
The performance of PD-L1 kit at baseline in CTCs (using IF as reference method) and tumor tissue samples (using IHC as reference method) will be assessed via Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive and Negative Predictive Values, Positive and Negative Likelihood Ratios, Accuracy and Diagnostic Odds Ratio.
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To study correlations between PD-L1 expression in serial liquid samples with patients' responsiveness to therapy.
Time Frame: 18 months
  1. Clinical response to the selected treatment (CR, PR, SD, PD)
  2. Survival status
18 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To study mutation status of BRAF gene in tumor tissue samples and blood samples (CTC, plasma ctDNA) of metastatic melanoma patients
Time Frame: 18 months
Mutation profile of BRAF in CTCs, plasma-ctDNA and tumor tissues of metastatic melanoma patients will be evaluated using PCR-molecular assays
18 months
To study the presence of biomarkers in tumor tissue and blood liquid biopsy samples (at baseline).
Time Frame: 18 months
Molecular profile of cancer biomarkers in tumor tissue and peripheral blood samples will be evaluated using PCR-molecular assays
18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Pharmassist Ltd

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Athens

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 25, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 7, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 7, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 20, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 24, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 29, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 30, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 23, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CBS-PD-L1a

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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