Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy (RT) With or Without Vandetanib in Treating Patients With High-Risk Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

A Randomized Phase II Trial of Chemoradiotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy and Vandetanib for High-Risk Postoperative Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Vandetanib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy is more effective with or without vandetanib in treating patients with head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy to see how well it works compared with giving chemotherapy and radiation therapy together with vandetanib in treating patients with high-risk stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: cisplatin; Drug: vandetanib; Radiation: radiation therapy

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To screen for an indication that the addition of vandetanib to chemoradiotherapy may prolong disease-free survival as compared to a combination of chemoradiotherapy in patients with resected, high-risk stage III or IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Secondary

• To determine whether this treatment regimen can be delivered safely and successfully following surgical resection for advanced head and neck cancer.
• To estimate the locoregional progression, distant metastasis, and overall survival rates for patients treated with this regimen.
• To examine the distribution of selected biomarkers that may include but are not limited to EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor, total and phosphorylated), E-cadherin, pMAPK (phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase), pAKT, Stat-3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), Ki-67, COX-2 (cyclooxygenase 2), and cyclin B1 (G2/mitotic-specific cyclin-B1)expression in this group of patients and to explore the potential correlation between these markers with the ultimate treatment outcome

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to Zubrod performance status (0 vs 1) and primary site of disease (oral cavity/hypopharynx vs larynx vs oropharynx, HPV+ (human papillomavirus positive) vs oropharynx, HPV- (human papillomavirus negative)). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

• Arm I: Patients undergo radiotherapy 5 times a week for up to 6.5 weeks and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1, 22, and 43 of radiotherapy.
• Arm II: Patients undergo radiotherapy as in arm I and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour once a week beginning on day 1 of radiotherapy. Patients also receive oral vandetanib once daily beginning 14 days prior to the start of radiotherapy.

In both arms, treatment continues for 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Tissue samples from all patients are collected and reviewed. Tissue from patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma is analyzed for human papillomavirus.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 4 years, and then annually thereafter.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259-5499
      • Mayo Clinic Scottsdale
  • California
    • Duarte, California, United States, 91010-3000
      • City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
    • La Jolla, California, United States, 92093-0658
      • Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089-9181
      • USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital
    • Sacramento, California, United States, 95815
      • Radiological Associates of Sacramento Medical Group, Incorporated
  • Delaware
    • Newark, Delaware, United States, 19713
      • CCOP - Christiana Care Health Services
  • Florida
    • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224
      • Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville
  • Georgia
    • Altanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
      • Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • Illinois
    • Harvey, Illinois, United States, 60426
      • Ingalls Cancer Care Center at Ingalls Memorial Hospital
    • Springfield, Illinois, United States, 62702
      • Cancer Institute at St. John's Hospital
  • Indiana
    • Anderson, Indiana, United States, 46016
      • Saint John's Cancer Center at Saint John's Medical Center
    • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
      • Methodist Cancer Center at Methodist Hospital
  • Kansas
    • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160-7357
      • Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute at the University of Kansas Medical Center
  • Kentucky
    • Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40292
      • James Graham Brown Cancer Center at University of Louisville
  • Michigan
    • Commerce, Michigan, United States, 48382
      • Charach Cancer Center at Huron Valley - Sinai Hospital
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
      • Josephine Ford Cancer Center at Henry Ford Hospital
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201-1379
      • Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
  • Minnesota
    • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
      • Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
  • Mississippi
    • Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States, 39581
      • Regional Cancer Center at Singing River Hospital
  • Missouri
    • Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64131
      • CCOP - Kansas City
    • Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64108
      • Truman Medical Center - Hospital Hill
    • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63141
      • David C. Pratt Cancer Center at St. John's Mercy
  • Nebraska
    • Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68510
      • Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center
  • Nevada
    • Reno, Nevada, United States, 89502
      • Renown Institute for Cancer at Renown Regional Medical Center
  • New Jersey
    • Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States, 07920
      • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Basking Ridge
  • New Mexico
    • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87131-5636
      • University of New Mexico Cancer Center
    • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87109
      • Radiation Oncology Associates, PA
  • New York
    • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14263-0001
      • Roswell Park Cancer Institute
    • Commack, New York, United States, 11725
      • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
      • James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at University of Rochester Medical Center
    • Rochester, New York, United States, 14620
      • Highland Hospital of Rochester
    • Rockville Centre, New York, United States, 11570
      • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Rockville Centre
    • Sleepy Hollow, New York, United States, 10591
      • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
  • North Carolina
    • Greenville, North Carolina, United States, 27834
      • Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center at ECU Medical School
  • Ohio
    • Akron, Ohio, United States, 44309-2090
      • Summa Center for Cancer Care at Akron City Hospital
    • Barberton, Ohio, United States, 44203
      • Barberton Citizens Hospital
    • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
      • Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
    • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106-5065
      • Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    • Mentor, Ohio, United States, 44060
      • Lake/University Ireland Cancer Center
    • Sandusky, Ohio, United States, 44870
      • North Coast Cancer Care, Incorporated
    • Sylvania, Ohio, United States, 43560
      • Flower Hospital Cancer Center
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
      • Oklahoma University Cancer Institute
  • Pennsylvania
    • Danville, Pennsylvania, United States, 17822-0001
      • Geisinger Cancer Institute at Geisinger Health
    • Furlong, Pennsylvania, United States, 18925
      • Fox Chase Cancer Center Buckingham
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19111-2497
      • Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107-5541
      • Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia
    • Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, 19612-6052
      • McGlinn Family Regional Cancer Center at Reading Hospital and Medical Center
    • York, Pennsylvania, United States, 17405
      • York Cancer Center at Apple Hill Medical Center
  • South Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
      • Hollings Cancer Center at Medical University of South Carolina
  • South Dakota
    • Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, 57701
      • Rapid City Regional Hospital
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030-4009
      • M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at University of Texas
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • University of Virginia Cancer Center
    • Norfolk, Virginia, United States, 23507
      • Sentara Cancer Institute at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
    • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298-0037
      • Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center
  • West Virginia
    • Wheeling, West Virginia, United States, 26003
      • Schiffler Cancer Center at Wheeling Hospital
  • Wisconsin
    • Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States, 54307-3508
      • St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center
    • Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States, 54301-3526
      • Green Bay Oncology, Limited at St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center
    • La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States, 54601
      • Gundersen Lutheran Center for Cancer and Blood
    • Marinette, Wisconsin, United States, 54143
      • Bay Area Cancer Care Center at Bay Area Medical Center
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226
      • Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53295
      • Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Milwaukee
    • Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, United States, 53066
      • Regional Cancer Center at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
    • Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States, 53188
      • Waukesha Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including any of the following subtypes:

  • Oral cavity
  • Oropharynx
  • Larynx
  • Hypopharynx
• Stage III or IV disease (no distant metastases)
• No cancer of the lip, nasopharynx, or sinuses

• Must have undergone gross total resection* (with curative intent) within 3-6 weeks of registration, with pathology demonstrating 1 or more of the following risk factors:

  • Histologic extracapsular nodal extension
  • Invasive cancer seen on microscopic evaluation of the resection margin, when all visible tumor has been removed NOTE: *Tonsillar cancer patients who undergo transoral excision of all gross tumor are eligible if the patient has formal neck dissection confirming histologic extracapsular nodal extension

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

• Zubrod performance status 0-1
• ANC (absolute neutrophil count) ≥ 2,000/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion or other intervention to achieve this level allowed)
• Total bilirubin normal
• AST (aspartate aminotransferase) or ALT (alanine amino transferase) ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Glucose ≥ 40 mg/dL AND ≤ 250 mg/dL
• Sodium ≥ 130 mmol/L AND ≤ 155 mmol/L
• Magnesium ≥ 0.9 mg/dL AND ≤ 3 mg/dL (supplementation allowed)
• Potassium ≥ 4 mmol/L AND ≤ 6 mmol/L (supplementation allowed)
• Serum calcium (ionized or adjusted for albumin) ≥ 7 mg/dL AND ≤ 12.5 mg/dL (supplementation allowed)
• QTc (corrected QT interval) interval ≥ 480 msec must have 2 additional EKGs ≥ 24 hrs apart and the average QTc from the 3 screening EKGs must be < 480 msec
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 60 days after completion of study treatment
• May not donate blood during the study or for 3 months after last dose of vandetanib

Exclusion criteria:

• Other simultaneous primary cancer

• Prior invasive malignancy (except nonmelanoma skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years with the exception of the following:

  • Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
  • Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
  • Untreated or treated low-risk prostate cancer (defined as clinical or pathologic T1c, N0 M0, PSA (prostate-specific antigen) < 10, Gleason < 7, < 50% of the total cores positive for cancer)

• Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

  • Clinically significant cardiovascular event (e.g., myocardial infarction, superior vena cava syndrome, or New York Heart Association class II-IV) or presence of cardiac disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia within the past 3 months
  • Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the past 3 months
  • Transmural myocardial infarction within the past 3 months

  • History of arrhythmia (e.g., multifocal premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, trigeminy, ventricular tachycardia, or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation) which is symptomatic or requires treatment (CTCAE [Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events] grade 3), or asymptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia

    • Patients with atrial fibrillation, controlled on medication, are eligible
  • Presence of left bundle branch block
  • Previous history of QTc prolongation as a result from other medication that required discontinuation of that medication
  • Congenital long QTc syndrome or first degree relative with unexplained sudden death under 40 years of age

  • QTc with Bazett's correction that is unmeasurable or ≥ 480 msec on screening EKG

    • Patients who are receiving a drug that has a risk of QTc prolongation are not eligible if QTc is ≥ 460 msec
  • Hypertension (systolic blood pressure [BP] > 160 mm Hg or diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg) not controlled by medical therapy
  • Diarrhea ≥ grade 1 (increase of < 4 stools per day over baseline or mild increase in ostomy output compared to baseline)
  • Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within the past 30 days
  • Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects
  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) based upon current CDC (Center for Disease Control) definition (no HIV testing is required for study entry)
• Prior allergic reaction to cisplatin or vandetanib or derivatives similar to these drugs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for this disease (prior chemotherapy for a different cancer allowed)
• No prior radiotherapy to the head and neck area that would result in overlap of radiotherapy fields
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents
• More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent medications that induce Torsades de Pointes
• More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent known potent inducers of CYP3A4 (Cytochrome P450 3A4), including rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, and Hypericum perforatum (St. John wort)
• No concurrent medication that may cause QTc prolongation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: RT + Cisplatin; Patients undergo radiotherapy 5 times a week for up to 6.5 weeks and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1, 22, and 43 of radiotherapy. Treatment continues for 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.	Drug: cisplatin; Given IV; Radiation: radiation therapy; Patients undergo radiotherapy 5 times a week for up to 6.5 weeks.
Experimental: RT + Cisplatin + Vandetanib; Patients undergo radiotherapy as in arm I and receive cisplatin IV over 1 hour once a week beginning on day 1 of radiotherapy. Patients also receive oral vandetanib once daily beginning 14 days prior to the start of radiotherapy. Treatment continues for 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.	Drug: cisplatin; Given IV; Drug: vandetanib; Given orally; Radiation: radiation therapy; Patients undergo radiotherapy 5 times a week for up to 6.5 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Disease-free Survival	This study terminated early with 34 subjects accrued out of 170 planned, therefore no analyses were performed.	From randomization to date of failure (local, regional, or distant progression, or death) or last follow-up. Analysis occurs after 78 failures have been reported.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Raben, MD, University of Colorado, Denver; Study Chair: John A. Ridge, MD, PhD, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Study Chair: Stuart J. Wong, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 19, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 19, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): July 22, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 17, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2015
• Last Verified: November 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stage III verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity; stage IV verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity; stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx; stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx; stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx; stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx; stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx; stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents; Cisplatin
• Other Study ID Numbers: RTOG-0619; CDR0000599867