A Study of the Combination of Cetuximab and Methotrexate in Recurrent or Metastatic Cancer of the Head and Neck (COMMENCE)

A Phase Ib-II Study of the Combination of Cetuximab and Methotrexate in Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. A Study of the Dutch Head and Neck Society

The investigators will perform a randomized phase II study to investigate if the addition of cetuximab to MTX is beneficial for the patient. Because no data on this combination are available the investigators will start with a phase Ib study to investigate the feasibility of the schedule.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Methotrexate; Drug: Cetuximab

Detailed Description

The addition of cetuximab to cisplatin and 5-FU in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) showed an improvement of overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and response rate (RR). However, cisplatin and 5-FU are toxic cytostatics for the vulnerable recurrent or metastatic SCCHN patient. As one of the primary goals in these patients is palliation, in some patients treatment with cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab is not feasible owing to a low performance score (PS of 2) or the patient refusal to receive chemotherapy, i.e. cisplatin and 5-FU, possibly influencing quality of life negatively.

Methotrexate is a cytostatic which has shown to have modest activity in recurrent or metastatic SCCHN. The RR is between 14 and 20%, the median PFS is 3 months, and there is no improvement in OS, which is only 6 months. Toxicity of MTX is very low. Patients with a PS of 2 can be treated with MTX. Patients refusing treatment with cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab, frequently choose MTX as palliative treatment.

No data are available on the combination of cetuximab and MTX. The investigators will perform a randomized phase II study to investigate if the addition of cetuximab to MTX is beneficial, i.e. an improvement in the PFS, for the patient. Because no data on this combination are available the investigators will start with a phase Ib study to investigate the feasibility of the schedule.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Den Haag, Netherlands
    • Medical Centre Haaglanden
  • Enschede, Netherlands
    • Medisch Spectrum Twente
  • Leeuwarden, Netherlands
    • Medical Centre Leeuwarden
  • Leiden, Netherlands
    • Leiden University Medical Center
  • Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht
  • Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Radboud University Medical Center
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands
    • Erasmus Medical Center
  • Tilburg, Netherlands
    • St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis

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

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cytologically/histologically-proven SCCHN
• Recurrent or metastatic SCCHN
• At least one measurable lesion as determined by RECIST v1.1 is required. Lesions in previously irradiated areas should not be considered measurable unless there is clear evidence of progression in such lesions since the radiotherapy.
• No prior systemic treatment for recurrent or metastatic disease
• Primary site: (1) oral cavity, (2) oropharynx, (3) hypopharynx, (4) larynx, or (5) unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region presenting originally with lymph node metastases (N1-N3).
• Time between prior treatment and inclusion in the study (> 3 months). Palliative RT in case of painful bone metastases is allowed in phase II and after 4 weeks in phase Ib
• Ineligible (due to medical co-morbidities) or intolerant to platinum-based therapy per medical history or refusing cisplatin-based chemotherapy by the patient
• WHO performance status 0-2.
• Age >18 years

• Adequate organ function and laboratory parameters as defined by:

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109 /L
  • Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9 g/dl 5.6 mmol/l (which may be achieved by transfusion)
  • Platelets (PLT) ≥ 100 x 109/L
  • AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN (upper limit of normal)
  • Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
  • Calculated creatinine clearance or MDRD > 60ml/min
• Recovered from all adverse events (AEs) of previous anti-cancer therapies. AEs related to prior radiotherapy are allowed.
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious active infections
• Patients (M/F) with reproductive potential not implementing adequate contraceptives measures
• Prior treatment with EGFR inhibitors or MTX
• Concomitant (or within 4 weeks before randomization) administration of any other experimental drug under investigation
• Concurrent treatment with any other anti-cancer therapy.
• Central nervous system involvement
• Lung fibrosis
• Pleural effusion or ascites or other third space effusions
• History of another malignancy within 2 years prior to starting study treatment, except cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin, excised carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other head and neck cancer.
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, preclude patient's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns or compliance with clinical study procedures, e.g. infection/inflammation, intestinal obstruction, social/psychological complications.

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
Experimental: Arm A: MTX in combination with cetuximab; The dosage of cetuximab will be i.v. 400 mg/m2 over a period of 2h for the first infusion, followed by infusions of 250 mg/m2 over 1 hour once weekly. Cetuximab will be dissolved in 500 ml NaCl 0.9%. Premedication: H1-receptor antagonist and dexamethasone. The dosage of MTX (Methotrexate) will be i.v. 40 mg/m2 once weekly, administered within 5-10 minutes. MTX will be dissolved in 50 ml NaCl 0.9%. Premedication: ondansetron 8 mg. Treatment will be continued until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or refusal by patient.	Drug: Methotrexate; Other Names: EMTHEXATE; L01BA01; Drug: Cetuximab; We will perform a randomized phase II study to investigate in first line if the addition of cetuximab to MTX is beneficial, i.e. improvement in the PFS, for the patient.; Other Names: Erbitux; L01XC06
Active Comparator: Arm B: MTX; The dosage of MTX (Methotrexate) will be i.v. 40 mg/m2 once weekly, administered within 5-10 minutes. MTX will be dissolved in 50 ml NaCl 0.9%. Premedication: ondansetron 8 mg. Treatment will be continued until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or refusal by patient.	Drug: Methotrexate; Other Names: EMTHEXATE; L01BA01

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of dose limiting toxicity (DLT)	In the phase Ib study: toxicity scored with CTC v 4.0*; incidence of dose limiting toxicity (DLT) during the first 4 weeks after start of the combination	During the first 4 weeks after start of the combination MTX and cetuximab
Progression free survival	In the phase II study: progression free survival (PFS). The analysis of PFS can be performed as soon as the target event (progression or death) has been observed in 98 of the 114 subjects randomized.	From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall survival (OS)	Overall survival (OS) The analysis of OS can be performed as soon as the target event has been observed in 98 of the 114 subjects randomized.	Followed up to 12 months after randomization
Response rate (RR)	The difference in RR rates between both treatment arms will be analyzed using a stratified Cochran Mantel Haenszel test at a one-sided alpha-level of 0.05. In addition to the response rates in both arms, the odds ratio will be reported together with 90% confidence intervals. The impact of various demographic and disease characteristics (e.g. HPV positivity), on RR will be investigated using an exploratory logistic regression model.	Till end of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center
• Collaborators: Erasmus Medical Center; Leiden University Medical Center; Medical Center Haaglanden; Merck Serono International SA; Medical Centre Leeuwarden; Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis; Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht; Medisch Spectrum Twente
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Carla M van Herpen, MD, PhD, Radboud University Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): February 4, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 12, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 11, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: methotrexate; cetuximab; squamous cell carcinoma head neck; palliative chemotherapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antirheumatic Agents; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Dermatologic Agents; Reproductive Control Agents; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; Abortifacient Agents; Folic Acid Antagonists; Methotrexate; Cetuximab
• Other Study ID Numbers: MOHN01; 2013-002886-20 (EudraCT Number); DHNS 2013-01 (Other Identifier: Dutch Head and Neck Society)