Nab-Paclitaxel and Cisplatin or Nab-paclitaxel as Induction Therapy for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) (APA)

Phase II Non-Randomized Three Arm Trial of Induction Chemotherapy With Nab-Paclitaxel and Cisplatin (AP: Arms 1 and 3) or Single Agent Nab-paclitaxel (A: Arm 2) as Induction Therapy Followed by Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC): "The APA Trial".

In this trial, the objectives are to determine the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy (IC) with nab-paclitaxel + cisplatin (Arm 1: AP) and with nab-paclitaxel (Arm 2: A) alone in patients with HNSCC, and to compare these data to nab-paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU (APF). The investigators also hypothesize that the high anti-tumor efficacy of nab-paclitaxel in HNSCC is due to the upregulation of macropinocytosis, a result of the frequent presence of Ras and PI3K (and epidermal growth factor receptor -EGFR) activation in this cancer.

Amendment to Add Arm 3:

In this amendment, the investigators retain the AP + concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT) backbone but de-escalate the dose of radiation therapy (RT) from 70 Gy to 42 Gy. The investigators also plan to administer one dose (vs three) of cisplatin during RT. This novel treatment approach will be evaluated in patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) (Arm 3), a sub-group with a very favorable prognosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Cancer of Head and Neck; Neoplasms, Head and Neck; Cancer of the Head and Neck; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell of the Head and Neck
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: nab-Paclitaxel; Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy; Biological: Cetuximab

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 96
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Kansas
    • Westwood, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • The University of Kansas Cancer Center and Medical Pavilion
  • Missouri
    • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Washington University School of Medicine
  • South Dakota
    • Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, 57104
      • Sanford Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Arms 1 and 3 - AP

• Diagnosis of selected Stage III or IVa/b HNSCC. Arm 1: T2-T4 primary tumors. Arm 3: T2T1-T4 primary tumors. Although most of these patients will have regional nodal disease, patients with no nodal disease will also be eligible.
• Arm 1: Presence of disease at the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx sub-sites.
• Arm 3: Presence of disease at the oropharynx sub-sites, which is HPV-related as verified by p16, a surrogate marker of HPV, or HPV ISH or PCR.
• Presence of measurable disease defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 10 mm with CT scan.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after completing treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately.
• Able to understand and willing to sign an IRB-approved written informed consent document.
• ECOG performance status ≤ 1.

• Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined below:

  • ANC: ≥ 1500/mcL.
  • Platelets: > 100,000/mcL.
  • Hemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
  • AST/ALT/alkaline phosphatase: ≤ 2.5 x ULN.
  • Serum creatinine: < 1.5 mg/dL or calculated GFR ≥ 75 cc/min. CrCl by Cockcroft Gault will be used to estimate GFR.
  • Pulmonary: no requirement for supplemental oxygen and no evidence of moderate-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Inclusion Criteria: Arm 2 - A

• Diagnosis of selected Stage III or IVa/b HNSCC. T2-T4 primary tumors. (Patients with T1 tumors will be excluded). Although most of these patients will have regional nodal disease, patients with no nodal disease will also be eligible.
• Presence of disease at the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx sub-sites.
• Presence of measurable disease defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 10 mm with CT scan.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after completing treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately.
• Able to understand and willing to sign an IRB-approved written informed consent document.
• ECOG performance status < 3.

• Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined below:

  • ANC: ≥ 1500/mcL.
  • Platelets: ≥ 100,000/mcL.
  • Hemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • AST/ALT/alkaline phosphatase: ≤ 5x ULN.
  • Calculated GFR >30 cc/min. CrCl by Cockcroft Gault will be used to estimate GFR.
  • Pulmonary: patients with a requirement for supplemental oxygen or evidence of moderate-severe COPD by PFTs are permitted to enroll.
• If a patient fully meets criteria for Arm 1, but has profound hearing loss and the physician feels that the patient should not receive Cisplatin, the patient will be eligible for Arm 2.
• If a patient fully meets criteria for Arm 1, but has a history of solid organ or bone marrow transplant, the patient will be eligible for Arm 2 (due to contraindications of Cisplatin with medications the patient is taking due to the transplant).

Exclusion Criteria (Arm 1 and Arm 2)

• Prior chemotherapy, prior EGFR targeted therapy, or prior radiation therapy for HNSCC.
• Disease at the nasopharyngeal, sinus, oral cavity, or other sub-site not specified as eligible.
• Diagnosis of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
• History of prior invasive malignancy diagnosed within 3 years prior to study enrollment; exceptions are malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., expected 5-year OS > 90%) that were treated with an expected curative outcome, such as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in-situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri, non-melanomatous skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the breast, or incidental histological finding of prostate cancer (TNM stage of T1a or T1b)
• Receiving any other investigational agents.
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to any of the agents used in this study.
• Taking cimetidine or allopurinol. If currently taking either of these medications, patient must discontinue for one week before receiving treatment with nab-paclitaxel.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active serious infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or serious psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. A negative serum or urine pregnancy test is required at screening for all female patients of childbearing potential.
• Known to be HIV-positive on combination antiretroviral therapy because of the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with the study agents. In addition, these patients are at increased risk of lethal infections when treated with marrow suppressive therapy. Appropriate studies will be undertaken in patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy when indicated.
• Peripheral neuropathy > grade 1.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm 1: nab-Paclitaxel and cisplatin (AP) + CRT; Six weeks of nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m2/week) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 days 1 and 22) followed by primary tumor site (PTS) assessment; If complete response (CR)/partial response (PR), three more weeks of nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin followed by concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT); If <PR, move directly to CRT if not surgical candidates.; CRT includes cisplatin which will begin 1 to 35 days after the completion of cycle 3. The first dose of cisplatin will be given during the initial 5 days of definitive radiation therapy, the second on approximately Day 22 of radiation, and the third on approximately Day 43 of radiation.; It is strongly recommended that intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) begin within 21 to 42 days (no later than 56 days) after the start of cycle 3. The total dose will be 7000 cGy in 35 fractions of 200 cGy each over 7 weeks. A dose of 6300 cGy in 35 fractions is optional and may be delivered to areas considered to be an intermediate risk.	Drug: Cisplatin; Other Names: DDP; cis-DDP; cis-Platinum II; cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum; Drug: nab-Paclitaxel; Other Names: Abraxane; Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy; Other Names: IMRT
Experimental: Arm 2: nab-Paclitaxel (A) + CRT; Six weeks of nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m2/week) followed by primary tumor site (PTS) assessment; If CR/PR, three more weeks of nab-paclitaxel followed by CRT; If <PR, move directly to CRT if not surgical candidates.; CRT includes cetuximab and will begin 1 to 35 days after completion of cycle -Cetuximab will be started 7 days before starting definitive radiation therapy. The initial loading dose of cetuximab will be 400 mg/m^2. Subsequently, cetuximab will be given weekly at a dose of 250 mg/m^2 for seven additional doses concurrently with radiation therapy.; It is strongly recommended that IMRT begin within 21 to 42 days (no later than 56 days) after the start of cycle 3. The total dose will be 7000 cGy in 35 fractions of 200 cGy each over 7 weeks. A dose of 6300 cGy in 35 fractions is optional and may be delivered to areas considered to be an intermediate risk.	Drug: nab-Paclitaxel; Other Names: Abraxane; Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy; Other Names: IMRT; Biological: Cetuximab; Other Names: Erbitux®
Experimental: Arm 3: nab-Paclitaxel and cisplatin (AP) + modified CRT; 6 weeks of nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin (days 1 & 22) followed by primary tumor site assessment; If CR/PR, cycle 3 of induction then 42Gy radiation, 1 dose of cisplatin or 6 doses cetuximab; If SD/PD: undergo surgery if candidate followed by CRT with 42 Gy RT and abbreviated cisplatin or cetuximab or 70Gy RT and 3 cycles of cisplatin or 8 doses of cetuximab; CRT includes Cisplatin and will begin 1-35 days after the completion of Cycle 3 of induction. Cisplatin will be given as 1 dose during the initial 5 days of definitive radiation therapy; Strongly recommended that radiation therapy begin within 28-49 days (and no later than 56 days) after the start of Cycle 3. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is to be used exclusively for this study.	Drug: Cisplatin; Other Names: DDP; cis-DDP; cis-Platinum II; cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum; Drug: nab-Paclitaxel; Other Names: Abraxane; Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy; Other Names: IMRT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Arm 1 and Arm 2: Clinical Complete Response Rate as Measured by Clinical Exam at the Primary Tumor Site	Assessment of primary tumor site will be done by laryngoscopy performed in the office or in the operating room. The primary tumor response to the first two cycles of induction will be assessed using visual categorical response. The percent change from baseline will be dictated in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician's clinical exam note.; Complete response = complete resolution - 100% decrease/minimal residual mucosal abnormality	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arm 3: Median Percent Weight Loss		Completion of treatment (estimated to be 11-15 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Clinical Partial Response Rate as Measured by Clinical Exam at the Primary Tumor Site	Assessment of primary tumor site will be done by laryngoscopy performed in the office or in the operating room. The primary tumor response to the first two cycles of induction will be assessed using visual categorical response. The percent change from baseline will be dictated in the ENT physician's clinical exam note.; Partial response - 99-50% decrease	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arms 1, 2 and 3: Clinical Complete Response Rate as Measured by Clinical Exam at the Involved Regional Nodes	The involved neck node response to the first two cycles of induction will be assessed using visual categorical response. The neck node measurements will be performed clinically by the treating medical oncology physician and dictated in his/her assessment note.; Complete response - complete resolution - 100% decrease/minimal residual mucosal abnormality	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Clinical Partial Response Rate as Measured by Clinical Exam at the Involved Regional Nodes	The involved neck node response to the first two cycles of induction will be assessed using visual categorical response. The neck node measurements will be performed clinically by the treating medical oncology physician and dictated in his/her assessment note.; Partial response - 99%-50% decrease	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Anatomic Tumor Response as Assessed by CT Using RECIST 1.1 Criteria	-Computed tomography (CT) scan (intravenous contrast preferred) to document and measure the extent of the primary tumor size and involved regional neck nodes. RECIST 1.1 will be used to determine response at the primary tumor site, at the involved regional neck nodes and the radiographic overall tumor response.	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Document and Quantify Ki-67 Expression by IHC in Primary Tumor Tissue and Correlate With Clinical Primary Tumor Site Response		Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Number of Participants Who Experienced a Grade 3-4 Adverse Event as Measured by NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 3.0	Compare to those observed with APF with the objective that Arm 1 will be at least 25% lower than the risk of Grade 3-4 AE's during APF (40% decreased to 30%) and Arm 2 will be at least 50% lower than the risk of Grade 3-4 AE's during APF (40% decreased to 20%).	30 days after completion of treatment (estimated to be 15-25 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Mean Total Score as Measured by the FACT/GOG-NTX-4	-The FACT/GOG-NTX-4 questionnaire has 4 questions about neuropathy (numbness/tingling in hands/feet and discomfort in hands/feet) with answers ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very Much). The total score ranges from 0 to 16. A lower score indicates less neuropathy symptoms.	Baseline and one year after completion of treatment (approximately 74 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Mean Total Score as Measured by FACT-H&N	-The FACT-H&N has 5 domains with 39 items including physical well-being (PWB), social/family well being (SWB), emotional well-being (EWB), functional well-being (FWB), and head & neck cancer (HNCS) with answers ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very Much). The PWB subscale score ranges from 0-28. The SWB subscale score ranges from 0-28. The EWB subscale score ranges from 0-24. The FWB subscale score ranges from 0-28. The HNCS subscale score ranges from 0-40. To obtain the total score all subscales are added together. The total score ranges from 0-148 with a higher score indicating a better quality of life.	Baseline and one year after completion of treatment (approximately 74 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Overall Survival (OS)	OS: duration of time from date of diagnosis to late date alive or time of death from any cause.	Through one year after completion of treatment (approximately 74 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Overall Survival (OS)	OS: duration of time from date of diagnosis to last date alive or time of death from any cause.	Through 2 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years and 22 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Disease-free Survival (DFS)	DFS: duration of time from last date of treatment to time of disease progression or death from any cause.	Through one year after completion of treatment (approximately 74 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Disease-free Survival (DFS)	DFS: duration of time from last date of treatment to time of disease progression or death from any cause.	Through 2 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years and 22 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Progression-free Survival (PFS)	◦PFS: duration of time from date of diagnosis to time of disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.	Through one year after completion of treatment (approximately 74 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Progression-free Survival (PFS)	◦PFS: duration of time from date of diagnosis to time of disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.	Through 2 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 2 years and 22 weeks)
Arm 3: Clinical Complete Response Rate as Measured by Clinical Exam at the Primary Tumor Site	Assessment of primary tumor site will be done by laryngoscopy performed in the office or in the operating room. The primary tumor response to the first two cycles of induction will be assessed using visual categorical response. The percent change from baseline will be dictated in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician's clinical exam note.; Complete response = complete resolution - 100% decrease/minimal residual mucosal abnormality	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arm 1 and Arm 3: Comparison of Response Rate	-Stratified for HPV status	Completion of 2 cycles (approximately 6 weeks)
Arm 1 and Arm 3: Comparison of the Rate of Grade 3/4 Adverse Events		30 days after completion of treatment (estimated to be 15-25 weeks)
Comparison of Median Absolute Weight Loss in Arms 2 and 3 to Arm 1		From start of radiation treatment through completion of radiation treatment (estimated to be 7 weeks)
Comparison of Median Percent Weight Loss in Arms 2 and 3 to Arm 1		From start of radiation treatment through completion of radiation treatment (estimated to be 7 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Overall Survival (OS)	OS: duration of time from start of treatment to time of death from any cause	Up to 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Progression-free Survival (PFS)	◦PFS: duration of time from start of treatment to time of progression or death, whichever occurs first.	Up to 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)
Arms 1, 2, and 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Disease-free Survival (DFS)		Through 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)
Arm 1 and Arm 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Overall Survival		Through 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)
Arm 1 and Arm 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Disease-free Survival		Through 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)
Arm 1 and Arm 3: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Progression-free Survival		Through 5 years after completion of treatment (estimated to be 5 years and 22 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
• Collaborators: Celgene Corporation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Douglas Adkins, M.D., Washington University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Oppelt P, Ley J, Daly M, Rich J, Paniello R, Jackson RS, Pipkorn P, Liu J, Gay H, Palka K, Neupane P, Powell S, Spanos WC, Gitau M, Zevallos J, Thorstad W, Adkins D. nab-Paclitaxel and cisplatin followed by cisplatin and radiation (Arm 1) and nab-paclitaxel followed by cetuximab and radiation (Arm 2) for locally advanced head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: a multicenter, non-randomized phase 2 trial. Med Oncol. 2021 Mar 8;38(4):35. doi: 10.1007/s12032-021-01479-w.

Helpful Links

• Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 13, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 12, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 7, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): October 9, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Cetuximab; Paclitaxel; Cisplatin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 201510013

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No