Palbociclib With Cetuximab and IMRT for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Phase I/II Dose Escalation Study of the CDK4/6 Inhibitor, Palbociclib in Combination With Cetuximab and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Cyclin D kinase 4 (CDK4) is a key regulator of the G1-S transition in the cell cycle. Alterations in CDK4-cyclin D-retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway may lead to carcinogenesis in many cancers. Several mechanisms have been described: (i) Amplification or overexpression of cyclin D1, (ii) Amplification of CDK4, (iii) Activating mutation of CDK4, and (iv) Loss of the CDK4 inhibitor, p16 (CDKN2A). Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) plays a major role in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) carcinogenesis. It induces many alterations in the CDK4-Cyclin D-Rb and apoptotic pathways such as up-regulation of p16, loss of Rb and p53 functions. A novel therapy for HPV-negative SCCHN is clearly an unmet medical need.

Palbociclib (PD 0332991) is an orally active, highly selective inhibitor of the CDK4/6 with ability to block Rb phosphorylation in the low nanomolar range. The most advanced development is in a treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In addition, palbociclib showed a radiosensitization property. Since combination of cetuximab and radiation improved PFS and overall survival (OS) in locally advanced SCCHN when compared with radiation alone, these provide a strong rationale to evaluate a combination of palbociclib, cetuximab, and radiation for locally advanced SCCHN. Because many genetic alterations in SCCHN significantly involve in the CDK4-cyclin D-Rb pathway, predictive biomarker(s) of palbociclib in this combination will be explored.

Thus, the investigators propose a non-randomized, dose escalation, phase I study designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity of palbociclib, cetuximab, and IMRT for locally advanced SCCHN.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer; Locally Advanced
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Palbociclib; Drug: Palbociclib; Drug: Palbociclib; Drug: Palbociclib; Drug: Cetuximab; Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Detailed Description

The enrollment of an initial patient cohort of 3 or 6 patients will follow the traditional "3 + 3" dose escalation scheme (see table below). The patients will be treated with palbociclib, cetuximab, and IMRT at starting at Dose Level (DL) 1. Subsequent patient cohort(s) will be enrolled depending on the safety and tolerability of the initial cohort. If <33% patients treated at Dose Level 1 experience DLT (see definition below) by the end of treatment (56 days), then next cohort of 3 patients will be enrolled and treated at Dose Level 2. If 2 treatment-related DLTs are observed at Dose Level 1, patients will be accrued to Dose Level -1. The MTD is defined as the maximum dose level at which ≤1/6 patients have DLTs.

At the MTD or RP2D, we will accrue up to 15 locally advanced unresectable p16-negative SCCHN patients to allow for definitive evaluation of tolerability, correlative endpoints and preliminary efficacy. CT/PET scan will be performed at 3 months after the last dose of radiation to evaluate residual disease. Patients with residual disease will be considered for salvage surgery following standard of care.

• IMRT will be administered 5 days on/2 days off with a total dose of 70 Gy for 33-35 fractions.
• Cetuximab will be administered 400 mg/m2 IV at 7 days before (day -7) starting radiation and then 250 mg/m2 IV weekly for 7 weeks.
• Palbociclib will be administered orally daily 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 27
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
    • Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Locally advanced histology or cytology proven squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx.
2. Locally advanced SCCCH patients who would be considered for concurrent cetuximab and IMRT as a definitive treatment.
3. Age ≥ 18 yeas old.
4. Available tissue to determine HPV status and the other biomarkers of interest.
5. ECOG status ≤ 1.

6. Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal functions, defined as:

   • Platelet count ≥150 x 109/L, Absolute Neutrophile Count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 109/L, Hgb ≥9 gm/dL
   • ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 upper limit normal (ULN); serum total bilirubin ≤ ULN
   • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or calculated or measured creatinine clearance (by Cockcroft-Gault Equation) ≥ 50 mL/min
   • Magnesium ≥ the lower limit of normal
7. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of study drug.
8. Male and female subjects of child-bearing potential must agree to use double-barrier contraceptive measures, oral contraception, or avoidance of intercourse during the study and for 6 months after last investigational drug dose received.
9. Subject or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure.

Exclusion Criteria:

Potential subjects who meet ANY of the following exclusion criteria are not eligible for enrollment into this study:

1. SCCHN patients with distance metastasis.
2. Major surgery < 4 weeks or minor surgery < 2 weeks prior to the first day of study treatment.
3. Patients with previous chemotherapy for cancer treatment and radiation to the head and neck areas.
4. Patients who were previously treated with any CDK4/6 inhibitors or cetuximab.
5. SCCHN with expressed p16 by IHC (only in expansion cohort).

6. Active cardiac disease described as:

   • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% by Multiple Grated acquisition (MUGA) scan or echocardiogram (ECHO).
   • QTc > 480 msec on screening EKG (using the QTcF formula).
   • Congenital long QT syndrome
   • Myocardial infarction or active uncontrolled angina pectoris within the last 6 months prior to the first day of study treatment
   • Uncontrolled significant cardiac arrhythmias except for benign premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and premature atrial contractions (PAC).
   • Symptomatic pericarditis
   • History of cardiomyopathy
7. Weight loss more than 10% from baseline body weight before illness.
8. Active clinically serious infections or other serious uncontrolled medical conditions.
9. Substance abuse, medical, psychological or social conditions that may, in the opinion of the Investigator, interfere with the patient's participation in the study or evaluation of the study results.
10. Unable to swallow an intact palbociclib tablet.
11. Impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of palbociclib.
12. Known HBV, HCV, and/or HIV infection.
13. Patients who are currently treated with drugs known to be strong inhibitors or inducers of isoenzyme CYP3A, and the treatment cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study drug.
14. Patients who have taken herbal medications and certain fruits within 7 days prior to starting study drug. Herbal medications include, but are not limited to St. John's wort, Kava, ephedra (ma huang), gingko biloba, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), yohimbe, saw palmetto, and ginseng. Fruits include the CYP3A inhibitors Seville oranges, grapefruit, pomelos, or exotic citrus fruits.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Palbociclib-Cetuximab-IMRT; IMRT will be administered 5 days on/2 days off with a total dose of 70 Gy for 33-35 fractions.; Cetuximab will be administered 400 mg/m2 IV at 7 days before (day -7) starting radiation and then 250 mg/m2 IV weekly for 7 weeks.; Palbociclib will be administered orally daily 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49) on 3 dose levels and the MTD.

Drug: Palbociclib; Dose Level -1: 100 mg oral every other day 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49).; Other Names: PD-0332991; Drug: Palbociclib; Dose Level 1: 75 mg per oral daily 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49).; Other Names: PD-0332991; Drug: Palbociclib; Dose Level 2: 100 mg per oral daily 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49).; Other Names: PD-0332991; Drug: Palbociclib; Dose Level 3: 125 mg per oral daily 3 week-on and 1-week of during IMRT (Day 1-21 and Day 29-49).; Other Names: PD-0332991; Drug: Cetuximab; All dose levels: 400 mg/m2 IV at 7 days before (day -7) starting radiation and then 250 mg/m2 IV weekly for 7 weeks.; Other Names: Erbitux; Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy; 5 days on/2 days off with a total dose of 70 Gy for 33-35 fractions.; Other Names: IMRT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Determination of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D)	To describe the dose-limiting toxicities and identify the recommended phase I dose (RP2D) of the combination of palbociclib, cetuximab, and IMRT for locally advanced SCCHN. Recommended Phase II Dose (RP2D) is a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or the highest dose level when MTD is not reached. Toxicity will be assessed using the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.0. A DLT is defined by the occurrence of any of the following toxicities related to palbociclib and the combination within 8 weeks of treatment duration.	From baseline to the completion of radiotherapy (up to 8 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluate preliminary efficacy of the combination	Objective response rate (ORR) by the RECIST criteria version 1.1 and PET/CT scan response at 3 months after completion of treatment will be used to evaluate preliminary efficacy of this combination.	From baseline to 3 months after completion of radiotherapy (up to 5 months)
Evaluate safety profile of the combination of palbociclib, cetuximab and IMRT	All toxicities, including acute and chronic toxicities will be evaluated by the CTCAE V.4.	From baseline to 1 year after completion of radiotherapy (up to 14 months)
Evaluate anti-tumor activity of the combination depending on Rb status	Objective response rate (ORR) by the RECIST criteria version 1.1 and PET/CT scan response at 3 months after completion of treatment will be used to evaluate preliminary efficacy of this combination. Rb status will be correlated with the ORR.	From baseline to 3 months after completion of radiotherapy (up to 5 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mahidol University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nuttapong Ngamphaiboon, MD, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 19, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 11, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 28, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 15, 2017
• First Posted (Estimated): January 18, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 15, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Phase I/II
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Palbociclib; Cetuximab
• Other Study ID Numbers: RA2016001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

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.: Yes