Trial of Cemiplimab, or Cemip-Chemo Followed by Biomarker-guided Treatment for Pts w/HPV H&N Ca (MINIMA)

A Phase II Trial of Cemiplimab, or Cemiplimab-Chemotherapy, Followed by Biomarker-guided De-escalated Curative-intent Locoregional Treatment for Patients With Advanced HPV-related Head and Neck Cancer. The MINIMA Study

To determine if it is feasible to use neoadjuvant immunotherapy (or immunotherapy plus chemotherapy) to reduce treatment intensity and improve long-term quality of life while maintaining very high cure rates.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: HPV-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cemiplimab

Detailed Description

Eligible patients will receive 3 cycles/9 weeks of Cemiplimab (IV infusion) prior to curative treatment, with or without Carboplatin/Paclitaxel. The addition of carboplatin and paclitaxel depends on the presence of measurable benefit to participant. Assessments of patient progress are conducted weekly by multidisciplinary team and at week 9 or 10 a de-escalation decision will also be used to determine if patient receives de-escalated or non-minimally de-escalated treatment.

De-Escalated Treatment: Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) or Low Dose Radiation Therapy (42Gy)

Non-Minimally De-Escalated Treatment: Surgery + Post-Operative Radiation Therapy or 60 Gy Chemoradiation Therapy

Curative intent will be followed by adjuvant Cemiplimab for 4 months (5 doses every 21 days).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 32
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Zubair Khan, M.D.; Phone Number: 410-955-3157; Email: zkhan@jhmi.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sydjea Stillwell, R.N.; Phone Number: 410-614-9231; Email: sstillw1@jhmi.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
      • Recruiting
      • Johns Hopkins University
      • Contact: Zubair Khan; Phone Number: 410-955-3157; Email: zkhan@jhmi.edu
      • Contact: Sydjea Stillwell; Phone Number: 410-614-9231; Email: sstillw1@jhmi.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Nyall R London, M.D.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects must have pathologically confirmed HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Confirmed HPV-positive disease of other subsites are uncommon but also eligible.

• HPV testing must be compliant with the following criteria:

  • p16 IHC positivity is sufficient to enroll and initiate treatment (p16 IHC interpretation to follow guidelines by Jordan and Lingen et al89).
  • p16 IHC positivity is to be validated using an HPV nucleic acid based secondary assay (HPV ISH, HPV PCR, HPV cfDNA) before or during the neoadjuvant phase.*
  • HPV DNA ISH is acceptable if positive, however a negative HPV DNA ISH should be confirmed by HPV RNA ISH or other nucleic acid based method.

• HPV16 type (non-HPV16 related cancers are not eligible)*

  • *In the rare event that a subject starts treatment based on p16 IHC alone and HPV type determination is not yet available, subject may commence neoadjuvant treatment based on p16 IHC alone, as along as HPV nucleic acid testing is pending. Patients with non-HPV16 associated tumors will have to leave the study. Given the prevalence of HPV16 (~90-95%) and usual rapid turnaround of HPV16 RNA-ISH (other assays) this is not expected, but the primary goal is not to have unnecessary treatment delay for subjects.
• Availability of ≥8 unstained 5 micron slides. Subjects who cannot fulfill this requirement will need to undergo a new biopsy prior to enrollment on study. In patients where biopsy is not safe, or logistically feasible this requirement can be waived by the PI or a lower number of slides can be accepted.
• Subjects must be at least 18 years of age.
• AJCC 7th edition: Stage III, IV without bulky N2b/c disease (defined as N3 equivalent volume) and without bulky T4 (≤30cc).

(AJCC 8th edition: Stage II or III, or stage I with N1 or N2 nodes (>3cm or multiple), without bulky nodal disease (defined as N3 equivalent volume) and without bulky T4 disease (defined as 30cc tumor volume)).

• Measurable disease (either primary site and/or nodal disease) by RECIST 1.1 criteria.
• No previous radiation or chemotherapy for a head and neck cancer.
• No complete surgical resection for a head and neck cancer within 8 weeks of enrollment (although lymph node biopsy including excision of an individual node with presence of residual nodal disease, or surgical biopsy/excision of the tumor with residual disease is acceptable).
• ECOG performance status 0-1 (Karnofsky ³70%).

• Normal Organ Function

  • Leukocytes ≥2500/mm3,
  • Platelets ≥75,000/mm3,
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500,
  • Hemoglobin >9.0 gm/dL,
  • AST and ALT <2.5 X ULN
  • Alkaline phosphatase <2.5 X ULN
  • Albumin >2.9 gm/dL,
  • Total bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dl,

  • Creatinine clearance >45 mL/min (or SCr <1.6 mg/dL) within 4 weeks prior to start of treatment.

    • The standard Cockcroft and Gault formula or the measured glomerular filtration rate must be used to calculate CrCl for enrollment or dosing
• Subjects must sign a study-specific informed consent form prior to study entry. Subjects should have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

• Sex, and Reproductive Status:

  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP=premenopausal woman capable of becoming pregnant) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study drug.
  • Women must not be breastfeeding.
  • WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s) plus 5 half-lives of study drug(s) plus 30 days (duration of ovulatory cycle) for up to 5 months post-treatment completion.
  • Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s) plus 5 half-lives of study drug(s) plus 90 days (duration of sperm turnover) for up to 7 months post treatment completion.
  • Azoospermic males and WOCBP who are continuously not heterosexually active are exempt from contraceptive requirements. However, they must still undergo pregnancy testing as described in this section.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unequivocal demonstration of distant metastases (M1 disease).
• Unidentifiable/unknown primary site (neither imaging nor exam nor biopsy can identify the primary). Treating physicians should agree that the primary is sufficiently identified to proceed with clinical care/treatment (e.g. in the case of imaging localization, but absence of biopsy proven pathology)
• Intercurrent medical illnesses which would impair subject tolerance to therapy or limit survival. Including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, immunodeficiency, symptomatic congestive heart failure, pulmonary dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance. Once clinically stable, as defined by the PI, they are eligible.
• Pregnant and nursing women are excluded because of the potential teratogenic effects and potential unknown effects on nursing newborns (please see above paragraph under inclusion criteria regarding WOCBP)
• Prior surgical therapy other than incisional/excisional biopsy or organ-sparing procedures such as debulking of airway-compromising tumors. Residual measurable tumor is required for enrollment on study as outlined above
• Subjects receiving other investigational agents.
• Peripheral neuropathy >grade 1
• Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy in excess of physiologic dose or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
• Has a known history of active tuberculosis (Bacillus Tuberculosis infection)
• Has hypersensitivity to cemiplimab or any other drug used in this protocol.
• Has had a prior systemic anti-cancer treatment within the last 8 weeks
• Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer or thyroid cancers, any tumors that are not likely to influence life expectancy in the subsequent 3 years without active treatment other than hormonal therapies (e.g., adjuvant after breast cancer, or low grade prostate cancer).
• Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past year (i.e., with use of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy e.g., levothyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid doses for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc. are not considered a form of systemic treatment.
• Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
• Has a history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV ½ antibodies).
• Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HbsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected). However, if eradicated subject is eligible.

• Has received a live vaccine within 28 days of planned start of study therapy.

  • Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed within 28 days prior to initiation of treatment.

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

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: De-Escalated Therapy; Surgery (TORS) or Low-dose Radiation Therapy (42 Gy)	Drug: Cemiplimab; Cemiplimab for 9 weeks +/- Carboplatin + Paclitaxel; Other Names: LIBTAYO
Experimental: Non/Minimally De-Escalated Therapy; Surgery + Post-Operative Radiation Therapy (PORT) or 60 Gy Chemo-Radiation Therapy (CRT)	Drug: Cemiplimab; Cemiplimab for 9 weeks +/- Carboplatin + Paclitaxel; Other Names: LIBTAYO

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
2-year progression free survival rate		Up to 2 years
Change in Quality of life as measured by MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI)	The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) is a 20 item quality of life instrument specifically focusing on swallowing. The total score ranges from 20 to 100 with the higher score indicating higher level of function. Each item is scored on a 5 point Likert scale (strongly disagree, disagree, no opinion, agree, strongly agree).	Up to 2 years
Change in quality of life as measured by the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ).	The SSQ consists of 17 questions, (16 visual analogue scales (VAS) and one question scored on a Likert scale (0-5). The score for each VAS question is the distance in mm from the origin (left extremity) to the patient's mark on the visual analogue scale. The total score is calculated by summing the 16 individual VAS scores and the Likert scale (0-5) multiplied by 20. Thus converting the range of possible scores for Likert question from 0-5 to 0-100, consistent with the remaining 16 questions, to yield a total score out of a possible maximum of 1700. Higher scores indicate higher symptomatic severity of oral-pharyngeal dysphagia.	Up to 2 years
Change in swallow function as measured by the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ).	Desirable swallowing function at 1 year for this study will be defined as SSQ ≤ 250 and MDADI ≥ 70	Up to 2 years
Change in swallow function as measured by the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory.	Desirable swallowing function at 1 year for this study will be defined as SSQ ≤ 250 and MDADI ≥ 70	Up to 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To determine 2-year overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort	OS will be estimated by Kaplan-Meier methodology and comparisons will be made using the log-rank test. OS is defined as the time between the date of registration and the date of death.	From the date of registration to the date of death or date of last follow-up, up to 2 years
To determine 2-year rates of locoregional and distant control for the entire cohort	Locoregional and distant control will be assessed by immune response criteria using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria 1.1	Time of registration to time of disease progression in head and neck or below clavicles for distant failure, assessed up to two years
Number of grade 3 toxicities	We will report the number of grade 3 toxicities using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).	100 days after last dose of study drug(s).
Number of grade 4 toxicities	We will report the number of grade 4 toxicities using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).	100 days after last dose of study drug(s).
Number of grade 3 Immune-related adverse events (irAE)	We will report the number of 3 Immune-related adverse events (irAE) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).	100 days after last dose of study drug(s).
Number of grade 4 Immune-related adverse events (irAE)	We will report the number of grade 4 Immune-related adverse events (irAE) using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).	100 days after last dose of study drug(s).

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of Induction Tumor/HPV	To determine the rate of induction of tumor/HPV specific immune response (HPVFEST assay) after induction therapy	Neoadjuvant therapy to local therapy, approximately 9 weeks
HPV ctDNA Clearance	This will be used to assess treatment efficacy (e.g. during cemiplimab neoadjuvant treatment +/- addition of chemotherapy), as well as a potential marker for early recurrence after definitive treatment.	Up to 18 months post locoregional therapy
To interrogate the immune micro-environment at baseline, and 3 weeks into induction therapy with cemiplimab and chemotherapy based on an on-treatment biopsy	Multicolor IF to assess changes in the immune microenvironment	neoadjuvant treatment, up to 3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
• Collaborators: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nyall R London, M.D., Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 13, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): August 3, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; cemiplimab
• Other Study ID Numbers: J20118; IRB00259330 (Other Identifier: Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No