A Study of Tislelizumab in Combination With Investigational Agents in Participants With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

August 7, 2026 updated by: BeiGene

A Randomized, Phase 2, Open-Label, Multi-Arm Study of Tislelizumab in Combination With Investigational Agents as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab and tislelizumab in combination with investigational agent(s) in first-line recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study will test whether tislelizumab alone and combined with other investigational agents can be used to improve treatment outcomes in participants with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The main goals of the study are to determine how many participants may no longer have evidence of cancer or have some improvement in the signs and symptoms of cancer after treatment and to determine what adverse events, or side effects, participants might experience.

Tislelizumab is used to block the programmed cell death protein-1 pathway so that immune system cells (T-cells) can better protect the body from infection and find tumor cells to attack. Tislelizumab may be used in combination with other therapies as a promising approach with potential therapeutic benefits to treat participants with cancer. The study will enroll approximately 160 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned (by chance, similar to flipping a coin) to one of the various treatment groups. Tislelizumab and investigational agents will be administered as an infusion through a vein at regularly scheduled intervals.

The study will take place at multiple centers worldwide. Treatments will continue until participants experience no benefits, too many side effects, or withdraw consent.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

160

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • New South Wales
      • Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia, 2747
        • Nepean Hospital
      • St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia, 2065
        • North Shore Private Hospital
    • Queensland
      • Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 4215
        • Gold Coast Private Hospital
      • Greenslopes, Queensland, Australia, 4120
        • Greenslopes Private Hospital
    • South Australia
      • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5000
        • Cancer Research South Australia
    • Victoria
      • Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, 3677
        • Northeast Health Wangaratta
    • Western Australia
      • Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia, 6150
        • St John of God, Murdoch
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4E6
        • British Columbia Cancer Agency the Vancouver Centre
    • Ontario
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L6
        • The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre
    • Anhui
      • Hefei, Anhui, China, 230088
        • Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital Aka West Branch of Anhui Province Hospital
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100142
        • Beijing Cancer Hospital
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100010
        • Beijing Tongren Hospital, CMU
    • Chongqing Municipality
      • Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China, 630014
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
    • Fujian
      • Fuzhou, Fujian, China, 350014
        • Fujian Cancer Hospital
      • Xiamen, Fujian, China, 361003
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
    • Guangdong
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510060
        • Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center
    • Guangxi
      • Nanning, Guangxi, China, 530021
        • The Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University
    • Hubei
      • Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430030
        • Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    • Hunan
      • Changsha, Hunan, China, 410013
        • Hunan Cancer Hospital
      • Changsha, Hunan, China, 410008
        • Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
      • Changsha, Hunan, China, 410011
        • The second Xiangya hospital of central south university
    • Jiangsu
      • Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, 215006
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
    • Jiangxi
      • Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, 330006
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Branch Donghu
    • Jilin
      • Changchun, Jilin, China, 130021
        • The First hospital of Jilin University
    • Shandong
      • Jinan, Shandong, China, 250117
        • Shandong Cancer Hospital
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200120
        • Shanghai East Hospital
    • Sichuan
      • Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041
        • West China Hospital, Sichuan University
      • Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041
        • Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute
    • Tianjin Municipality
      • Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China, 300060
        • Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310022
        • Zhejiang Cancer Hospital
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310009
        • The Second Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
      • Nice, France, 06100
        • Centre Antoine Lacassagne
      • Paris, France, 75005
        • Institut Curie Paris
      • SaintHerblain, France, 44805
        • Ico Site Rene Gauducheau
      • Villejuif, France, 94805
        • Institut Gustave Roussy
      • Tbilisi, Georgia, 0112
        • ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine LLC
      • Milan, Italy, 20133
        • Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
      • Milan, Italy, 20141
        • Istituto Europeo di Oncologia
      • Pavia, Italy, 27100
        • Scientific Institute of Pavia Maugeri
      • Rozzano, Italy, 20089
        • Istituto Clinico Humanitas
      • Singapore, Singapore, 168583
        • National Cancer Centre Singapore
    • Daegu Gwang'yeogsi
      • Dalseogu, Daegu Gwang'yeogsi, South Korea, 42601
        • Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital
    • Gyeonggi-do
      • Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 10408
        • National Cancer Center
      • Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 13620
        • Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
    • Seoul Teugbyeolsi
      • Seoul, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, South Korea, 03080
        • Seoul National University Hospital
      • Seoul, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, South Korea, 05505
        • Asan Medical Center
      • Seoul, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, South Korea, 06351
        • Samsung Medical Center
      • Seoul, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, South Korea, 03722
        • Severance Hospital Yonsei University Health System
      • Barcelona, Spain, 08908
        • Ico Lhospitalet Hospital Duran I Reynals
      • Madrid, Spain, 28040
        • Hospital Clinico San Carlos
      • Seville, Spain, 41013
        • Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio
      • Zaragoza, Spain, 50009
        • Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet
      • Changhua, Taiwan, 50006
        • Changhua Christian Hospital
      • Taichung, Taiwan, 40447
        • China Medical University Hospital
      • Tainan, Taiwan, 704
        • National Cheng Kung University Hospital
      • Taipei, Taiwan, 11217
        • Taipei Veterans General Hospital
      • Bangkok, Thailand, 10700
        • Siriraj Hospital
      • Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
        • Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University
      • Hat Yai, Thailand, 90110
        • Songklanagarind Hospital (Prince of Songkhla University)
      • Muang, Thailand, 40002
        • Srinagarind Hospital (Khon Kaen University)
      • Edirne, Turkey (Türkiye), 22030
        • Tr Trakya University Health Research and Application Center (Hospital)
      • Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye), 35575
        • Medical Park Izmir Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom, SW3 6JJ
        • Royal Marsden Hospital
      • Sutton, United Kingdom, SM2 5PT
        • Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90067
        • Valkyrie Clinical Trials
      • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
        • Stanford Medicine
    • Colorado
      • Lone Tree, Colorado, United States, 80124
        • Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Llp(Us Oncology Research)
    • Florida
      • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32827
        • Florida Cancer Specialist Research Institute Lake Nona
      • Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 32308
        • Florida Cancer Specialist Research Institute Panhandle
    • Kentucky
      • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40536
        • University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
    • Virginia
      • Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, 24060
        • Oncology and Hematology Associates of Southwest Virginia, Inc (Us Oncology Research)
    • Washington
      • Spokane Valley, Washington, United States, 99216
        • Cancer Care Northwest
      • Vancouver, Washington, United States, 98684
        • Northwest Cancer Specialist, Pc(Us Oncology Research)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants with histologically or cytologically confirmed R/M HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapies

    1. The eligible primary tumor locations are oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx
    2. Participants should not have had prior systemic therapy administered in the R/M setting; systemic therapy which was completed prior to randomization/enrollment if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally or locoregionally advanced disease is allowed
  • Participants must have positive programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥ 1)
  • Have at least 1 measurable lesion as defined per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 or 1
  • Adequate hematologic and organ function as indicated by specific laboratory values within 7 days of first dose of study drug
  • Willing to use a highly effective method of birth control for the duration of the study and for ≥ 120 days after the last dose of study drug(s)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the nasopharynx (any histology), squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary, squamous cell carcinoma that originated from the skin and salivary gland primary tumor or non-squamous histologies (eg, mucosal melanoma)
  • Prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1), anti-PD-L1, anti-programmed cell death ligand-2 (PD-L2), T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell costimulation or immune checkpoint pathways
  • Any active malignancy ≤ 2 years before randomization/enrollment except for the specific cancer under investigation in this study, those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death, and any locally recurring cancer that has been treated curatively (eg, resected basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, localized prostate cancer, and carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast)
  • History of interstitial lung disease, noninfectious pneumonitis, or uncontrolled lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, and acute lung diseases
  • A history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies or has experienced a severe immune-mediated adverse event (imAE), an imAE that led to treatment discontinuation, or a cardiac or ocular imAE of any grade with prior immunotherapy

Note: Other inclusion and exclusion criteria may apply

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Tislelizumab
Participants received tislelizumab 200 milligrams (mg) by intravenous infusion (IV) on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment was administered for up to 2 years until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of informed consent, or another discontinuation criterion was met, whichever occurred first.
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • BGB-A317
Experimental: Tislelizumab + Surzebiclimab
Participants received tislelizumab 200 mg by intravenous infusion and surzebiclimab 600 mg by intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment was administered for up to 2 years until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of informed consent, or another discontinuation criterion was met, whichever occurred first.
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • BGB-A317
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • Surzebiclimab
Experimental: Tislelizumab + Alcestobart
Participants received tislelizumab 200 mg by intravenous infusion and alcestobart 600 mg by intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment was administered for up to 2 years until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of informed consent, or another discontinuation criterion was met, whichever occurred first.
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • BGB-A317
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • Alcestobart
Experimental: Tislelizumab + Surzebiclimab + Alcestobart
Participants received tislelizumab 200 mg by intravenous infusion, surzebiclimab 600 mg by intravenous infusion, and alcestobart 600 mg by intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment was administered for up to 2 years until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of informed consent, or another discontinuation criterion was met, whichever occurred first.
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • BGB-A317
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • Surzebiclimab
Administered intravenously
Other Names:
  • Alcestobart

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months

ORR is defined as percentage of participants who have a confirmed complete response (CR) or a confirmed partial response (PR) as assessed by the investigators using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1.

Complete response is defined as disappearance of all target lesions, disappearance of all nontarget lesions and normalization of tumor marker level, and no new lesions.

Partial response is defined as at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, no unequivocal progression of non-target lesions, and no new lesions.

Up to 21.2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression-free Survival (PFS)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months

PFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of the first documentation of progressive disease (PD) assessed by the investigators per RECIST v1.1 or death, whichever occurred first.

PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, unequivocal progression of existing non-target lesions, or new lesions.

Up to 21.2 months
Duration of Response (DOR)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months
DOR is defined as the time from the first determination of a confirmed response per RECIST v1.1 until the first documentation of progression or death, whichever occurred first.
Up to 21.2 months
Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months

CBR is defined as the percentage of participants with a best overall response of a confirmed CR, a confirmed PR, or durable stable disease (SD) (SD duration ≥ 24 weeks).

SD is defined as neither sufficient decrease in size of target lesions to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD, no progressive disease in nontarget lesions, and no new lesions.

Up to 21.2 months
Disease Control Rate (DCR)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months
DCR is defined as the percentage of participants with a best overall response of a confirmed CR, a confirmed PR, or SD.
Up to 21.2 months
Number of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: From first dose to 30 days after last dose, maximum treatment duration was 19.3 months.

Number of participants with adverse events (AEs), including laboratory values, vital signs, physical examinations, and electrocardiogram findings. AEs were graded on a scale of Grade 1 to Grade 5, with Grade 1 being least severe and Grade 5 being most severe.

An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a study drug, whether considered related to study drug or not. A serious adverse event (SAE) is any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose resulted in death, was life-threatening, required hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, resulted in disability/incapacity, was a congenital anomaly/birth defect, or was considered a significant medical AE by the investigator based on medical judgement.

From first dose to 30 days after last dose, maximum treatment duration was 19.3 months.
Overall Survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to 21.2 months
OS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of death due to any cause.
Up to 21.2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Director: Study Director, BeiGene

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 17, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

July 23, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 9, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

June 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 7, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BGB-HNSCC-201
  • 2023 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract: GRAMMY Museum Foundation)
  • CTR20232123 (Other Identifier: ChinaDrugTrials)
  • 2023-503418-63-00 (Ctis)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

BeiGene shares data on completed studies responsibly and provides qualified scientific and medical researchers access to data and supporting documentation for clinical trials in dossiers for medicines and indications after submission and approval in the United States, China, and Europe. Clinical trials supporting subsequent local approvals, new indications, or combination products are eligible for sharing once corresponding regulatory approvals are achieved.

BeiGene shares data only when permitted by applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, when it is feasible to do so without compromising the privacy of study participants, and other considerations.

Qualified researchers with appropriate competencies who are engaged in novel scientific research may submit a request for participant-level data with a research proposal for BeiGene review. Research teams must include a biostatistician and sign a Data Sharing Agreement prior to receiving access to clinical trial data.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

See plan description

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

See plan description

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Subscribe