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Palbociclib + Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer

Phase 2
Waitlist Available
Led By Douglas R Adkins, M.D.
Research Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
- ECOG performance status of 2
-- Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (IULN) and creatinine clearance ≥ 75 mL/min
Must not have
Presence of distant metastatic disease.
- Drugs that are proton pump inhibitors
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up through 18 months after completion of step 2
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing a new cancer treatment that involves taking a drug called palbociclib before and after chemoradiation, to see if it improves outcomes for people with HPV-unrelated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Who is the study for?
Adults with stage III/IV HPV-unrelated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, who have not received prior systemic therapy for it. They must have measurable disease, normal bone marrow function, adequate organ function, and agree to use contraception. Excluded are those with distant metastasis, certain drug interactions or allergies, pregnant/breastfeeding women, HIV-positive on antiretroviral therapy, other recent malignancies (except some skin/prostate/thyroid/cervical cancers), or uncontrolled illnesses.
What is being tested?
The trial tests the effectiveness of palbociclib monotherapy before and after chemoradiation therapy in patients with specific head and neck cancer. Chemoradiation involves cisplatin plus IMRT or cetuximab plus IMRT based on patient characteristics. The study aims to see how well patients respond to this treatment sequence.
What are the potential side effects?
Palbociclib may cause low blood counts leading to increased infection risk or bleeding problems; fatigue; nausea; hair thinning; rash. Cisplatin can lead to kidney damage, hearing loss, nerve issues while cetuximab might cause an acne-like rash or infusion reactions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I can walk and take care of myself, but I cannot do any work.
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My kidney function tests are within normal limits.
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My kidney function, measured by creatinine clearance, is between 30-75 mL/min.
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My bone marrow is functioning normally.
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I am 18 years old or older.
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I am fully active or can carry out light work.
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My cancer is at stage III, IVA, or IVB.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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My cancer has spread to distant parts of my body.
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I am not taking any proton pump inhibitors.
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I do not have any serious illnesses that are not under control.
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I have skin, sinus, salivary gland, throat cancer, or cancer in neck nodes with an unknown primary source.
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I am not taking any strong medication that affects liver enzymes.
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I am not taking medication that affects my heart's rhythm.
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I am HIV-positive and on antiretroviral therapy.
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My throat cancer is HPV-related.
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I haven't had any treatments in the week before starting the study's treatment.
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I have received systemic therapy for my current head and neck cancer diagnosis.
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I have a history of cirrhosis.
Select...
I am allergic to medications similar to palbociclib, cisplatin, or cetuximab.
Select...
I have had a kidney or liver transplant.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~through 18 months after completion of step 2
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and through 18 months after completion of step 2 for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Tumor Response Rate of Newly Diagnosed p16INK4a Negative, HPV-unrelated HNSCC to Neoadjuvant Palbociclib Monotherapy
Secondary study objectives
Change in Genomic Alterations in Tumor Tissue
Combined Local-regional Disease Relapse Risk and Distant Metastases Risk Following Completion of CRT
Median Overall Survival (OS) of Patients Treated With the Three Step Sequence of Palbociclib Monotherapy, CRT, and Adjuvant Palbociclib Monotherapy
+3 more

Side effects data

From 2021 Phase 3 trial • 693 Patients • NCT02028507
63%
Neutrophil count decreased
51%
Fatigue
37%
Hypertension
25%
Nausea
23%
Weight loss
19%
Back pain
17%
Diarrhea
17%
Headache
17%
Mucositis
16%
Weight gain
15%
Vomiting
13%
Hypothermia
13%
Arthralgia
12%
Anorexia
12%
Alopecia
11%
Anemia
11%
Cough
11%
Upper respiratory infection
10%
Obesity
10%
Flu like symptoms
9%
Pain in extremity
9%
Constipation
8%
Fever
7%
Bone pain
7%
Dizziness
7%
Dyspepsia
7%
Hot flashes
7%
Pruritus
5%
Pain
5%
Dysgeusia
3%
Abdominal pain
3%
Respiratory infection
3%
Nail disorder
1%
Spinal cord compression
1%
Heart failure
1%
Pleural effusion
1%
Ascites
1%
Breast infection
1%
Dyspnea
1%
Gallbladder infection
1%
Renal failure
1%
Dislocation of hip
1%
Bronchial infection
1%
Urinary tract infection
1%
Thromboembolic event
1%
Osteonecrosis of jaw
1%
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome
1%
Cholecystitis acute
1%
Gastrointestinal infection
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Cohort 2: Palbociclib Plus Fulvestrant
Cohort 1 and 2: Capecitabine
Cohort 1: Palbociclib Plus Exemestane

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Cohort 2: 1: palbociclib, 2: Cetuximab & IMRT, 3: palbociclibExperimental Treatment5 Interventions
* Step 1: Neoadjuvant palbociclib monotherapy (125 mg/day, Days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle for two cycles) * Step 2: Cetuximab given one week before RT and then weekly with accelerated IMRT 70 Gy to be administered over 6 weeks * Step 3: Adjuvant palbociclib 125 mg/day, days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle for six cycles. Adjuvant palbociclib will begin 16 to 22 weeks following completion of cetuximab \& IMRT
Group II: Cohort 1: 1: palbociclib, 2: Cisplatin & IMRT, 3: palbociclibExperimental Treatment5 Interventions
* Step 1: Neoadjuvant palbociclib monotherapy (125 mg/day, Days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle for two cycles) * Step 2: Cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 given on Days 1 and 22 with accelerated IMRT 70 Gy to be administered over 6 weeks * Step 3: Adjuvant palbociclib 125 mg/day, days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle for six cycles. Adjuvant palbociclib will begin 16 to 22 weeks following completion of cisplatin \& IMRT
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Palbociclib
2017
Completed Phase 3
~3790
Peripheral blood draw
2017
Completed Phase 2
~130
Cisplatin
2013
Completed Phase 3
~3120
Cetuximab
2011
Completed Phase 3
~2480
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
2010
Completed Phase 3
~2140
Tumor biopsy
2014
Completed Phase 2
~280

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Washington University School of MedicineLead Sponsor
1,991 Previous Clinical Trials
2,295,834 Total Patients Enrolled
PfizerIndustry Sponsor
4,661 Previous Clinical Trials
17,877,970 Total Patients Enrolled
Douglas R Adkins, M.D.Principal InvestigatorWashington University School of Medicine
6 Previous Clinical Trials
308 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Palbociclib Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03389477 — Phase 2
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Research Study Groups: Cohort 1: 1: palbociclib, 2: Cisplatin & IMRT, 3: palbociclib, Cohort 2: 1: palbociclib, 2: Cetuximab & IMRT, 3: palbociclib
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial 2023: Palbociclib Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03389477 — Phase 2
Palbociclib 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03389477 — Phase 2
~3 spots leftby Nov 2025