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Monoclonal Antibodies

Cetuximab for Skin Cancer

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Janice Mehnert
Research Sponsored by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 years
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial studies how well cetuximab works in patients with aggressive skin cancer. Cetuximab targets and blocks a protein on cancer cells, stopping them from growing. The goal is to shrink the tumor and make surgery easier.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for patients with aggressive, locally advanced skin cancer that hasn't spread to distant organs. Participants must be relatively fit (ECOG <=2), not pregnant, and willing to consent to treatment and biopsies. They should have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks and cannot join if they have serious health issues, certain mineral imbalances, or allergies to cetuximab.
What is being tested?
The study tests the effects of cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting cancer cells when given before surgery. The goal is to see if it can shrink tumors effectively enough to reduce the amount of normal tissue removed during surgery.
What are the potential side effects?
Cetuximab may cause side effects such as allergic reactions, skin rash, low magnesium levels in blood, difficulty breathing due to lung inflammation, abdominal pain from digestive tract irritation and fatigue.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Response Rate of Cetuximab by RECIST Criteria
Secondary study objectives
Downstream Activation of Signaling Pathways Without a Known Driver, Including the EGFRpathway
Overall Survival
Potential Markers of Response and/or Resistance to Cetuximab Therapy
+1 more

Side effects data

From 2012 Phase 3 trial • 3397 Patients • NCT00079274
18%
Rash desquamating
18%
Nausea
16%
Rash acneiform
16%
Diarrhea
9%
Neutrophil count decreased
9%
Vomiting
7%
Abdominal pain
5%
Mucositis oral
5%
Dyspnea
5%
Pharyngeal examination abnormal
5%
Vascular access complication
5%
Hand-and-foot syndrome
5%
Pharyngeal mucositis
5%
Fatigue
5%
Anorexia
5%
Serum potassium decreased
5%
Serum magnesium decreased
5%
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
5%
Cough
2%
Hepatobiliary disease
2%
Thrombosis
2%
Gastrointestinal disorder
2%
Alanine aminotransferase increased
2%
Dehydration
2%
Ileus
2%
Blood glucose increased
2%
Ear, nose and throat examination abnormal
2%
Serum magnesium increased
2%
Depression
2%
Weight loss
2%
Atrial fibrillation
2%
Cardiac pain
2%
Ischemia cerebrovascular
2%
Hypersensitivity
2%
Catheter related infection
2%
Pneumonia
2%
Skin infection
2%
Sepsis
2%
Febrile neutropenia
2%
Arrhythmia supraventricular
2%
Device related infection
2%
Serum phosphate decreased
2%
Pulmonary fibrosis
2%
Hypotension
2%
Thrombotic microangiopathy
2%
Atrial flutter
2%
Serum calcium decreased
2%
Anxiety
2%
Pneumonitis
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Arm F (Combination Chemotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody)
Arm C (Combination Chemotherapy)
Arm E (Combination Chemotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody)
Arm D (Combination Chemotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody)
Arm G (Locally Directed Therapy)
Arm B (Combination Chemotherapy)
Arm A (Combination Chemotherapy)

Awards & Highlights

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

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Treatment (cetuximab)Experimental Treatment2 Interventions
Patients receive cetuximab IV over 60-120 minutes once weekly for 8 weeks.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
cetuximab
2000
Completed Phase 3
~7290

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
The most common treatments for Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) include targeted therapies like cetuximab, which is a monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cetuximab binds to EGFR on cancer cells, blocking growth signals and potentially reducing tumor size. It also enhances the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). These mechanisms are important for SCC patients as they offer a targeted approach to control aggressive tumor growth and improve surgical outcomes.
Cetuximab-induced natural killer cell cytotoxicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines: investigation of the role of cetuximab sensitivity and HPV status.Novel immune-modulating drugs for advanced head and neck cancer.Immunotherapy of head and neck cancer: current and future considerations.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New JerseyOTHER
70 Previous Clinical Trials
18,742 Total Patients Enrolled
Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyLead Sponsor
455 Previous Clinical Trials
69,936 Total Patients Enrolled
National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,957 Previous Clinical Trials
41,112,065 Total Patients Enrolled
Janice MehnertPrincipal InvestigatorRutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
2 Previous Clinical Trials
320 Total Patients Enrolled
Adam Berger, MDPrincipal InvestigatorRutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
2 Previous Clinical Trials
2,010 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Cetuximab (Monoclonal Antibodies) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT02324608 — N/A
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Research Study Groups: Treatment (cetuximab)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial 2023: Cetuximab Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT02324608 — N/A
Cetuximab (Monoclonal Antibodies) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT02324608 — N/A
~1 spots leftby Dec 2025