Palifermin in Lessening Oral Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

NCT ID: NCT00360971

Last Updated: 2017-12-26

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

21 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-07-31

Study Completion Date

2009-02-28

Brief Summary

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RATIONALE: Growth factors, such as palifermin, may lessen the severity of mucositis, or mouth sores, in patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. It is not yet known whether palifermin is more effective than a placebo in lessening mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying palifermin to see how well it works compared to a placebo in lessening oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Detailed Description

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OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* Compare the efficacy of palifermin vs placebo, in terms of burden of acute mucositis (defined to be 105 days \[15 weeks\] or less from the start of treatment), in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx undergoing concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Secondary

* Compare incidence and time to onset of Grades 3 or 4 oral mucositis in patients treated with these regimens.
* Compare overall and progression-free survival and time to second primary in patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to disease stage (III vs IVA or IVB), tumor site (oral cavity or oropharynx vs hypopharynx or larynx), and radiotherapy technique used on study (intensity-modulated radiotherapy \[IMRT\] vs 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy \[3D-CRT\]). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

Mucositis, pain, and symptom burden are assessed at baseline, during radiotherapy, and post radiotherapy. Xerostomia is assessed at baseline, during radiotherapy, and several times after completion of study therapy.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed periodically for 10 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 298 patients will be accrued for this study.

Conditions

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Head and Neck Cancer Mucositis Pain Radiation Toxicity

Keywords

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mucositis pain radiation toxicity stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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Palifermin

Concurrent radiation therapy, cisplatin, and palifermin followed by neck dissection for indicated patients.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

palifermin

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Four doses of palifermin, 180ųg/kg, administered as an i.v. bolus injection over 30-60 seconds. Starting on day -3 (Friday) prior to radiation therapy / chemotherapy and then once weekly, on days 5, 12, and 19.

cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients will receive cisplatin (100 mg/m2) administered intravenously on days 1, 22, and 43 of the treatment course.

neck dissection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A neck dissection is required for patients with persistent nodal disease, any stage, if a palpable abnormality or worrisome radiographic abnormality persists in the neck 8-9 weeks after completion of therapy. A neck dissection is optional for patients with multiple positive lymph nodes or with lymph nodes exceeding 3 cm in diameter at pre-treatment (N2a, N2b, N3) who achieve a complete clinical and radiographic response in the neck. All patients will be assessed at approximately 8 weeks post-treatment with CT scan or MRI by the same technique used at baseline.

radiation therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

A radiation dose of 70 Gy with at least 66 Gy to at least 2 mucosal sites of the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa. Radiation therapy can be given with 3D conformal (3D-CRT) or with intensity modulated RT (IMRT) techniques; however, the chosen modality must be used for the entire course of treatment.

Placebo

Concurrent radiation therapy, cisplatin, and placebo followed by neck dissection for indicated patients.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients will receive cisplatin (100 mg/m2) administered intravenously on days 1, 22, and 43 of the treatment course.

placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Four doses of placebo, 180ųg/kg, administered as an i.v. bolus injection over 30-60 seconds. Starting on day -3 (Friday) prior to radiation therapy / chemotherapy and then once weekly, on days 5, 12, and 19.

neck dissection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A neck dissection is required for patients with persistent nodal disease, any stage, if a palpable abnormality or worrisome radiographic abnormality persists in the neck 8-9 weeks after completion of therapy. A neck dissection is optional for patients with multiple positive lymph nodes or with lymph nodes exceeding 3 cm in diameter at pre-treatment (N2a, N2b, N3) who achieve a complete clinical and radiographic response in the neck. All patients will be assessed at approximately 8 weeks post-treatment with CT scan or MRI by the same technique used at baseline.

radiation therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

A radiation dose of 70 Gy with at least 66 Gy to at least 2 mucosal sites of the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa. Radiation therapy can be given with 3D conformal (3D-CRT) or with intensity modulated RT (IMRT) techniques; however, the chosen modality must be used for the entire course of treatment.

Interventions

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palifermin

Four doses of palifermin, 180ųg/kg, administered as an i.v. bolus injection over 30-60 seconds. Starting on day -3 (Friday) prior to radiation therapy / chemotherapy and then once weekly, on days 5, 12, and 19.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

cisplatin

Patients will receive cisplatin (100 mg/m2) administered intravenously on days 1, 22, and 43 of the treatment course.

Intervention Type DRUG

placebo

Four doses of placebo, 180ųg/kg, administered as an i.v. bolus injection over 30-60 seconds. Starting on day -3 (Friday) prior to radiation therapy / chemotherapy and then once weekly, on days 5, 12, and 19.

Intervention Type OTHER

neck dissection

A neck dissection is required for patients with persistent nodal disease, any stage, if a palpable abnormality or worrisome radiographic abnormality persists in the neck 8-9 weeks after completion of therapy. A neck dissection is optional for patients with multiple positive lymph nodes or with lymph nodes exceeding 3 cm in diameter at pre-treatment (N2a, N2b, N3) who achieve a complete clinical and radiographic response in the neck. All patients will be assessed at approximately 8 weeks post-treatment with CT scan or MRI by the same technique used at baseline.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

radiation therapy

A radiation dose of 70 Gy with at least 66 Gy to at least 2 mucosal sites of the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa. Radiation therapy can be given with 3D conformal (3D-CRT) or with intensity modulated RT (IMRT) techniques; however, the chosen modality must be used for the entire course of treatment.

Intervention Type RADIATION

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven (from primary lesion and/or lymph nodes) diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx;
2. Patients must have at least 2 mucosal sites of the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa assessable by visual transoral inspection that will receive at least 66 Gy;

-2.1 Patients with tumors of the larynx or hypolarynx are eligible only if it is anticipated that the 2 index sites in the oral cavity/oropharynx mucosa will receive at least 66 Gy;
3. Patients must be able to be evaluated for the primary endpoint; therefore, patients must be able to eat at least soft solids and not require a feeding tube for nutrition or hydration at study entry.
4. Selected Stage III (excluding T1N1MO) or IVA-B (AJCC, 6th edition) at study entry, including no distant metastases, based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup:

* 4.1 History/physical examination, including documentation of tobacco/alcohol use and current medications (including opioids/dosing), within 8 weeks prior to registration;
* 4.2 Chest x-ray (or Chest CT scan) within 6 weeks prior to registration;
* 4.3 MRI or CT scan with contrast of tumor site within 6 weeks prior to registration;
* 4.4 Assessment of mucositis and xerostomia within 2 weeks prior to registration;
5. Zubrod Performance Status 0-1;
6. Age \> 18;
7. Adequate bone marrow function, defined as follows:

* 7.1 Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1,800 cells/mm3 based upon CBC/differential obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration on study
* 7.2 Platelets \> 100,000 cells/mm3 based upon CBC/differential obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration on study
* 7.3 Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dl based upon CBC/differential obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration on study (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb \> 8.0 g/dl is acceptable.)
8. Adequate hepatic function with bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dl, AST or ALT \< 2 x ULN within 2 weeks prior to registration;
9. Adequate renal function with serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dl and creatinine clearance (CC) ≥ 50 ml/min within 2 weeks prior to registration determined by 24-hour collection or estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula:

CCr male = \[(140 - age) x (wt in kg)\]/\[(Serum Cr mg/dl) x (72)\] CCr female = 0.85 x (CrCl male)
10. Normal serum calcium or normal corrected serum calcium within 2 weeks prior to registration; formula for corrected calcium if albumin valued is below normal range: Corrected calcium (mg/dl) = (4 - \[patient's albumin (g/dl)\] x 0.8) + patient's measured calcium (mg/dl);
11. Serum pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential within 2 weeks prior to registration;
12. Women of childbearing potential and male participants must practice adequate contraception.
13. Patient agrees to refrain from using all products listed in Section 9.2, "Non-permitted Supportive Therapy";
14. Patient must sign study specific informed consent prior to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with a history of prior head and neck squamous cancer are ineligible;
2. Stage IVC (AJCC, 6th edition) \[Any T, Any N, M1\] or distant metastases at protocol study entry; T1N1M0 patients are excluded.
3. Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years;
4. Prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable. See Sections 1 and 3.
5. Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields;
6. Initial surgical treatment, excluding diagnostic biopsy of the primary site or nodal sampling of neck disease; radical or modified neck dissection is not permitted.
7. Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

* 7.1 Symptomatic and/or uncontrolled cardiac disease, New York Heart Association Classification III or IV (see Appendix II);
* 7.2 Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months;
* 7.3 Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration;
* 7.4 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration.
* 7.5 Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects;
* 7.6 Patients known to be sero-positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV);
* 7.7 Patients known to be sero-positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) based upon current CDC definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol. The need to exclude patients with HIV or AIDS from this protocol is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive.
* 7.8 A history of pancreatitis.
8. Collagen vascular disease, such as scleroderma, as this disease is thought to predispose patients to increased risk for radiation-associated toxicities;
9. Previous treatment with palifermin or other keratinocyte growth factors, such as velafermin or repifermin;
10. Prior allergic reaction or known sensitivity to any of the agents administered during dosing, including E. coli-derived products, such as Nutropin®, Neupogen®, Humulin®, Roferon®; Neumega®, Neulasta®), IntronA®, Betaseron®;
11. Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception; this exclusion is necessary because the treatment involved in this study may be significantly teratogenic.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

NETWORK

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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David I. Rosenthal, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Locations

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Mayo Clinic Scottsdale

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Auburn Radiation Oncology

Auburn, California, United States

Site Status

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center - Burbank

Burbank, California, United States

Site Status

Radiation Oncology Centers - Cameron Park

Cameron Park, California, United States

Site Status

Mercy Cancer Center at Mercy San Juan Medical Center

Carmichael, California, United States

Site Status

Enloe Cancer Center at Enloe Medical Center

Chico, California, United States

Site Status

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Duarte, California, United States

Site Status

USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

Radiation Oncology Center - Roseville

Roseville, California, United States

Site Status

Radiological Associates of Sacramento Medical Group, Incorporated

Sacramento, California, United States

Site Status

Mercy General Hospital

Sacramento, California, United States

Site Status

Torrance Memorial Medical Center

Torrance, California, United States

Site Status

Solano Radiation Oncology Center

Vacaville, California, United States

Site Status

CCOP - Christiana Care Health Services

Newark, Delaware, United States

Site Status

Saint John's Cancer Center at Saint John's Medical Center

Anderson, Indiana, United States

Site Status

St. Agnes Hospital Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Dickinson County Healthcare System

Iron Mountain, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Borgess Medical Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Site Status

West Michigan Cancer Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Bronson Methodist Hospital

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Site Status

William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak Campus

Royal Oak, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

CentraCare Clinic - River Campus

Saint Cloud, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Regional Cancer Center at Singing River Hospital

Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States

Site Status

Great Falls Clinic - Main Facility

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Site Status

Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper University Hospital - Camden

Camden, New Jersey, United States

Site Status

Franklin & Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Center at South Jersey Healthcare

Vineland, New Jersey, United States

Site Status

Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper - Voorhees

Voorhees Township, New Jersey, United States

Site Status

Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center at ECU Medical School

Greenville, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

McDowell Cancer Center at Akron General Medical Center

Akron, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Summa Center for Cancer Care at Akron City Hospital

Akron, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Cancer Research UK Medical Oncology Unit at Churchill Hospital & Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine - Oxford

Salem, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Cancer Treatment Center

Wooster, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Oklahoma University Cancer Institute

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Site Status

Sharon Regional Cancer Care Center- Hermitage

Hermitage, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Intercommunity Cancer Center

Monroeville, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Alle-Kiski Medical Center

Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Allegheny Cancer Center at Allegheny General Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Somerset Oncology Center

Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Mount Nittany Medical Center

State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Johnson City Medical Center Hospital

Johnson City, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at University of Texas

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status

Schiffler Cancer Center at Wheeling Hospital

Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

Site Status

St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center

Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Bay Area Cancer Care Center at Bay Area Medical Center

Marinette, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Cross Cancer Institute at University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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United States Canada

Other Identifiers

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CDR0000491088

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

RTOG-0435

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id