Validation of Molecular Diagnostic Assays to Detect Cancer Biomarkers in Blood and Primary Tumor in HNSCC/NSCLC/Melanoma

NCT ID: NCT04490564

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 135 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-06-25
• Study Completion Date: 2022-09-07

Brief Summary

Conventional biopsy and surgical tumor resection are invasive procedures that capture only one instance of the progression of the tumor. However, the genome of tumor is not static, but it is constantly altered during treatment.

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach based on the extraction of information through peripheral blood analysis. It makes it possible to characterize the development of a solid tumor in real time, through detailed molecular analysis of circulating genetic material in peripheral blood.

Detailed Description

Conventional biopsy and surgical tumor resection are invasive procedures that capture only one instance of the progression of the tumor. However, the genome of tumor is not static, but it is constantly altered during treatment.

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach based on the extraction of information through peripheral blood analysis. It makes it possible to characterize the development of a solid tumor in real time, through detailed molecular analysis of circulating genetic material in peripheral blood.

Study procedure:

1. Initial Visit (V0-Baseline): For the purposes of the study the following information will be collected: the demographics, medical and social history, the characteristics of the disease (stage, molecular characterization e.t.c) and the treatment regimen that is followed. As part of the visit, 20 mL of peripheral blood will be drawn prior to their treatment according to physician's suggestion as per common clinical practice. Blood samples will be then sent to ACTC laboratory for plasma/CTC isolation, DNA and RNA extraction and subsequent test for biomarkers. Primary tumor tissue samples will be also collected.

2. Follow-up visit (V1): All patients will provide a 10 mL peripheral blood sample during their planned visit at the end of a series of immunotherapy cycles as per clinical practice and physician's judgment. More specifically:

For HNSCC/NSCLC: at the end of four (4) treatment cycles with nivolumab (2 months) or at the end of three (3) treatment cycles with pembrolizumab (2 months) or on disease progress (PD) For melanoma: at 6 months after treatment initiation (antiPD-1) Blood samples will be then sent to laboratory for plasma/CTC isolation, DNA and RNA extraction and subsequent test for biomarkers. Clinical response (CR, PR, SD, PD) will be also documented.

3. Follow-up visit (V2): All patients will provide a 10 mL peripheral blood sample on progress of the disease or at the end of the observation period, as diagnosed during their planned visit as per clinical practice and physician's judgment. Blood samples will be then sent to laboratory

Conditions

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Non Small Cell Lung Cancer; Melanoma

Keywords

Liquid biopsy; CTC; PD-L1

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

HNSCC, NSCLC, melanoma Patients

The study population are subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab or ii) metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab or iii) metastatic melanoma, who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, embrolizumab. The selected inclusion/exclusion criteria have been set to include in the performance study appropriate population of interest, as broad as possible, but to exclude these subjects that have another current malignancy or any history of recent malignancy within 3 years.

PD-L1 Kit

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples

Healthy volunteers

In case of healhty volunteers, only peripheral blood samples will be collected.

PD-L1 Kit

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples

Interventions

PD-L1 Kit

Clinical performance of PD-L1 kit in CTCs of peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male or female aged ≥ 18 years of age.

2. Patients with a diagnosis of

1. recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab OR

2. metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), who are going to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab,OR

3. metastatic melanoma, who are going to receive to receive PD-1 inhibitor, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab.

3. Available tumor tissue sample for immunohistochemical and molecular analysis.

4. Life expectancy ≥ 4 months.

5. Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Male or female younger than 18 years old.

2. History of another malignancy within 3 years or current 2nd primary malignancy.

3. Patients that have not signed the informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Athens

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Pharmassist Ltd

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

University General Hospital of Alexandroupoli

Alexandroupoli, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens

Athens, Attica, Greece

Aretaieio University Hospital of Athens

Athens, Attica, Greece

University General Hospital of Athens Attikon

Athens, Attica, Greece

Metropolital Hospital

Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece

Bioclinic

Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Countries

Greece

Other Identifiers

CBS-PD-L1a

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id