Lymphocyte-Sparing And Radio-Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Carcinoma

NCT ID: NCT06706401

Last Updated: 2025-11-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

460 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-20

Study Completion Date

2029-01-31

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ATRA (Vesanoid) and the effect of tailored radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx.

Detailed Description

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Following validation of eligibility criteria, patients will be randomised (1:1:1:1) to receive:

* Arm A: Standard radiotherapy then follow-up
* Arm B: Tailored radiotherapy and ATRA (Vesanoid)
* Arm C: Standard radiotherapy and ATRA (Vesanoid)
* Arm D: Tailored radiotherapy then follow-up

This randomised phase III clinical trial will provide the clinical proof-of-concept that unilateral irradiation for lateralized tumors and the addition of ATRA (Vesanoid) to radiotherapy in HNSCC prevents severe lymphopenia and immunosenescence and therefore, may foster a radiation-induced anticancer immune response sufficient to increase event-free survival at 2 years.

Conditions

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Oropharynx Cancer Larynx Cancer Hypopharynx Cancer Primary Head and Neck Tumor

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

This trial is a 2\*2 factorial design, multicentric, randomised, Phase III study
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Standard radiotherapy

Patient will receive 6 to 8 weeks of standard (chemo)radiotherapy then will be followed until document progression disease, death, withdrawal of consent or end of trial (whichever occurs first).

In addition of radiotherapy, patient will receive cisplatin or cetuximab (standard of care treatments).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard radiotherapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Cisplatin is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant chemotherapy is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Chemotherapy will include one of the two cisplatin regimens specified in this protocol at the discretion of the participating centers. The centers must however treat all their recruited patients with one of the two regimens chosen before site activation. Chemotherapy should start the first day of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be infused before radiation therapy delivery.

The 2 options are:

• Cisplatin 100 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 22 and 43 (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

or

• Cisplatin 40 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35, 42 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

Cetuximab

Intervention Type DRUG

Cetuximab is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant Cetuximab is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Cetuximab therapy will be started with an intravenous loading dose of 400 mg/m2 one week before start of RT followed by six (radiotherapy over 6 weeks) or seven (radiotherapy over 7 weeks) weekly doses of 250 mg/m2.

Tailored radiotherapy and ATRA (Vesanoid)

ATRA will be administered per os 1 week before the start of (chemo)radiotherapy (daily administration for 3 days). Then, patient will receive 6 to 8 weeks of tailored (chemo)radiotherapy. In addition of radiotherapy, patient will receive cisplatin or cetuximab (standard of care treatments). Subsequently, ATRA will be administered per os for 3 days every 3 weeks for a total of 4 courses starting 2 to 3 weeks after the end of (chemo)radiotherapy. Finally, the patient will be followed until document progression disease, death, withdrawal of consent or end of trial (whichever occurs first).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vesanoid

Intervention Type DRUG

Before (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day, 1 week before radiotherapy. Post (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles post (chemo)radiotherapy

Tailored radiotherapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 weeks (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Cisplatin is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant chemotherapy is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Chemotherapy will include one of the two cisplatin regimens specified in this protocol at the discretion of the participating centers. The centers must however treat all their recruited patients with one of the two regimens chosen before site activation. Chemotherapy should start the first day of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be infused before radiation therapy delivery.

The 2 options are:

• Cisplatin 100 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 22 and 43 (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

or

• Cisplatin 40 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35, 42 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

Cetuximab

Intervention Type DRUG

Cetuximab is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant Cetuximab is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Cetuximab therapy will be started with an intravenous loading dose of 400 mg/m2 one week before start of RT followed by six (radiotherapy over 6 weeks) or seven (radiotherapy over 7 weeks) weekly doses of 250 mg/m2.

Standard radiotherapy and ATRA (Vesanoid)

ATRA will be administered per os 1 week before the start of (chemo)radiotherapy (daily administration for 3 days). In addition of radiotherapy, patient will receive cisplatin or cetuximab (standard of care treatments).Then, patient will receive 6 to 8 weeks of standard (chemo)radiotherapy. Subsequently, ATRA will be administered per os for 3 days every 3 weeks for a total of 4 courses starting 2 to 3 weeks after the end of (chemo)radiotherapy. Finally, the patient will be followed until document progression disease, death, withdrawal of consent or end of trial (whichever occurs first).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vesanoid

Intervention Type DRUG

Before (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day, 1 week before radiotherapy. Post (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles post (chemo)radiotherapy

Standard radiotherapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Cisplatin is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant chemotherapy is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Chemotherapy will include one of the two cisplatin regimens specified in this protocol at the discretion of the participating centers. The centers must however treat all their recruited patients with one of the two regimens chosen before site activation. Chemotherapy should start the first day of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be infused before radiation therapy delivery.

The 2 options are:

• Cisplatin 100 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 22 and 43 (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

or

• Cisplatin 40 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35, 42 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

Cetuximab

Intervention Type DRUG

Cetuximab is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant Cetuximab is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Cetuximab therapy will be started with an intravenous loading dose of 400 mg/m2 one week before start of RT followed by six (radiotherapy over 6 weeks) or seven (radiotherapy over 7 weeks) weekly doses of 250 mg/m2.

Tailored radiotherapy

Patient will receive 6 to 8 weeks of tailored (chemo)radiotherapy then will be followed until document progression disease, death, withdrawal of consent or end of trial (whichever occurs first).

In addition of radiotherapy, patient will receive cisplatin or cetuximab (standard of care treatments).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Tailored radiotherapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 weeks (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Cisplatin is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant chemotherapy is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Chemotherapy will include one of the two cisplatin regimens specified in this protocol at the discretion of the participating centers. The centers must however treat all their recruited patients with one of the two regimens chosen before site activation. Chemotherapy should start the first day of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be infused before radiation therapy delivery.

The 2 options are:

• Cisplatin 100 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 22 and 43 (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

or

• Cisplatin 40 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35, 42 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

Cetuximab

Intervention Type DRUG

Cetuximab is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant Cetuximab is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Cetuximab therapy will be started with an intravenous loading dose of 400 mg/m2 one week before start of RT followed by six (radiotherapy over 6 weeks) or seven (radiotherapy over 7 weeks) weekly doses of 250 mg/m2.

Interventions

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Vesanoid

Before (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day, 1 week before radiotherapy. Post (chemo)radiotherapy: D1 to D3: 150mg/m2/day every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles post (chemo)radiotherapy

Intervention Type DRUG

Standard radiotherapy

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Intervention Type RADIATION

Tailored radiotherapy

70 Gy in 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 6 weeks (6 fractions per week) or hyperfractionated RT with a median therapeutic dose of 80.5 Gy delivered in 70 fractions of 1.15 Gy over 7 weeks.

Intervention Type RADIATION

Cisplatin

Cisplatin is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant chemotherapy is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Chemotherapy will include one of the two cisplatin regimens specified in this protocol at the discretion of the participating centers. The centers must however treat all their recruited patients with one of the two regimens chosen before site activation. Chemotherapy should start the first day of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be infused before radiation therapy delivery.

The 2 options are:

• Cisplatin 100 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 22 and 43 (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

or

• Cisplatin 40 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 6 weeks) or on day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 35, 42 of radiotherapy (when 70 Gy are delivered in 7 weeks).

Intervention Type DRUG

Cetuximab

Cetuximab is recommended for the following patients : Stage T1-T2/N2a-N2b and T3/N0-N1-N2a-N2b. concomitant Cetuximab is standard of care treatments and should be administered as per standard practice.

Cetuximab therapy will be started with an intravenous loading dose of 400 mg/m2 one week before start of RT followed by six (radiotherapy over 6 weeks) or seven (radiotherapy over 7 weeks) weekly doses of 250 mg/m2.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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ATRA

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

I1. Male or female patients aged ≥ 18 years old at time of inform consent signature.

I2. Patients with primary head and neck tumour up to, but not crossing the midline, previously untreated with histologically-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of:

* the oropharynx p16-, larynx or hypopharynx : T1/N2a-N2b, T2/N0-N2b, T3/N0-N2b (UICC 8th Ed.), or
* the oropharynx p16+ : T1/N1 (multiple nodes), T2-T3/N0-N1 (UICC 8th Ed.).

I3. Patients with lymph node staging assessed by an FDG-PET/CT with no contralateral nodal uptake.

I4. Patients amenable to treatment with RT or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy as decided by the treating physician as a function of tumor stage, tumor location, performance of the patients.

I5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0 or 1.

I6. Adequate hematologic and end-organ function, defined by the following laboratory test results obtained within 7 days prior to randomisation :

Hematological (without transfusion within 2 weeks) :

* Neutrophils count \> 1.5 × 109 /L
* Platelets count \> 75 × 109 /L
* WBC≥ 3.0 × 109 /L

Hepatic function :

* Total Bilirubin \< 1.5 × ULN (except for Gilbert's syndrome which will allow bilirubin ≤ 3 ULN).
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN.
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × ULN.
* Albumin \>3.0g/dL

Renal function :

* Serum creatinine \< 1.5 ×ULN.

I7. QTcF ≤450ms for men and 470ms for women, from 3 electrocardiograms on screening ECG, within 7 days prior randomisation.

I8. Women patients of child-bearing potential are eligible, provided they have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days prior randomisation, and agrees to use adequate contraception for up to 1 month after the end of study treatments.

I9. Fertile men must agree to use an effective method of contraception during the study and for up to 1 month after the end of study treatments.

I10. Patient should understand, sign, and date the written voluntary informed consent form prior to any protocol-specific procedures performed and should be able and willing to comply with study visits and procedures as per protocol.

I11. Patients must be covered by a medical insurance in country where applicable.

Exclusion Criteria

E1. Patient with primary tumor crossing the midline or patients with bilateral primary tumors.

E2. Patients with T1-N0 (p16-), T1-N1 (p16-), T1-N0 (p16+), T4 (p16- and p16+), bilateral lymph nodes or nodal disease more than 6 cm (p16- and p16+).

E3. Patients with unknown primary tumor size as per TNM i.e. T0-N1 to T0-N3, p16- or p16+.

E4. Patients with contralateral FDG-PET/CT nodal uptake.

E5. Patient with any previous anti-cancer therapy for HNSCC (all prior treatment are forbidden: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or any other therapy approved or experimental).

E6. Patient with malignancies other than HNSCC within 3 years prior to randomisation with the exception of adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer, localised prostate cancer treated surgically with curative intent.

E7. Patient with ongoing or anticipation of need for systemic immunosuppressive medication (including, but not limited to, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and anti-TNF-alpha agents); with the exceptions of intranasal, inhaled or topical corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid.

E8. Patient with ongoing or anticipation of need for systemic immunostimulatory agents (including, but not limited to, interferons and IL-2).

E9. Patient with concurrent treatment with any other anti-cancer treatment, approved or investigational agent or participation in another clinical trial with therapeutic intent.

E10. Patient with infectious diseases :

* Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to randomisation, including, but not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia,
* Active hepatitis B (chronic or acute; defined as having a positive hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] test at screening),
* Active hepatitis C. Patients positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody are eligible only if PCR is negative for HCV RNA at screening,
* HIV infection,
* Active tuberculosis.

E11.Patient with any psychological, cognitive, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol, completion of patient reported measures and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial.

E12. Patient with known hypersensitivity to tretinoin, other retinoids, soya, peanut or to any of the excipients of vesanoid.

E13. Patient with known malabsorption syndrome and/or unable to swallow oral medication.

E14.Patient with ongoing or expected need for concomitant treatment with vitamin A, tetracyclines, other retinoids, anti-fibrinolytic agent, and strong inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4.

E15.Pregnant or lactating woman.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Centre Leon Berard

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Vincent Grégoire, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Centre Leon Berard

Locations

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Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest - Paul Papin

Angers, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Centre Oscar Lambret

Lille, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Centre Léon Bérard

Lyon, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Centre Antoine Lacassagne

Nice, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

AP-HP - Hôpital Tenon

Paris, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine

Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Institut Gustave Roussy

Villejuif, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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France

Central Contacts

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Vincent Grégoire, PhD

Role: CONTACT

4 69 85 62 53 ext. +33

Facility Contacts

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Aurore Goineau, PhD

Role: primary

+33241352830

Xavier Liem, PhD

Role: primary

+33320295911

Vincent Grégoire, PhD

Role: primary

4 69 85 62 53 ext. +33

Deborah Aloi, PhD

Role: primary

+33492031000

Florence Huguet, PhD

Role: primary

+33156016210

Maria JOLNEROVSKI, PhD

Role: primary

83598423 ext. +33

Roger Sun, PhD

Role: primary

1 42 11 25 16 ext. +33

Other Identifiers

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ET 22-156

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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