Randomized phase III trial of sequential Re-Radiochemotherapy and Pembrolizumab versus Immuno(chemo)therapy for locoregionally recurrent PD-L1 positive HNSCC (CPS≥1)

Overview

Sponsor-declared trial summary

Key facts

Sponsor

Universitaet Des Saarlandes

Participant type

Patients

Age range

18-64 years, 65+ years

Gender

Male and Female

Therapeutic area

Diseases [C] - Neoplasms [C04]

Trial duration

7 Oct 2025 → ongoing

Decision date (initial)

2025-05-23

Transition trial

No

Low-intervention

Yes

Rare-disease indication

Yes

Vulnerable population

No

Funding sources

Deutsche Krebshilfe

Trial design

CTIS Part I — objectives, methods, condition coding

Main objective

Scope: Therapy, Efficacy

The primary objective of the trial is to investigate the efficacy of sequential treatment of Re-Radiochemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab administration compared to standard therapy with pembrolizumab ± chemotherapy in locoregional recurrent HNSCC to improve overall survival.

Secondary objectives 1

1. Secondary objectives are to compare further efficacy and safety parameters in both treatment arms. Tumor control rates and patient reported outcome (with questionnaires: patients’ tumor symptom burden, EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N35, and EAT-10) will be assessed.

Conditions and MedDRA coding

Locoregionally recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Eligibility criteria

Principal inclusion / exclusion criteria as submitted by sponsor

Inclusion criteria 17

1. Written informed consent obtained from the subject prior to performing any protocol-related procedures.
2. Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry.
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1 or 2.
4. Locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC.
5. Histological confirmation of HNSCC.
6. Tumor is surgically not resectable or surgical resection bears great potential for relevant functional morbidity or patient refuses surgery.
7. No distant metastases (cM0).
8. PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 according to local pathological PD-L1 assessment. A validated test must be used in an accredited laboratory.
9. Prior radio(chemo)therapy of the neck (time interval ≥ 6 months).
10. Adequate normal organ and marrow function as defined: Haemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL; Leukocytes (WBC) ≥ 3,000 per mm3 or Neutrophils ≥ 1,500 per mm3; Platelet count > 100,000 per mm3.
11. Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN). This will not apply to subjects with confirmed Gilbert’s syndrome (persistent or recurrent hyperbilirubinemia that is predominantly unconjugated in the absence of haemolysis or hepatic pathology).
12. AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x institutional ULN.
13. Creatinine Clearance ≥ 40ml/min (calculated from serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault formula).
14. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of RT and/or the first dose of pembrolizumab. A highly sensitive pregnancy test must be used.
15. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use a highly effective contraceptive measure. Highly effective contraception is required for the course of the trial through 120 days after the last dose of trial therapy.
16. Generative male subjects must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception, starting with the first dose of trial therapy through 120 days after the last dose of trial therapy.
17. Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the trial including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including.

Exclusion criteria 18

1. Prior radio(chemo)therapy of the neck less than 6 months ago.
2. Distant metastases (cM1).
3. Is currently participating and receiving trial therapy or has participated in a trial of an investigational agent and received trial therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
4. Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of trial treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion: a. Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (e.g., intra articular injection) b. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent c. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication).
5. Prior chemotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy within 2 weeks or anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to trial day 1 or who has not recovered from AEs due to a previously administered agent. (Subjects with ≤ grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the trial.)
6. History or concurrent other malignancy. Exceptions include patients, who have been disease free for at least 3 years. Further exceptions are completely resected basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or successfully treated in situ carcinoma.
7. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
8. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
9. Has an active or chronic infection requiring systemic antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral therapy within 14 days prior to randomization or first dose of study drugs.
10. Known hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.
11. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject’s participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
12. Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
13. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
14. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
15. Active hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
16. Live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of trial therapy.
17. Performance status of >2 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
18. Prior treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 antibody in primary treatment of locally advanced HNSCC less than 6 months ago.

Endpoints

Primary and secondary outcome measures (English text)

Primary endpoints 1

1. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival (OS). OS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of death for any cause.

Secondary endpoints 10

1. Progression-free survival (PFS)
2. Locoregional tumor control
3. Location of locoregional tumor progression (in-field, out-of-field)
4. Distant tumor control
5. Tumor related death
6. Response rate according to RECIST 1.1 criteria
7. Acute and late toxicity according to CTCAE version 5.0
8. Assessment of the patients tumor symptom burden (questionnaire)
9. Assessment of swallowing function (EAT-10)
10. Assessment of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N-35)

Investigational products

Investigational medicinal products (IMPs), comparators, placebo, auxiliary

Test 4

Sponsors and contacts

Sponsor organisations, regulatory contacts, third parties

Universitaet Des Saarlandes

Sponsor organisation

Universitaet Des Saarlandes

Address

Kirrberger Strasse 100

City

Homburg

Postcode

66421

Country

Germany

Scientific contact point

Organisation

Universitaet Des Saarlandes

Contact name

Prof. Dr. Markus Hecht

Public contact point

Organisation

Universitaet Des Saarlandes

Contact name

Prof. Dr. Markus Hecht

Locations

1 EU/EEA country · 20 investigational sites

By country

Investigational sites

Country notifications

Trial-start, recruitment-start, end and early-termination notifications submitted per Member State

Results and documents

Annex IV summary of results, Annex V layperson summary, and all documents registered in CTIS for this trial

Documents 7 files

Public protocol annexes, IB summaries, regulatory submissions and post-authorisation documents registered in CTIS.

Application history

2 submissions — initial application plus substantial / non-substantial modifications