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. 2019 Mar 6;9:122. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00122

Table 1.

Clinical trials incorporating checkpoint inhibitors and radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

NCT ID# Phase Title ICI Treatment arms
PHASE 1
NCT03539198 NA A prospective observational study of study of proton SBRT and immunotherapy for recurrent/progressive locoregional or metastatic head and neck cancer Nivolumab Loading dose of Nivolumab on D-14 then concurrently w/RT;
Proton SBRT 5 fxs; 35–45 Gy)
NCT02764593 1 Safety Testing of Adding Nivolumab to Chemotherapy in Patients With Intermediate and High-Risk Local-Regionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Nivolumab Loading dose on D-14 then concurrently w/cisplatin or cetuximab and RT, followed by adjuvant ICI;
70 Gy in 35 fxs; IMRT
NCT03402737 1 SBRT + Immunomodulating Systemic Therapy for Inoperable, Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer Nivolumab Concurrently w/RT;
6–8 Gy times 2 fxs 6–8 Gy times 3 fxs 6–10 Gy times 3 fxs 6–12 Gy times 3 fxs
NCT02318771 1 Radiation therapy and MK-3475 for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer, renal cell cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer Pembrolizumab Arm A: Adjuvant (3–17 days post RT);
Arm B: Concurrent;
A1 and B1: 8 Gy in 1 fx Arms A2 and B2: 20 Gy in 5 fxs
NCT02586207 1 Pembrolizumab in combination with CRT for LA-SCCHN Pembrolizumab Loading dose on D-7 then concurrent q3 weeks with cisplatin-RT;70 Gy in 35 fxs
NCT02819752 1 Pembrolizumab combined with chemoradiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (PEACH) Pembrolizumab Concurrently with CRT;
Standard therapy
NCT03509012 1 Immunotherapy in combination with chemoradiation in patients with advanced solid tumors (CLOVER) Durvalumab Various regimens
NCT02938273 1 Bioimmunoradiotherapy (Cetuximab/RT/Avelumab) Avelumab Loading dose D-7 then concurrently w/cetuximab-RT;
70 Gy over 7 weeks
NCT01935921 1 Ipilimumab, cetuximab, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy in treating patients with previously untreated stage III-IVB head and neck cancer Ipilimumab Concurrently w/cetuximab-RT;
IMRT daily for 7 weeks
NCT01860430 1 A phase Ib trial of concurrent cetuximab (ERBITUX®) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) With ipilimumab (YERVOY®) in locally advanced head and neck cancer Ipilimumab Concurrently w/cetuximab-RT;
70–74 Gy in 2 Gy daily fxs; IMRT
NCT03162731 1 Nivolumab, ipilimumab, and radiation therapy in treating patients with stage IVA-B head and neck cancer Nivolumab, Ipilimumab Loading dose of Nivolumab on D-21 then concurrently w/RT and ipilimumab;
70 Gy in 35 fxs
NCT03529422 1 Durvalumab and Tremelimumab with radiotherapy for adjuvant treatment of intermediate risk SCCHN Durvalumab, Tremelimumab Concurrently w/RT;
60 Gy in 30 fxs; IMRT
NCT03317327 1/2 REirradiation and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade on recurrent squamous cell head and neck tumors (REPORT) Nivolumab Concurrently w/RT;
60 Gy in 1.5 Gy fxs BID for 4 weeks
NCT03247712 1/2 Neoadjuvant immunoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer Nivolumab Concurrently w/RT;
Arm 1: 8 Gy times 5 fxs daily Arm 2: 8 Gy times 3 fxs QOD
NCT02759575 1/2 A study of chemoradiation plus pembrolizumab for locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma Pembrolizumab Loading dose on D-21 then concurrently w/cis-RT;
70 Gy in 35 fxs
NCT03114280 1/2 Pembrolizumab and induction chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (PICH study) (PICH) Pembrolizumab Neoadjuvant with chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin;
Unknown dose or RT
NCT03051906 1/2 Durvalumab, cetuximab, and radiotherapy in head neck cancer (DUCRO-HN) Durvalumab Concurrently w/cetuximab-RT followed by adjuvant therapy; 69.96 Gy in 2.12 Gy fxs
NCT03212469 1/2 A trial of durvalumab and tremelimumab in combination with SBRT in patients with metastatic cancer (ABBIMUNE) Durvalumab, tremelimumab SBRT
NCT03283605 1/2 Immunotherapy and SBRT for metastatic head and neck carcinomas Durvalumab, tremelimumab Neoadjuvant then concurrently w/RT;
SBRT
NCT03522584 1/2 Durvalumab, tremelimumab, and stereotactic body radiation therapy in treating participants with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Durvalumab, tremelimumab Loading dose D-14 then concurrently w/RT;
SBRT QOD
PHASE 2
NCT02684253 2 Screening trial of nivolumab with image guided, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) vs. nivolumab alone in patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) Nivolumab Concurrently w/RT;
SBRT 27 Gy in 3 fxs QOD
NCT03521570 2 Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and nivolumab for recurrent or second primary head and neck squamous cell cancer Nivolumab Loading dose of Nivolumab on D-14 then concurrently with RT;
IMRT daily for 6–6.5 weeks
NCT03107182 2 Chemotherapy and locoregional therapy trial (surgery or radiation) for patients with head and neck cancer (OPTIMA-II) Nivolumab Induction with chemotherapy followed by adjuvant therapy;
Dose de-escalated to 45–50 Gy (Arm 2 and 3) or conventional dose to 70 Gy (Arm 4)
NCT03511391 2 Checkpoint inhibition in combination with an immunoboost of external body radiotherapy in solid tumors (CHEERS) Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab Concurrently with RT;
SBRT 8 Gy times 3 fxs
NCT03313804 2 Priming immunotherapy in advanced disease with radiation Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Atezolizumab Concurrently w/RT;
SBRT with BED >100 Gy or 30 Gy in 3 Gy fxs
NCT02641093 2 Phase II trial of adjuvant cisplatin and radiation with pembrolizumab in resected head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Pembrolizumab Loading dose 1 week prior to surgery then concurrently w/ cis-RT;
60–66 Gy in 2 Gy fxs
NCT02707588 2 Tolerance and efficacy of pembrolizumab or cetuximab combined with RT in patients with locally advanced HNSCC (PembroRad) Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/RT;
69.96 Gy in 2.12 Gy daily fxs
NCT02609503 2 Pembrolizumab + radiation for locally Adv SCC of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) Not eligible cisplatin Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/RT;
IMRT daily for 7 weeks
NCT02296684 2 Immunotherapy with MK-3475 in surgically resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Pembrolizumab Arm 1: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy Arm 2: Neoadjuvant;
NCT02289209 2 Reirradiation With pembrolizumab in locoregional inoperable recurrence or second primary squamous cell CA of the head and neck Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/RT;
1.2 Gy BID for 5 days a week for 5 weeks
NCT02777385 2 Pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in head and neck cancer Pembrolizumab Arm 1: adjuvant 3 weeks post cisplatin-RT Arm 2: concurrently with cisplatin-RT;
70 Gy in 35 fxs; IMRT
NCT03085719 2 Targeting PD-1 therapy resistance with focused high or high and low dose radiation in SCCHN Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/RT; High (3 fxs) vs. low dose (2 fxs)
NCT03532737 2 Concomitant immune check point inhibitor with radiochemotherapy in head and neck cancer Pembrolizumab Loading dose on D-14 then concurrently w/either cetuximab or cis-RT;
66–70 Gy in 30–35 fxs; IMRT
NCT03057613 2 The addition of pembrolizumab to postoperative radiotherapy in cutaneous squamous cell cancer of the head and neck Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/and adjuvantly to post-op RT;
60–66 Gy for 6 weeks; IMRT
NCT03383094 2 Chemoradiation vs. immunotherapy and radiation for head and neck cancer Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/and adjuvant to cis-RT; 70 Gy in 33–35 fxs
NCT03546582 2 SBRT +/– pembrolizumab in patients with local-regionally recurrent or second primary head and neck carcinoma (KEYSTROKE) Pembrolizumab Adjuvant to RT;
SBRT
NCT03386357 2 Radiotherapy with pembrolizumab in metastatic HNSCC Pembrolizumab Concurrently w/RT;
12 Gy times 3 fxs
NCT03624231 2 Feasibility and efficacy of Durvalumab+Tremelimumab+RT and Durvalumab+RT in Non-resect. Locally advanced HPVnegativ HNSCC (DURTRE-RAD) Durvalumab, Tremelimumab Loading dose D-14 then concurrently w/ RT, followed by adjuvant therapy;
70 Gy in 35 fxs over 7 weeks
NCT03426657 2 Radiotherapy with double checkpoint blockade of locally advanced HNSCC Durvalumab, Tremelimumab Concurrently w/RT followed by durva monotherapy;
70 Gy in 35 fxs
NCT03258554 2/3 Radiation therapy with Durvalumab or Cetuximab in treating patients with stage III-IVB head and neck cancer who cannot take cisplatin Durvalumab Loading dose D-14 then concurrently w/RT;
IMRT
PHASE 3
NCT03349710 (closed to slow accrual) 3 Nivolumab or nivolumab plus cisplatin, in combination WITH radiotherapy in patients with cisplatin-ineligible or eligible locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer Nivolumab RT w/cis and nivo vs. RT w/cis
RT w/cetuximab vs. RT w/nivo
70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks; IMRT
NCT03576417 3 A trial evaluating the addition of nivolumab to cisplatin-rt for treatment of cancers of the head and neck (NIVOPOSTOP) Nivolumab Loading dose of Nivolumab on D-21 then concurrently w/cis-RT;
66 Gy over 6.5 weeks; IMRT
NCT03040999 3 Study of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) or placebo with chemoradiation in participants with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (MK-3475-412/KEYNOTE-412) Pembrolizumab Loading dose then concurrently w/cis-RT;
70 Gy in 35 fxs over either 6 (accelerated) or 7 (standard) weeks
NCT02952586 3 Study to compare avelumab in combination with standard of care chemoradiotherapy (SoC CRT) vs. SoC CRT for definitive treatment in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Javelin head and neck 100) Avelumab Concurrently w/cisplatin-RT; 70 Gy in 35 fxs; IMRT
NCT02999087 3 Randomized trial of avelumab-cetuximab-radiotherapy vs. SOCs in LA SCCHN (REACH) Avelumab Concurrently w/cetuximab-RT;
69.96 Gy in 2.12 Gy daily fxs; IMRT
NCT03700905 3 Study of nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab as immunotherapy vs. standard follow-up in surgical resectable HNSCC after adjuvant therapy (IMSTAR-HN) Nivolumab
Ipilimumab
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab followed by surgery, adjuvant cisplatin-RT (66 Gy in 33 fx), and adjuvant Ipilimumab and Nivolumab
NCT03673735 3 Maintenance immune check-point inhibitor following post-operative chemo-radiation in subjects with hpv-negative HNSCC (ADHERE) Durvalumab Induction Durvalumab followed by cisplatin-RT (66 Gy in 33 fx), and maintenance Durvalumab
NCT03258554 3 Radiation therapy with durvalumab or cetuximab in treating patients with stage III-IVB head and neck cancer who cannot take cisplatin Durvalumab Concurrently with RT (IMRT)

Selected clinical trials incorporating the use of one or more immune checkpoint inhibitor and radiation therapy are included below. When available, the dosing and sequencing for the trials is included. SBRT, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy; RT, radiation therapy; fxs, fractions; Gy, gray; ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitor; CRT, chemoradiotherapy; IMRT, intensity-modulated radiation therapy; LA-SSCHN, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; BED, biologically equivalent dose.