1. Pembrolizumab versus cetuximab concurrent with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck unfit for cisplatin (GORTEC 2015-01 PembroRad): a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial
- Author
-
Y, Tao, J, Biau, X S, Sun, C, Sire, L, Martin, M, Alfonsi, J B, Prevost, A, Modesto, C, Lafond, J M, Tourani, J, Miroir, M C, Kaminsky, A, Coutte, X, Liem, E, Chautard, E, Vauleon, F, Drouet, A, Ruffier, J F, Ramee, G, Waksi, A, Péchery, M, Wanneveich, J, Guigay, A, Aupérin, J, Bourhis, Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques (IMoST), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), Centre Jean Perrin [Clermont-Ferrand] (UNICANCER/CJP), UNICANCER, CHU Amiens-Picardie, CHirurgie, IMagerie et REgénération tissulaire de l’extrémité céphalique - Caractérisation morphologique et fonctionnelle - UR UPJV 7516 (CHIMERE), and Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV)
- Subjects
Oncology ,PD-1 ,head and neck cancer ,[SDV.CAN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Cancer ,concurrent radiotherapy ,pembrolizumab ,Hematology - Abstract
To evaluate potential synergistic effect of pembrolizumab with radiotherapy (RT) compared with a standard-of-care (SOC) cetuximab-RT in patients with locally advanced-squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (LA-SCCHN).Patients with nonoperated stage III-IV SCC of oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx and unfit for receiving high-dose cisplatin were enrolled. Patients received once-daily RT up to 69.96 Gy in 33 fractions with weekly cetuximab (cetuximab-RT arm) or 200 mg Q3W pembrolizumab during RT (pembrolizumab-RT arm). The primary endpoint was locoregional control (LRC) rate 15 months after RT. To detect a difference between arms of 60%-80% in 15-month LRC, inclusion of 66 patients per arm was required to achieve a power of at least 0.85 at two-sided significance level of 0.20.Between May 2016 and October 2017, 133 patients were randomized to cetuximab-RT (n = 66) and pembrolizumab-RT (n = 67). Two patients (one in each arm) were not included in the analysis (a consent withdrawal and a progression before treatment start). The median age was 65 years (interquartile range 60-70 years), 92% were smokers, 60% were oropharynx (46% of oropharynx with p16+) and 75% were stage IV. Median follow-up was 25 months in both arms. The 15-month LRC rate was 59% with cetuximab-RT and 60% with pembrolizumab-RT ]odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-2.59; P = 0.91]. There was no significant difference between arms for progression-free survival (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.55-1.32; P = 0.47) and for overall survival (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.49-1.40; P = 0.49). Toxicity was lower in the pembrolizumab-RT arm than in the cetuximab-RT arm: 74% versus 92% patients with at least one grade ≥3 adverse events (P = 0.006), mainly due to mucositis, radiodermatitis, and rash.Compared with the SOC cetuximab-RT, pembrolizumab concomitant with RT did not improve the tumor control and survival but appeared less toxic in unfit patients with LA-SCCHN.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF