HNSALV Trial: Combining Immunotherapy With Salvage Surgery and IORT for Treatment of Persistent/Recurrent Head and Neck Cancers
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Summary
This phase I trial is to find out the possible side effects of pembrolizumab and radiation therapy before and during surgery in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer that remains despite treatment (persistent) or has come back (recurrent). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays or protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving pembrolizumab and radiation therapy before and during surgery may kill more tumor cells.
Description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To evaluate the potential toxicity of immunotherapy and preoperative radiation combined with intra-operative radiation in patients with recurrent or persistent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the clinical efficacy, measured as a locoregional control rate (LCR) and progression-free survival (PFS), of immunotherapy and preoperative radiation combined with intra-operative radiation in patients with recurrent or persistent HNSCC. II. To evaluate the pre-operative radiation dose effect (0 Gy, 2 Gy X 2, 8 Gy X 2) on anti-t…