Changing the Paradigm in HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer: Deintensification Based on Low Risk of Locoregional Relapse

6012 Background: The excellent prognosis of patients with low risk HPV associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has led to concerns about overtreatment and excessive toxicity with radiotherapy and cisplatin, leading to interest in de-intensification trials. We investigated whether cetuximab, an EGFR targeting antibody, when combined with radiotherapy would result in a decrease in symptom burden and toxicity with similar efficacy when compared to weekly cisplatin. Methods: TROG 12.01, a randomised, multicentre trial involving 15 sites in Australia and New Zealand enrolled patients with HPV associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, AJCC 7th edition Stage III (excluding T1-2N1) or stage IV (excluding T4 and/or N3 and/or N2b-c if smoking history >10 pack years and/or distant metastases). Patients were randomised (1:1) to receive radiotherapy (70Gy in 35 fractions) with either weekly cisplatin, 7 doses of 40mg/m2 or cetuximab, loading dose of 400mg/m2 followed by 7 weekly doses of 250 mg/m2. The primary outcome was symptom severity assessed by the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Head and Neck Symptom Severity Scale from baseline to 13 weeks post completion of radiotherapy using the area under the time-severity curve (AUC). Sample size was 170 evaluable patients to provide at least 90% power to detect an effect size of 0.5, using a 2-sided test at 0.05 level of significance. Trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01855451. Results: Between 17th June 2013 and 7th June 2018, 189 patients were enrolled and 182 were evaluable, with 92 on cisplatin arm and 90 on cetuximab included in the main analysis. The median follow-up was 4.1 years (0.4 - 5.3). Analyses were performed in all eligible randomised patients that commenced treatment (modified intention-to-treat population). There was no difference in the primary endpoint of symptom severity; difference in AUC cetuximab – cisplatin was 0.05 (95%CI: -0.19, 0.30), p= 0.66. The T-score (mean number of > grade 3 acute adverse events) was 4.35 (SD 2.48) in the cisplatin arm and 3.82 (SD 1.8) in the cetuximab arm, p= 0.108. The 3 -year failure-free survival rates were 93% (95% CI: 86-97%) in the cisplatin arm and 80% (95% CI: 70-87%) in the cetuximab arm (hazard ratio = 3.0 (95% CI: 1.2-7.7); p=0.015. The increase in failures in the cetuximab arm was evenly split between distant and locoregional failures. Conclusions: For patients with low risk HPV associated oropharyngeal cancer, radiotherapy and cetuximab had inferior failure-free survival without improvement in symptom burden or toxicity compared to radiotherapy and weekly cisplatin. Radiotherapy and cisplatin remains the standard of care. Clinical trial information: NCT01855451.

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Paired phase II trials evaluating cetuximab and radiotherapy for low risk HPV associated oropharyngeal cancer and locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in patients not eligible for cisplatin

Head & Neck ◽

10.1002/hed.26085 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1728-1737

Author(s):

Paul L. Swiecicki ◽

Pin Li ◽

Emily Bellile ◽

Chaz Stucken ◽

Kelly Malloy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Oropharyngeal Cancer ◽

Low Risk ◽

Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Phase Ii Trials

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Analysis of hydration and antiemetics policies in preventing cisplatin-related gastrointestinal and renal toxicities in low-risk human papillomavirus positive-oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+OPC) patients undergoing chemoradiation in De-ESCALaTE trial.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.6076 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 6076-6076

Author(s):

Anthony Hee Kong ◽

Pankaj Mistry ◽

Mererid Evans ◽

Andrew G. J. Hartley ◽

Tessa Fulton-Lieuw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Oropharyngeal Cancer ◽

Low Risk ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Severe Toxicity ◽

Severe Nausea ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Antiemetic Regimen ◽

Oral Fluids ◽

Adequate Hydration

6076 Background: The De-ESCALaTE trial confirmed the superiority of cisplatin over cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of low risk human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+OPC). The most common serious adverse events (SAEs) for cisplatin were due to vomiting and nausea, in contrast with oral mucositis and vomiting for concurrent cetuximab. In this study, we examined the efficacy of different hydration and anti-emetic policies in preventing cisplatin-related gastrointestinal and renal toxicities as well as related SAEs in the cisplatin arm of the De-ESCALaTE trial. Methods: This was a post-hoc pre-specified analysis of data collected within the De-ESCALaTE trial including pre-hydration, diuretics, the amount of intravenous (IV) fluids before, during and after chemotherapy, whether oral fluid hydration was advised and type of antiemetic regimen prescribed, if any, after chemotherapy administration, including if a triple antiemetic regimen with a NK1 receptor antagonist, steroids and a serotonin 5-HT3 antagonist was given before and after chemotherapy. The primary outcome was number of SAEs per patient; secondary outcome was number per patient of cisplatin-induced severe toxicity events of interest: nausea, vomiting, dehydration or renal toxicity. Results: 166 (mean age 57 yrs; 132 m, 34 f) patients received cisplatin. Hydration and anti-emetics policies for cisplatin treatment are significantly correlated with the rate of SAEs and acute severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration or renal toxicities. Using stepwise backwards multivariable ordinal logistic regression in the presence of baseline characteristics, use of a triple anti-emetics regimen (OR 0.41,p = 0.032) and 2.5 to 3L IV fluids given before and during cisplatin chemotherapy (OR 0.161, p = 0.009) as well as oral fluids advised post chemotherapy (OR 0.365, p = 0.03) were associated with a significantly lower incidence of SAEs and severe toxicities of interest. We will also present data on relative cost-effectiveness of the different regimens. Conclusions: Based on our results, we recommend the use of a triple anti-emetic regimen, adequate hydration of 2.5-3L before and during chemotherapy as well as advising patients to take oral fluids advised to reduce cisplatin toxicities related to nausea, vomiting, dehydration and/or renal injury. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN33522080.

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