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Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaNCT03926468

Liquid Biopsy in Head and Neck Cancer

An observational study of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by Turku University Hospital at 1 site in Finland.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Overall survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unsatisfactory due to often advanced clinical stage at diagnosis and high rate of recurrence and second primaries. About 75 % of patients with localized HNSCC are expected to show circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) pre-treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
What is being tested?
Liquid biopsy
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteFinland
Study dates
1 Aug 2019to 31 Dec 2022
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC referred to curative multimodality treatment in Hospital District of Southwest Finland

Who may be able to join

  • histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
  • WHO performance status 0-2
  • clinical stage III patients with bulky T3 primary +/- neck metastasis
  • all stage IV patients
  • referral to definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy or multimodality treatment

Who cannot join

  • patients who are not able to sign written informed consent

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Heikki Minn, Prof., MD contact

+35823130000 ext. 30149

heikki.minn@tyks.fi

Heikki Irjala, MD, PhD contact

+35823130000 ext. 30411

heikki.irjala@tyks.fi

Finland1 site
  • Turku University Hospital

    Turku, 20521

Other trials in Finland

About this study

Official title: Genetic Profiling by Liquid Biopsy for Initial Characterization and Response Monitoring of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Overall survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unsatisfactory due to often advanced clinical stage at diagnosis and high rate of recurrence and second primaries. About 75 % of patients with localized HNSCC are expected to show circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) pre-treatment. ctDNA reflects tumor genome and disease burden and is termed 'liquid biopsy' (LB) when collected through venous bloodstream. LB has potential to assist in early diagnosis of recurrence and progression, and prediction of response to targeted therapeutic agents. Increased metabolic activity measured in positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is currently the most sensitive technique to detect residual cancer or progression of HNSCC after curative treatment. High metabolically active tumor volume (MTV) is associated with treatment resistance and shows independent prognostic significance. The objective is (i) to investigate whether MTV detected with PET-CT correlates to the pattern and amount of genetic alterations in ctDNA of patients with HNSCC referred to radio- (chemo)therapy (RT/CRT). Another objective is (ii) to determine sensitivity of LB compared to PET/CT in detecting residual tumor 3 months after completion of RT/CRT. Third (iii), genetic landscape in LB and fresh tumor samples will be evaluated to detect resistance genes and targets for immunotherapy and surveillance post-treatment. This prospective study includes 30 patients with stage III/IV HNSCC. Before onset and 3 months from RT/CRT, LB is obtained for next-generation DNA sequencing using a commercial platform. ctDNA and digital droplet PCR will be quantified and compared to MTV in simultaneously acquired PET-CT. The investigators hypothesize that LB could assist or replace PET/CT in response monitoring and detection of recurrence after RT/CRT.

Read the detailed description

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) stands as the sixth most common cancer worldwide. The overall 5-year survival is approximately 50 % due to often advanced clinical stage at diagnosis, high rate of treatment resistance, and high incidence of second cancers. Currently there are no useful biomarkers for surveillance or diagnosis of recurrent HNSCC.

Liquid biopsy (LB)

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is tumor-derived fragmented DNA circulating freely in the bloodstream. Apoptosis and necrosis due to rapid cell growth and increased cell turnover contribute to release of ctDNA in circulation of patients with cancer even without disseminated disease. ctDNA reflects tumor genome and may also reflect disease burden. Due to these properties and easy accessibility collection of ctDNA through venous blood has been termed as 'liquid biopsy'. Approximately 75-90 % of patients with localized or untreated HNSCC are expected to show ctDNA pre-treatment.

Applications of liquid biopsy in HNSCC

Potential clinical applications of liquid biopsy (LB) are manifold and include diagnosis of recurrence or progression, and disease surveillance. While ctDNA contains the same mutations present in original tumor, LB can be used to guide targeted therapies if local treatment is not feasible. In HNSCC, these features render study of LB attractive since early diagnosis of treatment failure increases possibilities for curative approach. ctDNA reflects tumor heterogeneity and findings in surveillance samples are more likely to characterize resistant subpopulations compared to pre-treatment changes. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibition with monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death (PD-1) have demonstrated activity against recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. LB together with evaluation of expression of PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) can assess mutational load thus assisting in screening patients who may benefit from immunotherapy.

Metabolic imaging - current standard for detection of recurrent HNSCC

Increased metabolic activity detected in positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is currently the most sensitive technique to detect residual cancer or progression of HNSCC after curative treatment. High metabolically active tumor volume (MTV) is associated with treatment resistance and shows independent prognostic significance. While PET-CT shows excellent sensitivity, it may lead to false positive findings caused by inflammation or other conditions having increased cellular metabolic rate. Furthermore, metabolic imaging does not elucidate resistance mechanisms nor does it assist in planning of targeted treatments. Whether LB could assist or replace PET/CT in response monitoring and detection of recurrence remains thus far unknown.

Study objectives

  1. To investigate whether MTV detected in PET-CT correlates to pattern and amount of genetic alterations in ctDNA of patients with HNSCC referred to radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) ii) To determine whether LB is more sensitive than PET/CT in detecting residual tumor three months after completion of RT or CRT iii) To evaluate exhaustive genetic landscape of patients with locally advanced HNSCC in order to characterize resistance or target genes for alternative treatments including (but not limited to) immunotherapy, antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and hypoxia- and virus-activated compounds iv) To validate a novel digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for non-invasive surveillance of patients at high risk for recurrence of HNSCC
Being tested
Liquid biopsy
Keywords
Liquid biopsy, FDG PET-CT
Medical subject headings
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Liquid biopsyDiagnostic test

    Before onset of treatment, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is extracted from venous blood sample for next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) using a commercially available platform (Roche Foundation ACT) For this purpose, 4 x 10 ml of venous blood will be collected from each patient. Two tubes (Streck) will be sent to service provider (Roche), one tube will be used for droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR, QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System, BioRad) and ddPRC/NGS analyses and one is collected and stored in Auria Biobank (www.auria.fi) for possible future analyses.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Diagnostic performance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in venous blood sample: Baseline

    Measurement of ctDNA with a novel droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR)

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Diagnostic performance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in venous blood sample: 3-month follow-up

    Measurement of ctDNA with a novel droplet digital polymerase chain reaction

    Measured: 3-months after completion of therapy (approximately 6 months post-baseline)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Apr 2019
  2. Study start1 Aug 2019 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2022 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2022 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03926468
Sponsor's protocol ID
T17/2019
Status last verified
Jun 2019
First submitted
14 Mar 2019
Last updated
4 Jun 2019
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Bettegowda C, Sausen M, Leary RJ, Kinde I, Wang Y, Agrawal N, Bartlett BR, Wang H, Luber B, Alani RM, Antonarakis ES, Azad NS, Bardelli A, Brem H, Cameron JL, Lee CC, Fecher LA, Gallia GL, Gibbs P, Le D, Giuntoli RL, Goggins M, Hogarty MD, Holdhoff M, Hong SM, Jiao Y, Juhl HH, Kim JJ, Siravegna G, Laheru DA, Lauricella C, Lim M, Lipson EJ, Marie SK, Netto GJ, Oliner KS, Olivi A, Olsson L, Riggins GJ, Sartore-Bianchi A, Schmidt K, Shih lM, Oba-Shinjo SM, Siena S, Theodorescu D, Tie J, Harkins TT, Veronese S, Wang TL, Weingart JD, Wolfgang CL, Wood LD, Xing D, Hruban RH, Wu J, Allen PJ, Schmidt CM, Choti MA, Velculescu VE, Kinzler KW, Vogelstein B, Papadopoulos N, Diaz LA Jr. Detection of circulating tumor DNA in early- and late-stage human malignancies. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Feb 19;6(224):224ra24. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3007094.

    PubMed 24553385
  • Mehanna H, Wong WL, McConkey CC, Rahman JK, Robinson M, Hartley AG, Nutting C, Powell N, Al-Booz H, Robinson M, Junor E, Rizwanullah M, von Zeidler SV, Wieshmann H, Hulme C, Smith AF, Hall P, Dunn J; PET-NECK Trial Management Group. PET-CT Surveillance versus Neck Dissection in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016 Apr 14;374(15):1444-54. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1514493. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

    PubMed 27007578
  • Castelli J, De Bari B, Depeursinge A, Simon A, Devillers A, Roman Jimenez G, Prior J, Ozsahin M, de Crevoisier R, Bourhis J. Overview of the predictive value of quantitative 18 FDG PET in head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2016 Dec;108:40-51. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.10.009. Epub 2016 Oct 29.

    PubMed 27931839

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by Turku University Hospital at 1 site in Finland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Heikki Minn, Prof., MD (+35823130000 ext. 30149, heikki.minn@tyks.fi), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Diagnostic performance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in venous blood sample: Baseline (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03926468, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2019.

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