Induction chemoimmunotherapy followed by CD8+ immune cell-based patient selection for chemotherapy-free radioimmunotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer
Authors: Hecht Markus , Eckstein Markus , Rutzner Sandra , von der Grün Jens , Illmer Thomas , Klautke Gunther , Laban Simon , Hautmann Matthias G , Brunner Thomas B , Tamaskovics Bálint , Hinke Axel , Zhou Jian-Guo , Frey Benjamin , Donaubauer Anna-Jasmina , Becker Ina , Semrau Sabine , Hartmann Arndt , Balermpas Panagiotis , Budach Wilfried , Gaipl Udo S , Iro Heinrich , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste , Fietkau Rainer 
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The first aim of the trial is to study feasibility of combined programmed death protein ligand 1/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibition concomitant to radiotherapy. In addition, efficacy of the entire treatment scheme consisting of induction chemoimmunotherapy followed by chemotherapy-free radioimmunotherapy (RIT) after intratumoral CD8 +immune cell-based patient selection will be analyzed.

Methods

Patients with stage III–IVB head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were eligible for this multicenter phase II trial. Treatment consisted of a single cycle of cisplatin 30 mg/m² days 1–3, docetaxel 75 mg/m² day 1, durvalumab 1500 mg fix dose day 5 and tremelimumab 75 mg fix dose day 5. Patients with increased intratumoral CD8 +immune cell density or pathological complete response (pCR) in the rebiopsy entered RIT up to a total dose of 70 Gy. Patients received further three cycles of durvalumab/tremelimumab followed by eight cycles of durvalumab mono (every 4 weeks). The intended treatment for patients not meeting these criteria was standard radiochemotherapy outside the trial. Primary endpoint was a feasibility rate of patients entering RIT to receive treatment until at least cycle 6 of immunotherapy of ≥80%.

Results

Between September 2018 and May 2020, 80 patients were enrolled (one excluded). Out of these, 23 patients had human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Median follow-up was 17.2 months. After induction chemoimmunotherapy 41 patients had pCR and 31 had increased intratumoral CD8 +immune cells. Of 60 patients entering RIT (primary endpoint cohort), 10 experienced imiting toxic (mainly hepatitis) and four discontinued for other reasons, resulting in a feasibility rate of 82%. The RIT cohort (n=60) had a progression-free survival (PFS) rate at one and 2 years of 78% and 72%, respectively, and an overall survival rate at one and 2 years of 90% and 84%, respectively. Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers had greater benefit from RIT with a 2-year PFS rate of 94% compared with 64% for HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers and other locations. In the entire study cohort (n=79) the 2-year PFS rate was 68% (91% for HPV-positive oropharynx vs 59% for others). Toxicity grade 3–4 mainly consisted of dysphagia (53%), leukopenia (52%) and infections (32%).

Conclusions

The trial met the primary endpoint feasibility of RIT. Induction chemo-immunotherapy followed by chemotherapy-free RIT after intratumoral CD8 +immune cell-based patient selection has promising PFS.

Trial registration number

The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT03426657). The trial was conducted as investigator-sponsored trial (IST).