A Biomarker-implemented Clinical Study Evaluating Mutations in MET and TP53 in a Population of Treatment-refractory Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Afatinib is approved therapy for SCC of the lung after progression with standard of care chemotherapy. There is also evidence of improvement of progression free survival of patients with metastatic/recurrent SCC of the head and neck after failure of chemotherapy in patients treated with afatinib. Therefore, treatment of patients with these 2 conditions with afatinib is not experimental, and will follow conventional clinical management.

Clinical objectives:

1. To determine the efficacy of afatinib in patients with germline MET-N375S polymorphism.
2. To determine the tolerability of afatinib in chemo-relapsed patients with germline MET-N375S polymorphism.

Research objectives:

1. To determine the prevalence of MET and TP53 mutations, as well as HER2 and MET amplification, in various cancers, particularly head and neck cancers and lung cancers.
2. To establish tumour cell lines, spheroids of xenografts for drug screening.

Endpoints of study:

1. To determine the response rate of SCC HN/lung with Met-N375S to afatinib.
2. The secondary endpoints include progression-free survival and toxicity.
3. Frequency of MET mutations and TP53 mutations in patients with cancer.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients may be included in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Age 18 years or older
  2. Histologic or cytologic confirmation of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung or head and neck region, and has failed standard treatment.
  3. No other active malignancy within the past 24 months
  4. All subjects must have at least one tumour lesion (primary or metastatic) that is suitable for free-hand or image-guided biopsy at baseline.
  5. Clinical study will enroll patients genotyped positive for MET-N375S polymorphism.
  6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status \< 2
  7. Adequate organ function as defined by:

     a. Bone marrow function i. Haemoglobin ≥ 9g/dl ii. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L iii. Platelet count ≥ 75 x 109/L. b. Liver function i. Bilirubin \< 2.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) ii. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) \< 2.5x ULN or \< 5x ULN if liver metastases are present iii. Prothrombin time (PT) within the normal range for the institution. c. Renal function i. Plasma creatinine \<1.5x institutional ULN
  8. Capable of swallowing tablets
  9. Recovery from any previous drug- or procedure-related toxicity to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0 Grade 0 or 1 (except alopecia), or to baseline preceding the prior treatment.
  10. Signed informed consent obtained before any study specific procedure. Subjects must be able to understand and be willing to sign the written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 1. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy or other therapy within 3 weeks of starting investigational medicinal product (IMP).

  2. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. 3. Women of childbearing potential not employing adequate contraception. Women of childbearing potential must have a pregnancy test performed a maximum of 7 days before start of study medication, and a negative result must be documented before start of study medication. Women of childbearing potential and men, must agree to use adequate contraception (barrier method of birth control) upon signing the informed consent form until at least 3 months after the last study drug administration 4. Known or suspected allergy to the investigational agent or any agent given in association with this study.

  5. Concurrent cancer which is distinct in primary site or histology from the cancer being evaluated in this study 6. Patients with CTCAE Grade 2 or higher peripheral neuropathy. 7. History of significant cardiac disease: congestive cardiac failure \> NYHA class II, ongoing unstable angina, new-onset angina or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months