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Active, not recruitingNCT03410615Updated Mar 24, 2026

Cisplatin + Radiotherapy vs Durvalumab + Radiotherapy Followed by Durvalumab vs Durvalumab + Radiotherapy Followed by Tremelimumab + Durvalumab in Intermediate-Risk HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal SCC

A Phase 2 interventional study of Radiation and Cisplatin in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Canadian Cancer Trials Group. Active, not recruiting at 26 sites in 4 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-24.

Sponsored by Canadian Cancer Trials Group · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
129
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Sometimes, cancer patients receive an initial treatment, followed by additional treatment to lower the chance of cancer coming back. The standard or usual treatment for this type of disease is initially having radiation therapy at the same time as chemotherapy (with a drug called cisplatin), with no additional therapy afterwards

Read the detailed description

This study is looking at whether a type of drug called durvalumab can be used with radiation during the initial treatment, (instead of cisplatin) and also afterwards as additional therapy. Durvalumab is an immunotherapy drug . It has been tested in many different types of cancers. Durvalumab works by allowing the immune system to detect the cancer and reactivate the immune response. This may help to slow down the growth of cancer or may cause cancer cells to die. Durvalumab has been shown to shrink tumours in animals. It has been studied in more than 5000 people, approved for use in other cancers and seems promising.

This clinical trial will also test another type of immunotherapy drug called tremelimumab, which would also be given as additional treatment. Tremelimumab works in a different way to durvalumab to enhance the immune system reaction against cancer cells and may improve the effect of durvalumab. Tremelimumab may also help slow the growth of the cancer cells or may cause cancer cells to die. It has been shown to shrink tumours in animals. Tremelimumab has been studied in over 1200 people, approved for use in other cancers and seems promising.

As of February 2019, tremelimumab will no longer be tested with new participants joining the study.

02

Conditions studied

  • Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed (primary lesion or regional lymph nodes) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OSCC) which is locoregionally advanced, intermediate risk and non-metastatic (M0) as defined by the following (UICC/AJCC 8th Edition staging)

    • T1-2 N1 (smoking ≥ 10 pack years);
    • T3 N0-N1 (smoking ≥ 10 pack years);
    • T1-3 N2 (any smoking hx).
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related as determined by positive p16 immunohistochemical staining on any tumour specimens. Positive p16 expression is defined as strong and diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in 70% or more of the tumour cells. Local testing is acceptable; testing will not be done centrally in real-time.
  • Must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 (see Appendix I) and a body weight of > 30 kg.
  • The following radiological investigations must be done within 8 weeks of randomization:

    • CT or MRI of the neck (with PET-CT and head imaging as indicated);
    • CT chest or x-ray, other radiology tests as clinically indicated.
  • Women/men of childbearing potential must have agreed to use a highly effective contraceptive method.
  • Patient must consent to provision of, and investigator(s) must confirm location and commit to obtain a representation of formalin fixed paraffin block, of non-cytology tissue samples in order that the specific correlative mark assays may be conducted.
  • Patient must consent to provision of samples of blood, saliva and oropharyngeal swab in order that the specific correlative marker assays may be conducted
  • Patient is able (i.e. sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life and health economics questionnaires in the languages provided.
  • Patients must be accessible for treatment and follow-up. Patients registered on this trial must be treated and followed at the participating centre
  • In accordance with CCTG policy, protocol treatment (cisplatin/RT or durvalumab) is to begin within 1 week of randomization.
  • The patient is not receiving anti-cancer therapy in a concurrent clinical study testing new treatments or treatment strategies and the patient agrees not to participate in other clinical studies during their participation in this trial while on study treatment.
  • Adequate normal organ and marrow function as defined below (must be done within 14 days prior to randomization): Absolute neutrophils - ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L; Platelets ≥100 x 10\^9; Hemoglobin ≥90 g/L; Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x UNL; AST and ALT ≤2.5 x UNL; Creatine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min.
  • Patient consent must be appropriately obtained in accordance with applicable local and regulatory requirements
  • Patients must be assessed by a radiation oncologist and medical oncologist and deemed suitable for study participation including administration of radiotherapy, cisplatin and durvalumab as outlined in the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a history of other malignancies, except: adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ cancer of the cervix, or other solid tumours curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years.
  • Current history of other non-OSCC malignancies of the head and neck.
  • Any previous treatment with a PD1 or PD-L1 inhibitor, including durvalumab, or an anti-CTLA4, including tremelimumab.
  • Any previous cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy.
  • Any previous induction chemotherapy for current SCCHN.
  • Any previous surgical treatment of the current cancer (except for a diagnostic biopsy) and no major surgery within 28 days prior to randomization.
  • Any previous radiation to the head and neck region that would result in overlap of fields for the current study.
  • History of allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to any study drug or their excipients.
  • Mean QT interval corrected for heart rate using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≥ 470 msec in screening ECG measured using standard institutional method or history of familial long QT syndrome.
  • History of primary immunodeficiency, history of allogenic organ transplant that requires therapeutic immunosuppression and the use of immunosuppressive agents within 28 days of randomization* or a prior history of severe (grade 3 or 4) immune mediated toxicity from other immune therapy or grade ≥ 3 infusion reaction
  • Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 28 days of study entry, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids or systemic chronic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid. Corticosteroids used on study for anti-emetic purpose are allowed. Corticosteroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. computed tomography [CT] scan premedication) are allowed.
  • Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (including inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. colitis or Crohn's disease), diverticulitis with the exception of diverticulosis, celiac disease (controlled by diet alone) or other serious gastrointestinal chronic conditions associated with diarrhea), systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis syndrome, or Wegener syndrome (granulomatosis with polyangiitis), rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis, etc., within the past 3 years prior to the start of treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
  • Patients with vitiligo or alopecia;
  • Patients with Grave's disease, vitiligo or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment (within the last 2 years);
  • Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g. following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement;
  • Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy.
  • Patients with active or uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to:

    • cardiac dysfunction (symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia);
    • active peptic ulcer disease or gastritis;
    • active bleeding diatheses;
    • psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or compromise the ability of the subject to give written informed consent;
    • known history of previous clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis;
    • known active human immunodeficiency virus infection (positive HIV 1/2 antibodies); HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible;
    • known active hepatitis B infection (positive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Patients with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as presence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and absence of HBsAg) are eligible;
    • known active hepatitis C infection. Patients positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
  • History of interstitial lung disease e.g. pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis or evidence of interstitial lung disease on baseline CT scan.
  • Receipt of live attenuated vaccination (examples include, but are not limited to, vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella, live attenuated influenza vaccine (nasal), chicken pox vaccine, oral polio vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, BCG vaccine, typhoid vaccine and typhus vaccine) within 30 days prior to randomization.
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Any active disease condition which would render the protocol treatment dangerous or impair the ability of the patient to receive protocol therapy.
  • Any condition (e.g. psychological, geographical, etc.) that does not permit compliance with the protocol
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
129 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Radiation/Cisplatin

    All patients will receive standard fractionation radiation therapy (RT) scheme: 70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks (i.e. 2 Gy per fraction) Cisplatin IV 100 mg/m2 days 1, 22, 43 concurrently with RT

    Radiation: Radiation · Drug: Cisplatin

  • Experimental
    Radiation/Durvalumab + Adjuvant Durvalumab

    All patients will receive standard fractionation radiation therapy (RT) scheme: 70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks (i.e. 2 Gy per fraction) Concurrent Phase: Durvalumab IV 1500 mg, days -7 and 22 (the second dose is given concurrently with RT). Adjuvant Phase (to start 4 weeks after completion of concurrent phase): Durvalumab IV 1500 mg q4 weekly for 6 doses.

    Radiation: Radiation · Drug: Durvalumab

  • Experimental
    Radiation/Durvalumab + Adjuvant Durvalumab/Tremelimumab

    ARM CLOSED TO ACCRUAL WITH AMENDMENT #1

    Radiation: Radiation · Drug: Durvalumab · Drug: Tremelimumab

Interventions

  • RadiationRadiation

    70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks (i.e. 2 Gy per fraction)

  • DrugCisplatin

    100 mg/m2 days 1, 22, 43 concurrently with RT

  • DrugDurvalumab

    Given in concurrent and adjuvant phase

  • DrugTremelimumab

    ARM CLOSED TO ACCRUAL - 2019

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 3 year event-free survival

    Event-free survival (EFS), is defined as the time from randomization to the time when a failure event is observed. Failure is define by Local-regional progression or recurrence, Distant metastasis, Non-protocol RT, chemotherapy, Surgery or death.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck Version (FACT-HN) score.

    The FACT-H\&N is a multidimensional, self-report QoL instrument specifically designed for use with head and neck cancer patients (1-3). It consists of 27 core items which assess patient function in four domains: Physical, Social/Family, Emotional, and Functional well-being, which is further supplemented by 12 site specific items to assess for head and neck related symptoms. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 Likert type scale, and then combined to produce subscale scores for each domain, as well as an global QoL score. Higher scores represent better QoL.

    Time frame: 6 years

  2. Local regional failure

    Locoregional control defined as time from randomization to the time of first documented local (primary site) or regional (lymph node) recurrence

    Time frame: 6 years

  3. Distant metastasis-free survival

    Distant metastasis-free survival defined as time from randomization to the time of first documented distant metastasis or death from any cause

    Time frame: 6 years

  4. Overall survival

    Overall Survival defined as time from randomization to the time of death from any cause

    Time frame: 6 years

  5. Cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy-based treatment arm vs standard of RT and cisplatin in patients with intermediate risk LA-OSC using the EQ-5D-5L

    Time frame: 6 years

  6. Number and severity of adverse events

    Time frame: 6 years

  7. Cost-utility will be used to abstract indirect costs at the end of RT and at 6 and 12 months post RT

    Time frame: 6 & 12 months

  8. Lost productivity questionnaire will be used to abstract indirect costs at the end of RT and at 6 and 12 months post RT

    Time frame: 6 & 12 months

  9. Incidence of second cancer

    Time frame: 6 years

  10. PRO-CTCAE baseline, last week of treatment, 3 months, 6 months and 12, 24 and 36 months from the end of RT

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months

  11. Dysphagia: PSS-HN swallowing subscale at 36 months from the end of RT

    Time frame: 36 months

  12. Dysphagia: using MDADI Global at 36 months from the end of RT

    Time frame: 36 months

  13. Number and severity of radiation-related late toxicity at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year from the end of RT

    Time frame: 3 months, 6 months & 1 year

06

Study locations

26 sites
  • Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
    Brussels, 1200, Belgium
  • University Hospital of Antwerp
    Edegem, Belgium
  • University Hospital of Gent
    Ghent, 9000, Belgium
  • University Hospital Leuven
    Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
  • Clinique St. Elizabeth
    Namur, 5000, Belgium
  • AZ Sint Augustinus
    Wilrijk, B-2610, Belgium
  • Cross Cancer Institute
    Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
  • CancerCare Manitoba
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0V9, Canada
  • QEII Health Sciences Centre
    Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1V7, Canada
  • Health Sciences North
    Greater Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5J1, Canada
  • Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences
    Hamilton, Ontario L8V 5C2, Canada
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
    Kingston, Ontario K7L 2V7, Canada
  • London Regional Cancer Program
    London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada
  • Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
    Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
  • University Health Network
    Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
  • The Jewish General Hospital
    Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
  • The Research Institute of the McGill University
    Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
  • CIUSSS de l'Estrie - Centre hospitalier
    Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
  • Allan Blair Cancer Centre
    Regina, Saskatchewan S4T 7T1, Canada
  • Saskatoon Cancer Centre
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4H4, Canada
  • Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
    Milan, 20133, Italy
  • Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra
    Pamplona, Navarre 31008, Spain
  • University Hospital Vall dHebron
    Barcelona, 08035, Spain
  • Hospital Duran i Reynals
    Barcelona, 08907, Spain
  • University Hospital Ramon y Cajal
    Madrid, 28034, Spain
  • University Clinical Hospital of Valencia
    Valencia, 46010, Spain
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03410615
Lead sponsor
Canadian Cancer Trials Group
Collaborators
AstraZeneca
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 25, 2018
Start date
May 28, 2018
Primary completion
Jan 9, 2026
Completion
Jul 31, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 24, 2026

Study contacts

Anna Spreafico
study chair · UNH/Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto ON Canada
Khalil Sultanem
study chair · The Jewish General Hospital, Montreal QC, Canada

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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