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Cemiplimab for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer

This study is testing a new way to treat HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (a type of cancer that starts in the cells lining the head and neck). Researchers want to see if using Cemiplimab (an immunotherapy drug that helps your immune system fight cancer), either alone or with chemotherapy (Carboplatin and Paclitaxel), before other treatments can reduce the intensity of treatment and improve your quality of life, while still keeping cure rates high. You could be eligible if you have HPV-positive head and neck cancer, confirmed by a p16 test. The study will measure how many people are free from cancer progression after two years, and how your quality of life changes, especially regarding swallowing. This study plans to enroll 32 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive specific treatments. It aims to enroll 32 participants.
What's involved
You would receive Cemiplimab (with or without Carboplatin and Paclitaxel) for 9 weeks, followed by other treatments and then Cemiplimab again for 4 months (5 doses every 21 days). Your progress will be assessed weekly.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress will be followed for up to 2 years after treatment to assess progression-free survival and changes in quality of life.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04988074

Trial of Cemiplimab, or Cemip-Chemo Followed by Biomarker-guided Treatment for Pts w/HPV H&N Ca

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
~32 participants
Updated 2026-03-03 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Cemiplimab

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
2-year progression free survival rate
Measured over Up to 2 years
+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

HPV-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Explore related trials

Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaCDKN2A wt AlleleHPVHPV16

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Nyall R London, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Who to contact

Zubair Khan, M.D.
[email protected]
410-955-3157
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Subjects must have pathologically confirmed HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Confirmed HPV-positive disease of other subsites are uncommon but also eligible.
HPV testing must be compliant with the following criteria:
p16 IHC positivity is sufficient to enroll and initiate treatment (p16 IHC interpretation to follow guidelines by Jordan and Lingen et al89).
p16 IHC positivity is to be validated using an HPV nucleic acid based secondary assay (HPV ISH, HPV PCR, HPV cfDNA) before or during the neoadjuvant phase.\*
HPV DNA ISH is acceptable if positive, however a negative HPV DNA ISH should be confirmed by HPV RNA ISH or other nucleic acid based method.
HPV16 type (non-HPV16 related cancers are not eligible)\*
\*In the rare event that a subject starts treatment based on p16 IHC alone and HPV type determination is not yet available, subject may commence neoadjuvant treatment based on p16 IHC alone, as along as HPV nucleic acid testing is pending. Patients with non-HPV16 associated tumors will have to leave the study. Given the prevalence of HPV16 (\~90-95%) and usual rapid turnaround of HPV16 RNA-ISH (other assays) this is not expected, but the primary goal is not to have unnecessary treatment delay for subjects.
Availability of ≥8 unstained 5 micron slides. Subjects who cannot fulfill this requirement will need to undergo a new biopsy prior to enrollment on study. In patients where biopsy is not safe, or logistically feasible this requirement can be waived by the PI or a lower number of slides can be accepted.
Subjects must be at least 18 years of age.
AJCC 7th edition: Stage III, IV without bulky N2b/c disease (defined as N3 equivalent volume) and without bulky T4 (≤30cc).
Measurable disease (either primary site and/or nodal disease) by RECIST 1.1 criteria.
No previous radiation or chemotherapy for a head and neck cancer.
No complete surgical resection for a head and neck cancer within 8 weeks of enrollment (although lymph node biopsy including excision of an individual node with presence of residual nodal disease, or surgical biopsy/excision of the tumor with residual disease is acceptable).
ECOG performance status 0-1 (Karnofsky ³70%).
Normal Organ Function
Leukocytes ≥2500/mm3,
Platelets ≥75,000/mm3,
Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500,
Hemoglobin \>9.0 gm/dL,
AST and ALT \<2.5 X ULN
Alkaline phosphatase \<2.5 X ULN
Albumin \>2.9 gm/dL,
Total bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dl,
Creatinine clearance \>45 mL/min (or SCr \<1.6 mg/dL) within 4 weeks prior to start of treatment.
The standard Cockcroft and Gault formula or the measured glomerular filtration rate must be used to calculate CrCl for enrollment or dosing
Subjects must sign a study-specific informed consent form prior to study entry. Subjects should have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Sex, and Reproductive Status:
Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP=premenopausal woman capable of becoming pregnant) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study drug.
Women must not be breastfeeding.
WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s) plus 5 half-lives of study drug(s) plus 30 days (duration of ovulatory cycle) for up to 5 months post-treatment completion.
Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s) plus 5 half-lives of study drug(s) plus 90 days (duration of sperm turnover) for up to 7 months post treatment completion.
Azoospermic males and WOCBP who are continuously not heterosexually active are exempt from contraceptive requirements. However, they must still undergo pregnancy testing as described in this section.
Prior surgical therapy other than incisional/excisional biopsy or organ-sparing procedures such as debulking of airway-compromising tumors. Residual measurable tumor is required for enrollment on study as outlined above
Subjects receiving other investigational agents.
Peripheral neuropathy \>grade 1
Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy in excess of physiologic dose or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
Has a known history of active tuberculosis (Bacillus Tuberculosis infection)
Has hypersensitivity to cemiplimab or any other drug used in this protocol.
Has had a prior systemic anti-cancer treatment within the last 8 weeks
Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer or thyroid cancers, any tumors that are not likely to influence life expectancy in the subsequent 3 years without active treatment other than hormonal therapies (e.g., adjuvant after breast cancer, or low grade prostate cancer).
Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past year (i.e., with use of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy e.g., levothyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid doses for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc. are not considered a form of systemic treatment.
Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
Has a history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV ½ antibodies).
Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HbsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected). However, if eradicated subject is eligible.
Has received a live vaccine within 28 days of planned start of study therapy.
Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed within 28 days prior to initiation of treatment.

Exclusion

Unequivocal demonstration of distant metastases (M1 disease).
Unidentifiable/unknown primary site (neither imaging nor exam nor biopsy can identify the primary). Treating physicians should agree that the primary is sufficiently identified to proceed with clinical care/treatment (e.g. in the case of imaging localization, but absence of biopsy proven pathology)
Intercurrent medical illnesses which would impair subject tolerance to therapy or limit survival. Including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, immunodeficiency, symptomatic congestive heart failure, pulmonary dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance. Once clinically stable, as defined by the PI, they are eligible.

What this trial measures

  • 2-year progression free survival rateUp to 2 years
  • Change in Quality of life as measured by MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI)Up to 2 years

    The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) is a 20 item quality of life instrument specifically focusing on swallowing. The total score ranges from 20 to 100 with the higher score indicating higher level of function. Each item is scored on a 5 point Likert scale (strongly disagree, disagree, no opinion, agree, strongly agree).

  • Change in quality of life as measured by the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ).Up to 2 years

    The SSQ consists of 17 questions, (16 visual analogue scales (VAS) and one question scored on a Likert scale (0-5). The score for each VAS question is the distance in mm from the origin (left extremity) to the patient's mark on the visual analogue scale. The total score is calculated by summing the 16 individual VAS scores and the Likert scale (0-5) multiplied by 20. Thus converting the range of possible scores for Likert question from 0-5 to 0-100, consistent with the remaining 16 questions, to yield a total score out of a possible maximum of 1700. Higher scores indicate higher symptomatic severity of oral-pharyngeal dysphagia.

  • Change in swallow function as measured by the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ).Up to 2 years

    Desirable swallowing function at 1 year for this study will be defined as SSQ ≤ 250 and MDADI ≥ 70

  • Change in swallow function as measured by the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory.Up to 2 years

    Desirable swallowing function at 1 year for this study will be defined as SSQ ≤ 250 and MDADI ≥ 70