Phase 2 N=79 Treatment

Trial of Neoadjuvant Therapy With Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Operable Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05294900 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

3.8%

Results posted

May 2026

Primary outcome: Primary: Major Pathologic Response — 22 Participants

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2
Interventions: paclitaxel/carboplatin (Drug)
Age: Adult, Older Adult · 20+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: Yonsei University
Primary completion: Oct 2025

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Major Pathologic Response	22	—

Summary

- Objective: Primary objective: To evaluate the major pathologic response (mPR) of locally advanced head and neck cancer after paclitaxel and carboplatin-induction chemotherapy followed by surgery. Secondary objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy. Outcome metrics: Local relapse rate (LRR), Relapse-free survival (RFS), Overall survival (OS), Adverse reactions according to CTCAE 5.0 Exploratory Purpose: To evaluate changes in circulating tumor cells (CTC) and immunodynamics before and after paclitaxel and carboplatin-induction chemotherapy through blood, biopsy specimens, and surgical specimen analysis. * background : * Chemoradiation (CRT) or chemotherapy (Induction Chemotherapy (IC) + CRT) after induction chemotherapy has been performed for locally advanced head and neck cancer that cannot be operated immediately or for organ function preservation. . * The efficacy of induction chemotherapy before chemotherapy has been controversial because the results of several phase 3 clinical studies are inconsistent. At present, it is difficult to assert the superiority of either the addition of induction chemotherapy or radiation therapy alone, but in certain subgroups (advanced N stage such as N2c/N3) induction chemotherapy is a useful option to lower distant metastases. I can do it. * As a result of the TAX324 clinical trial, when weekly carboplatin-based chemotherapy or surgery was performed after adjuvant Docetaxel + Cisplatin + 5FU chemotherapy, overall survival was improved compared to Cisplatin + 5FU (HR 0.7, p=0.0058), It resulted in improvement of institutional retention rate (3 year LFS: 52% vs 32%). However, it is difficult to apply this TPF therapy to all patients in actual clinical practice due to the toxicity (neutropenia, nephrotoxicity) and the limitation of anticancer radiation. * In a retrospective study, in the case of adjuvant paclitaxel + carboplatin, there was no difference in progression-free survival compared to TPF (p=0.15), and there was no statistically significant decrease in the local recurrence rate (HR 0.27, p = 0.04). Confirmed. * Therefore, in this study, when paclitaxel and carboplatin-induction chemotherapy followed by surgery and chemotherapy after surgery, compared to standard TPF-induced chemotherapy, it is expected that the clinical outcome will be improved with less toxicity. * Hypothesis: Paclitaxel and carboplatin-induction chemotherapy followed by surgery, followed by chemo-radiation after surgery according to standard guidelines Compared with the existing standard treatment (TCF), improvement of clinical outcome with less toxicity * Study procedure * Induction chemotherapy Paclitaxel 175mg/m2 + Carboplatin AUC5 (calculated by Cockcroft - Gault formula) Combination therapy A total of 2 intravenous infusions every 3 weeks Surgery performed within 2-9 weeks after induction chemotherapy * surgery The surgery in this study means a complete resection for the purpose of a complete cure, and aims for a minimally invasive surgery.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

A patient whose potentially surgical, teletransfer-free HNSCC of oral, hypodermic, occipital, and larynx has been tissue-confirmed Oral cancer of III-IV, laryngeal cancer, hypodermic cancer, HPV-negative head cancer II-III HPV positive head cancer
A disease that can be measured, defined as a lesion that can be accurately measured pursuant to RECIST 1.1
Where the candidate subject to the test prepares the consent of the person subject to the test after obtaining approval required by region before the commencement of any plan-related procedures, including screening evaluation
Adult men and women over 20 years old at the time of participation in clinical trials
Eastern Cancer Cooperation Research Group (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ECOG) Activity Status 0 or 1
A patient with a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
Proper and normal organ and bone marrow functions as defined below:
hemoglobin test 9.0 g/dL
Absolute neutropenic number (ANC) set 109/L (1500 per mm3)
Platelet count 75,000 per mm3
1.5 times the total ULN of serum biliubine test institution
2.5 times the ULN of the AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) test institute.
Creatinine cleaning rate measured by 24-hour urine collection samples > 40 mL/min or calculated by Cockcroft Gault formula (Cockcroft and Gault 1976) >40 mL/min:
Women who have evidence after menopause or pre-menopausal women whose urine or serum pregnancy test results are negative. Women who have amenorrhea for 12 months without other medical reasons are considered after menopause. The following age requirements apply:
Even under the age of 50, she is in amenorrhea for at least 12 months after discontinuing exogenous hormone treatment, and if the LH and FSH levels are the menopause levels of the test institute, or if she underwent a surgical infertility operation (bilateral ovarian resection or complete hysterectomy), she is considered a menopause woman.
Women who have been in amenorrhea for at least 12 months after stopping all external hormone treatment, or whose last menstrual period is at least a year before and after radiation-induced menopause, or more than a year after chemotherapy induced menopause or who have undergone surgical infertility (bilateral ovarian resection, bilateral tubulectomy, or full hysterectomy) are considered women with menopause.

Exclusion

Direct involvement in the planning and/or implementation of this clinical trial
Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer
A patient who has experienced previous treatment for head and neck cancer (including a history of radiation treatment)
Patients who have participated in other clinical trials using clinical drugs within the past month
A patient registered simultaneously in a clinical trial other than an observation (non-mediate) clinical trial or an intermediary clinical trial tracer
Patients who need to use additional chemotherapy, clinical medicine, biological medicine, or hormone therapy for chemotherapy: Provided, That the simultaneous use of hormone therapy (e.g. hormone replacement therapy) for conditions unrelated to cancer is allowed.
The toxicity of at least NCI CTCAE Level 2 of the previous anti-cancer treatment, which has not yet been resolved: Provided, That laboratory values defined as hair loss, vitiligo, and selection criteria shall be excluded.
Neuropathy of grade 2 or higher is determined after consultation with a clinical trial doctor on a case-by-case basis.
Patients with irreversible toxicity that is not expected to worsen due to the administration of clinical trials can participate in the test only after consultation with a clinical trial doctor.
Patients who undergo a major operation (according to the tester's definition) within 28 days before the initial administration of clinical medication. Note: Local surgery on independent lesions for the purpose of conventional treatment is acceptable.
Intractable diseases, but not limited to the followi

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Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05294900). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.