Clinical trial · Interventional
Radiation Therapy and MK-3475 for Patients With Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, Renal Cell Cancer, Melanoma, and Lung Cancer
An Exploratory Study to Investigate the Immunomodulatory Activity of Radiation Therapy (RT) in Combination With MK-3475 in Patients With Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck, Renal Cell Cancer, Melanoma and Lung Cancer
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This randomized clinical trial studies radiation therapy and MK-3475 in treating patients with head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, or lung cancer that has returned, has spread to other parts of the body, or cannot be removed by surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies, such as MK-3475, may block tumor growth by targeting certain cells and causing the immune system to attack the tumor. Studying the effects of MK-3475 with radiation therapy on the body may help doctors learn whether it may be an effective treatment for these solid tumors.
Conditions
Conditions (9)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer | Renal Cell Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.80 |
| Recurrent Head and Neck Carcinoma | Head and Neck Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.78 |
| Recurrent Lung Carcinoma | Lung Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.78 |
| Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinoma | Renal Cell Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.80 |
| Recurrent Skin Carcinoma | Skin Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.78 |
| Stage III Renal Cell Cancer | Renal Cell Carcinoma | CURATED_BROADER |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| MK-3475 | Drug | Pembrolizumab | ALIAS |
| Radiation Therapy (RT) | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (4)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- A1: RT (1 fraction, 8 Gy) + MK-3475
- description
- Patients undergo RT on day 1 per standard of care and then undergo biopsy 3-10 days later. Beginning 0-7 days after biopsy, patients receive MK-3475 IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Courses of MK-3475 repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
- interventionNames
- Radiation: Radiation Therapy (RT)
- Drug: MK-3475
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- A2: RT (5 fractions, 4 Gy) + MK-3475
- description
- Patients undergo RT on days 1-5 and then undergo biopsy 3-10 days later. Beginning 0-7 days after biopsy, patients receive MK-3475 as in Arm A1.
- interventionNames
- Radiation: Radiation Therapy (RT)
- Drug: MK-3475
- type
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
2. Be ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
3. Have provided tissue from an archival tissue sample ( \< 6 months old) or newly obtained core biopsy of a tumor lesion before radiation therapy. A core biopsy will be required. It is mandatory to have post-radiation re-biopsy.
4. In addition to index lesion, there are ≥ 1 measurable lesion(s).
5. Have a performance status of ≤ 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
6. Demonstrate adequate organ function defined as the following:
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1,500 /mcL
* Platelets ≥100,000 / mcL
* Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL or ≥5.6 mmol/L
* Serum creatinine OR Measured or calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) ≤1.8 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
≥50 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels \> 1.8 X institutional ULN
* Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \> 1.5 ULN
* AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN OR ≤ 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases
7. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
8. Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication (Reference Section 5.7.2). Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year.
9. Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 2 weeks of the radiation therapy.
2. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the radiation therapy.
3. Has had a prior monoclonal antibody within 4 weeks prior to radiation therapy or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
4. Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to radiation therapy or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent.
* Note: Prior radiation therapy does not necessary excludes patients. The index lesion may be acceptable for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and this will be determined by radiation oncologist.
* Note: If there are more than one symptomatic lesions, patients will be excluded if the lesions can't be encompassed within one radiation portal.
* Note: Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.
* Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
5. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy.
6. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the radiation therapy and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to radiation treatment.
7. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Subjects with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Subjects with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjorgen's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
8. Has evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
9. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
10. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
11. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
12. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
13. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways).
14. Has a known Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV 1/2 antibodies) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome((HIV/AIDS).
15. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected).
16. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the radiation therapy.References
Publications (13)
- BACKGROUNDPardoll DM. The blockade of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer. 2012 Mar 22;12(4):252-64. doi: 10.1038/nrc3239. PMID 22437870
- BACKGROUNDWeber JS. Practical management of immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint protein antibodies for the oncologist. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2012:174-7. doi: 10.14694/EdBook_AM.2012.32.79. PMID 24451730
- BACKGROUNDWeber JS, Kahler KC, Hauschild A. Management of immune-related adverse events and kinetics of response with ipilimumab. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Jul 20;30(21):2691-7. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2012.41.6750. Epub 2012 May 21. PMID 22614989
- BACKGROUNDHodi FS, O'Day SJ, McDermott DF, Weber RW, Sosman JA, Haanen JB, Gonzalez R, Robert C, Schadendorf D, Hassel JC, Akerley W, van den Eertwegh AJ, Lutzky J, Lorigan P, Vaubel JM, Linette GP, Hogg D, Ottensmeier CH, Lebbe C, Peschel C, Quirt I, Clark JI, Wolchok JD, Weber JS, Tian J, Yellin MJ, Nichol GM, Hoos A, Urba WJ. Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2010 Aug 19;363(8):711-23. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1003466. Epub 2010 Jun 5. PMID 20525992
- BACKGROUNDTopalian SL, Hodi FS, Brahmer JR, Gettinger SN, Smith DC, McDermott DF, Powderly JD, Carvajal RD, Sosman JA, Atkins MB, Leming PD, Spigel DR, Antonia SJ, Horn L, Drake CG, Pardoll DM, Chen L, Sharfman WH, Anders RA, Taube JM, McMiller TL, Xu H, Korman AJ, Jure-Kunkel M, Agrawal S, McDonald D, Kollia GD, Gupta A, Wigginton JM, Sznol M. Safety, activity, and immune correlates of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jun 28;366(26):2443-54. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1200690. Epub 2012 Jun 2. PMID 22658127
- BACKGROUNDBrahmer JR, Tykodi SS, Chow LQ, Hwu WJ, Topalian SL, Hwu P, Drake CG, Camacho LH, Kauh J, Odunsi K, Pitot HC, Hamid O, Bhatia S, Martins R, Eaton K, Chen S, Salay TM, Alaparthy S, Grosso JF, Korman AJ, Parker SM, Agrawal S, Goldberg SM, Pardoll DM, Gupta A, Wigginton JM. Safety and activity of anti-PD-L1 antibody in patients with advanced cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jun 28;366(26):2455-65. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1200694. Epub 2012 Jun 2.