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NCT Number: NCT07821242

Nimotuzumab Plus Radiotherapy in Elderly Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This is a prospective, single-center, open-label, single-arm phase II study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab combined with concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in elderly patients (≥65 years old) with locally advanced unresectable head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are unfit for standard concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy. Eligible patients will receive standard-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy together with weekly nimotuzumab. The primary endpoint is 1-year overall survival rate. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, objective tumor response rate, locoregional control rate, distant metastasis rate, and treatment-related adverse events. Patients will be followed up for survival, tumor status and safety assessments after treatment completion.

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Key information

Conditions

Head & Neck Cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Radiotherapy

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Beijing, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 65 years old.
  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage III-IVB squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx).
  • Positive EGFR test result in tumor tissue.
  • Tumor tissue available for HPV / P16 testing; no repeated testing required if prior test results are already available.
  • ECOG performance status 0-2 OR KPS score ≥ 60.
  • Patients who are assessed to be intolerant to chemotherapy or refuse chemotherapy.
  • At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST version 1.1.
  • Estimated life expectancy ≥ 6 months.
  • Adequate hematological function: white blood cell count ≥4×10^9/L; absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5×10^9/L; platelet count ≥100×10^9/L; hemoglobin ≥90 g/L.
  • Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN OR creatinine clearance (CrCl) >60 mL/min calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula.
  • Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN; AST ≤2.5×ULN; ALT ≤2.5×ULN.
  • Voluntarily sign written informed consent form and be able to comply with protocol-required visits and procedures.

Exclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 65 years old.
  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage III-IVB squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx).
  • Positive EGFR test result in tumor tissue.
  • Tumor tissue available for HPV / P16 testing; no repeated testing required if prior test results are already available.
  • ECOG performance status 0-2 OR KPS score ≥ 60.
  • Patients who are assessed to be intolerant to chemotherapy or refuse chemotherapy.
  • At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST version 1.1.
  • Estimated life expectancy ≥ 6 months.
  • Adequate hematological function: white blood cell count ≥4×10^9/L; absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5×10^9/L; platelet count ≥100×10^9/L; hemoglobin ≥90 g/L.
  • Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN OR creatinine clearance (CrCl) >60 mL/min calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula.
  • Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN; AST ≤2.5×ULN; ALT ≤2.5×ULN.
  • Voluntarily sign written informed consent form and be able to comply with protocol-required visits and procedures.

Treatment and study plan

Nimotuzumab

Drug

Humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, administered by intravenous infusion once weekly during the whole radiotherapy period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Objective response rate

    Time frame: At 4-week, 12-week after radiotherapy completion, then every 3 months up to 2-year follow-up or until disease progression/withdrawal

    Percentage of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR), assessed according to RECIST version 1.1. Only evaluable patients for tumor response will be included in analysis.

Secondary outcomes

  1. 2-year progression-free survival rate

    Time frame: From start of study treatment up to 24 months

    Progression-free survival (PFS) is defined as the time from initiation of study treatment to documented disease progression (locoregional recurrence or distant metastasis) or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. The 2-year PFS rate is estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Imaging assessments are performed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after radiotherapy completion, then every 3-months until disease progression, subject intolerance, withdrawal, or completion of 2-year follow-up.

  2. 2-year locoregional control rate

    Time frame: From start of study treatment through 2-year follow-up

    Locoregional control (LRC) is defined as the time from the start of study treatment until clinical or imaging-confirmed locoregional tumor recurrence (primary site or regional lymph nodes). Distant metastasis alone is not regarded as a locoregional control event. The 2-year locoregional control rate will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Tumor imaging assessments are performed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after radiotherapy completion, then every 3 months until disease progression, subject intolerance, withdrawal, or completion of 2-year follow-up.

  3. Overall survival

    Time frame: From start of study treatment through 2-year follow-up

    Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from initiation of study treatment to death from any cause. Patients who are alive will be censored at the end of 2-year follow-up. Survival status will be collected during regular follow-up visits.

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ke Hu

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Prospective, Single-Arm, Phase II Clinical Study of Nimotuzumab Combined With Radiotherapy for Elderly Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Acronym: NCRHNC

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2029
First posted
Sep 15, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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