Cadonilimab (PD-1/CTLA-4 Bispecific Blockade) and Chemoradiotherapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (GEMSTONE)

The trial plans to enroll patients with non-metastatic stage III-IVA (AJCC 8th, T4N1 or T1-4N2-3) locoregionally-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either gemcitabine-cisplatin induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (standard-therapy group) or cadonilimab combined with standard therapy (cadonilimab group). Cadonilimab was administered at a dosage of 10 mg per square meter intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 17 cycles (3 induction cycles and 14 adjuvant cycles).

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
• Tumor staged as III-IVA (AJCC 8th, except T3N0-1 or T4N0).
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1.
• Adequate marrow function: neutrocyte count≥1.5×10e9/L, hemoglobin ≥90g/L and platelet count ≥100×10e9/L.
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)/Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5×upper limit of normal (ULN), and bilirubin ≤ 1.5×ULN.
• Adequate renal function: creatinine clearance rate ≥ 60 ml/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula).
• Patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and give written informed consent.
• Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who are sexually active must be willing to adhere to effective contraception during treatment and for 1 year after the last dose of study drug. Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must be willing to adhere to effective contraception during treatment and for 1 year after the last dose of the study drug

Exclusion criteria

• Age > 65 or < 18.
• Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and hepatitis B virus DNA >1×10e3 copies/ml or 200IU/ml
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive
• Has active autoimmune disease, except type I diabetes, hypothyroidism treated with replacement therapy, and skin disease that doesn't require systemic treatment (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia).
• Has any condition that required systemic corticosteroid (equivalent to prednisone >10mg/d) or other immunosuppressive therapy within 28 days before informed consent. Patients received systemic corticosteroid equivalent to prednisone ≤10mg/d, inhale or topical corticosteroid will be allowed.
• Has a known history of active TB (bacillus tuberculosis) within 1 year; patients with adequately treated active TB over 1 year ago will be allowed.
• Has a known history of interstitial lung disease.
• Has received a live vaccine within 30 days before informed consent or will receive a live vaccine in the near future.
• Is pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Prior malignancy within 5 years, except in situ cancer, adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, and papillary thyroid carcinoma.
• Has known allergy to large molecule protein products or any compound of cadonilimab.
• Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
• Any other condition, including symptomatic heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, active infection requiring systemic therapy, mental illness or domestic/social factors, deemed by the investigator to be likely to interfere with a patient's ability to sign informed consent, cooperate and participate in the study, or interferes with the interpretation of the results.