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NCT Number: NCT05901545

Evaluating 111In Panitumumab for Nodal Staging in Head and Neck Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety and effectiveness of indium In 111 panitumumab (111In-panitumumab) for identifying the first lymph nodes to which cancer has spread from the primary tumor (sentinel lymph nodes) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing surgery. The most important factor for survival for many cancer types is the presence of cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes (metastasis). Lymph node metastases in patients with head and neck cancer reduce the 5-year survival by half. Sometimes, the disease is too small to be found on clinical and imaging exams before surgery. 111In-panitumumab is in a class of medications called radioimmunoconjugates. It is composed of a radioactive substance (indium In 111) linked to a monoclonal antibody (panitumumab). Panitumumab binds to EGFR receptors, a receptor that is over-expressed on the surface of many tumor cells and plays a role in tumor cell growth. Once 111In-panitumumab binds to tumor cells, it is able to be seen using an imaging technique called single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). SPECT/CT can be used to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body and to visualize areas where the radioactive drug has been taken up by the cells. Using 111In-panitumumab with SPECT/CT imaging may improve identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer undergoing surgery.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Vanderbilt University/Ingram Cancer Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Eben Rosenthal, MD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Vanderbilt-Ingram Service Services for Timely Access

CONTACT

[email protected]

800-811-8480

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Assess the safety of indium In 111 panitumumab (111In-panitumumab) as a molecular imaging agent in patients with HNSCC.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Compare sensitivity and specificity of identifying sentinel lymph nodes by systemic injection of 111In-panitumumab prior to day of surgery versus conventional local injection with an optical dye at the time of surgery.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine if systemic injection of 111In-panitumumab can identify tumor-positive lymph nodes on preoperative SPECT/CT.

II. When preoperative imaging information (eg, fludeoxyglucose F 18 [18F-FDG] positron emission tomography [PET]/CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) data is available:

IIa. Evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 111In-panitumumab SPECT/CT findings to the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of preoperative MRI in identifying metastatic lymph nodes (histopathological results will serve as the gold standard).

IIb. Evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 111In-panitumumab SPECT/CT findings to the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in identifying metastatic lymph nodes (histopathological results will serve as the gold standard).

OUTLINE:

Patients receive loading dose of panitumumab intravenously (IV) over 15 minutes followed by 111In-panitumumab IV bolus on day 0. Patients then undergo SPECT/CT scan between day 1 and day of standard of care surgery (up to day 5). During standard of care surgery, patients receive local injection of optical dye per surgeon's preference and undergo intraoperative and near infrared (NIR) imaging. Patients additionally undergo blood sample collection during screening and electrocardiography (ECG) during screening, on day 0, and on day 15 if indicated.

Patients are followed for up to 15 days after last dose of study medication.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 19 years.
  • Biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, clinically-staged as node-negative (cN0) or as clinically-suspicious node(s).
  • Subjects diagnosed with any T stage, any subsite within the head and neck that are scheduled to undergo surgical resection. Subjects with recurrent disease or a new primary will be allowed.
  • Planned standard of care elective neck dissection for node-negative or node-positive disease.
  • Have acceptable hematologic status, kidney function, and liver function including the following clinical results:
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9 gm/dL
  • White blood cell count > 3000/mm^3
  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
  • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper reference range

Exclusion criteria

  • Myocardial infarction (MI); cerebrovascular accident (CVA); uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF); significant liver disease; or unstable angina within 6 months prior to enrollment.
  • History of infusion reactions to monoclonal antibody therapies
  • History of allergies to iodine
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Magnesium or potassium lower than the normal institutional values.
  • Subjects receiving Class IA (quinidine, procainamide) or Class III (dofetilide, amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents.
  • Subjects with a history or evidence of interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis.
  • Severe renal disease or anuria.

Treatment and study plan

Panitumumab

Biological

Given by IV

Indium In 111 Panitumumab

Other

Given by IV

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Procedure

Undergo SPECT/CT

Computed Tomography

Procedure

Undergo SPECT/CT

Surgical Procedure

Procedure

Undergo standard of care surgery

Imaging agent

Other

Receive local injection of optical dye

Intraoperative Imaging

Procedure

Undergo Intraoperative Imaging

Near Infrared Imaging

Procedure

Undergo Near Infrared Imaging

Electrocardiography

Procedure

Undergo Electrocardiography

Biospecimen Collection

Procedure

Undergo blood sample collection

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of adverse events grade 2 or higher

    Time frame: Up to 15 days after administration of study drug

    Toxicity graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Summarized by grade, severity and type

Secondary outcomes

  1. Sensitivity of systemic injection of indium In 111 panitumumab (111In-panitumumab) for identifying sentinel lymph nodes

    Time frame: Up to five years

    Will compare the sensitivity of systemic injection of 111In-panitumumab for identifying sentinel lymph nodes to the sensitivity of conventional local injection with an optical dye at the time of surgery. Means and standard deviations for continuous characteristics will be presented. Frequency statistics will be presented for categorical variables. Graphical tools may be used to assess distributional properties of continuous variables.

  2. Specificity of systemic injection of 111In-panitumumab for identifying sentinel lymph nodes

    Time frame: Up to five years

    Will compare the specificity of systemic injection of 111In-panitumumab for identifying sentinel lymph nodes to the sensitivity of conventional local injection with an optical dye at the time of surgery. Means and standard deviations for continuous characteristics will be presented. Frequency statistics will be presented for categorical variables. Graphical tools may be used to assess distributional properties of continuous variables.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nicole Jones

CONTACT

[email protected]

615-936-2807

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Other

Collaborators

  • American Cancer Society, Inc.

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jun 13, 2023
Registry last updated
Mar 5, 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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