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NCT Number: NCT07217028

Study Evaluating [18F]NOTA-ABY030 for Safety and Tolerability of Indeterminate Primary and/or Metastatic Disease in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This Phase I, single-institution, open-label study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and diagnostic performance of [18F]NOTA-ABY030 PET/CT in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who present with indeterminate lesions on standard imaging. The investigational agent is a radiolabeled anti-EGFR affibody designed for rapid clearance and improved tumor-to-background contrast. All participants will receive a 50 mg cetuximab loading dose followed by a bolus of [18F]NOTA-ABY030, with PET/CT imaging performed at defined intervals to assess biodistribution and lesion uptake. The primary objective is to determine safety and tolerability; secondary objectives include radiation dosimetry and comparison of sensitivity and specificity to conventional imaging modalities (MRI, CT, and [18F]FDG-PET/CT). This approach aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and streamline treatment decisions for patients with HNSCC.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Subjects diagnosed with any T stage, any subsite within the head and neck. Subjects with recurrent disease or a new primary will be allowed.
  • Must have evidence of indeterminate metastatic and/or primary SCC based on clinical imaging or Primary SCC with suspicious Lymph Nodes standard image modalities prior to surgical removal
  • Have acceptable lab values, including the following clinical results (if values are considered clinically significant per investigator, participants must be asymptomatic):
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9gm/dL
  • White blood cell count > 3000/mm3
  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3
  • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper reference range
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorus

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.
  • Prior severe infusion reactions or hypersensitivity to other monoclonal antibody therapies.
  • Pregnant (based on Screening serum or urine pregnancy test administered before infusions), or breastfeeding.
  • Participants with known hypersensitivity to NOTA-ABY-030, cetuximab, murine, or any of the drug components used in this trial.
  • Subjects with history or evidence of interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis.
  • Severe renal disease or anuria.
  • Participants presenting with a baseline QTcF interval > than 480 milliseconds.
  • Those with an allergy to red meat, a history of tick bites, and alpha-gal syndrome will be given extra consideration.

Treatment and study plan

Cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor)

Drug

Given IV

18F-NOTA-ABY-030

Drug

Given Bolus Injection

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Procedure

Undergo PET/CT

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess number, grade and severity of adverse events to determine safety and tolerability of [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 in human subjects.

    Time frame: From infusion to 7 days post-infusion

    As determined by the number of adverse events (AEs) that are possibly or probably related to the study drug within 24 hours after infusion. Dose limiting toxicities will be defined as an AE grade >2 that is clinically significant and attributable to the study drug.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Determination of the radiation dosimetry for [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 in human subjects.

    Time frame: From infusion to 7 days post-infusion

    The dosimetry for [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 will be determined to be the absorbed dose, organ specific uptake, critical organs, and effective dose for this first-in-human radiopharmaceutical.

  2. Compare sensitivity and specificity of standard of care imaging modalities (MRI, CT, and/or [18F]FDG PET/CT) to [18F]NOTA-ABY-030-PET/CT for detection of indeterminate metastatic and/or primary lesion(s) in HNSCC

    Time frame: From infusion to 7 days post-infusion

    The specificity and sensitivity of [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 will be compared to the specificity and sensitivity of standard of care imaging obtained (MRI, CT, and/or [18F]FDG PET/CT) for identification of metastatic or primary lesion.

Other outcomes

  1. Determine the sensitivity and specificity of [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 for the detection of indeterminate metastatic and/or primary lesion(s) in HNSCC.

    Time frame: From day of infusion to 36 months post-infusion

    The total number of HNSCC accurately detected by [18F]NOTA-ABY-030 compared to the number of positive disease during the 36 ± 6-month follow-up period (gold standard).

Study contacts

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

Makenna Brown

CONTACT

[email protected]

615-421-4370

Nicole Jones

CONTACT

[email protected]

615-936-2807

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2030
First posted
Oct 15, 2025
Registry last updated
May 11, 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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