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Squamous Cell CarcinomaPhase 2NCT04150900

1922GCCC: Pembro and Bavituximab for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

A Phase 2 study testing Bavituximab and Pembrolizumab in people with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This phase II single arm study is being done to determine if bavituximab could potentially synergize with PD-1 inhibitor therapy to generate an effective anti-tumor immune response in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer (HNSCC) who progressed on a PD-1 inhibitor. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
What is being tested?
Bavituximab and Pembrolizumab
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
7 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
13 Jan 2020to 1 Jan 2027
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients will have recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer and will have radiographic evidence of progression on prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab and atezolizumab. Patients must have progressed on prior platinum therapy either in the recurrent setting or within 6 months of treatment with cisplatin and radiation in the potentially curative setting.
  • Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
  • Be > or equal to 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1.
  • Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion. Newly-obtained is defined as a specimen obtained up to 6 weeks (42 days) prior to initiation of treatment on Day 1. Subjects for whom newly-obtained samples cannot be provided (e.g. inaccessible or subject safety concern) may submit an archived specimen only upon agreement from the PI.
  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
Show all 13Show fewer
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 1, all screening labs should be performed within 10 days of treatment initiation.
  • Female subject of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential (Section 6.2) must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception as outlined in Section 6.2 - Contraception, for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication.
  • Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.
  • -Male subjects of childbearing potential (Section 6.2) must agree to use an adequate method of contraception as outlined in Section 6.2- Contraception, starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.
  • Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.
  • Both men and women of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial.

Who cannot join

  • Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients. History of hypersensitivity to other antibodies can be discussed with the PI to determine eligibility.
  • Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
  • Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent.
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  • 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.
  • Has experienced an immune-related adverse event requiring discontinuation of a prior checkpoint inhibitor.
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
  • 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 first dose of trial treatment 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 trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement (such as prednisone 10mg daily or its equivalent) for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • 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.
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • 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.
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  • Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.
  • Patients with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of randomization. Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal replacement steroid doses < 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Maryland Medical Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: 1922GCCC: PHASE 2 STUDY OF PEMBROLIZUMAB AND BAVITUXIMAB FOR PROGRESSIVE RECURRENT/METASTATIC SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK

This phase II single arm study is being done to determine if bavituximab could potentially synergize with PD-1 inhibitor therapy to generate an effective anti-tumor immune response in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer (HNSCC) who progressed on a PD-1 inhibitor.

Read the detailed description

The goal of this study is to assess whether treatment with bavituximab shifts the cellular balance to favor an effective T-cell mediated antitumor response resulting to an enhanced response in conjunction with pembrolizumab. Bavituximab is a chimeric (human/mouse) monoclonal antibody that targets phosphatidylserine (PS). PS facilitates the recognition and clearance of dying cells, triggering the release of immunosuppressive cytokines and inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Within the tumor microenvironment, PS polarizes macrophages toward an immunosuppressive phenotype. Bavituximab upregulates the adaptive T cell-mediated response through crosslinking FCRγ and dampening of signaling between PS and PS receptors on immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Thus, the investigators are doing this phase II single arm study to determine if bavituximab could potentially synergize with PD-1 inhibitor therapy to generate an effective anti-tumor immune response in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer (HNSCC) who progressed on a PD-1 inhibitor.

Being tested
Bavituximab, Pembrolizumab
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • BavituximabDrug

    Bavituximab is a chimeric (human/mouse) monoclonal antibody (mAb) derived from murine mAb 3G4 that targets phosphatidylserine (PS) after binding to β2-glycoprotein 1 (β2-GP1).

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Pembrolizumab is a highly selective humanized mAb designed to block the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.

Study groups in NCT04150900
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pembrolizumab + BavituximabExperimentalPembro and Bavituximab for progressive recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck
Receives: Drug: Bavituximab; Drug: Pembrolizumab

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. CR+PR

    overall response rate

    Measured: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 55 months.

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Progression

    Progression free survival

    Measured: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 55 months.

  2. Disease Progression

    Number of participants with disease progression. For duration of response, CT imaging and RECIST criteria were reviewed to measure patient's response and time of that duration. One cycle is 21 days.

    Measured: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression up to 100 weeks

  3. Survival

    Overall survival

    Measured: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 55 months.

  4. Participants With Laboratory Correlates of Response

    Number of participants with laboratory correlates of response.

    The following outcomes are being measured:

    PD-L1 expression pre and post treatment Presence of TILs (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) pre and post treatment Assessment of immune markers in pre-treatment fresh and post-treatment biopsies and blood.

    Assessment of genomics and tumor mutation burden in select patients.

    These outcome measures are determined through archival tumor tissue and next generation sequencing.

    Measured: through study completion, an average of 1 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Nov 2019
  2. Study start13 Jan 2020
  3. Primary completion1 Sep 2024
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Pembro and Bavituximab for progressive recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
7 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04150900
Sponsor's protocol ID
1922GCCC_HP-00085668
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
22 Oct 2019
Last updated
19 Feb 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Seiwert TY, Burtness B, Mehra R, Weiss J, Berger R, Eder JP, Heath K, McClanahan T, Lunceford J, Gause C, Cheng JD, Chow LQ. Safety and clinical activity of pembrolizumab for treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-012): an open-label, multicentre, phase 1b trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Jul;17(7):956-965. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30066-3. Epub 2016 May 27.

    PubMed 27247226
  • Ferris RL, Blumenschein G Jr, Fayette J, Guigay J, Colevas AD, Licitra L, Harrington K, Kasper S, Vokes EE, Even C, Worden F, Saba NF, Iglesias Docampo LC, Haddad R, Rordorf T, Kiyota N, Tahara M, Monga M, Lynch M, Geese WJ, Kopit J, Shaw JW, Gillison ML. Nivolumab for Recurrent Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. N Engl J Med. 2016 Nov 10;375(19):1856-1867. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1602252. Epub 2016 Oct 8.

    PubMed 27718784
  • Balermpas P, Rodel F, Rodel C, Krause M, Linge A, Lohaus F, Baumann M, Tinhofer I, Budach V, Gkika E, Stuschke M, Avlar M, Grosu AL, Abdollahi A, Debus J, Bayer C, Stangl S, Belka C, Pigorsch S, Multhoff G, Combs SE, Monnich D, Zips D, Fokas E. CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in relation to HPV status and clinical outcome in patients with head and neck cancer after postoperative chemoradiotherapy: A multicentre study of the German cancer consortium radiation oncology group (DKTK-ROG). Int J Cancer. 2016 Jan 1;138(1):171-81. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29683. Epub 2015 Jul 30.

    PubMed 26178914
  • Kim KJ, Lee KS, Cho HJ, Kim YH, Yang HK, Kim WH, Kang GH. Prognostic implications of tumor-infiltrating FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in microsatellite-unstable gastric cancers. Hum Pathol. 2014 Feb;45(2):285-93. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2013.09.004. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

    PubMed 24331841
  • Savas P, Salgado R, Denkert C, Sotiriou C, Darcy PK, Smyth MJ, Loi S. Clinical relevance of host immunity in breast cancer: from TILs to the clinic. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2016 Apr;13(4):228-41. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2015.215. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

    PubMed 26667975
  • Uppaluri R, Dunn GP, Lewis JS Jr. Focus on TILs: prognostic significance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in head and neck cancers. Cancer Immun. 2008 Dec 4;8:16.

    PubMed 19053167
  • Shinto E, Hase K, Hashiguchi Y, Sekizawa A, Ueno H, Shikina A, Kajiwara Y, Kobayashi H, Ishiguro M, Yamamoto J. CD8+ and FOXP3+ tumor-infiltrating T cells before and after chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Jun;21 Suppl 3:S414-21. doi: 10.1245/s10434-014-3584-y. Epub 2014 Feb 25.

    PubMed 24566864
  • Vassilakopoulou M, Avgeris M, Velcheti V, Kotoula V, Rampias T, Chatzopoulos K, Perisanidis C, Kontos CK, Giotakis AI, Scorilas A, Rimm D, Sasaki C, Fountzilas G, Psyrri A. Evaluation of PD-L1 Expression and Associated Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Feb 1;22(3):704-13. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-1543. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

    PubMed 26408403
  • Topalian SL, Taube JM, Anders RA, Pardoll DM. Mechanism-driven biomarkers to guide immune checkpoint blockade in cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer. 2016 May;16(5):275-87. doi: 10.1038/nrc.2016.36. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

    PubMed 27079802
  • Shinohara T, Taniwaki M, Ishida Y, Kawaichi M, Honjo T. Structure and chromosomal localization of the human PD-1 gene (PDCD1). Genomics. 1994 Oct;23(3):704-6. doi: 10.1006/geno.1994.1562.

    PubMed 7851902
  • Bertucci F, Finetti P, Mamessier E, Pantaleo MA, Astolfi A, Ostrowski J, Birnbaum D. PDL1 expression is an independent prognostic factor in localized GIST. Oncoimmunology. 2015 Feb 3;4(5):e1002729. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2014.1002729. eCollection 2015 May.

    PubMed 26155391
  • Kim HR, Ha SJ, Hong MH, Heo SJ, Koh YW, Choi EC, Kim EK, Pyo KH, Jung I, Seo D, Choi J, Cho BC, Yoon SO. PD-L1 expression on immune cells, but not on tumor cells, is a favorable prognostic factor for head and neck cancer patients. Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 14;6:36956. doi: 10.1038/srep36956.

    PubMed 27841362
  • Mishra AK, Kadoishi T, Wang X, Driver E, Chen Z, Wang XJ, Wang JH. Squamous cell carcinomas escape immune surveillance via inducing chronic activation and exhaustion of CD8+ T Cells co-expressing PD-1 and LAG-3 inhibitory receptors. Oncotarget. 2016 Dec 6;7(49):81341-81356. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.13228.

    PubMed 27835902
  • Mandal R, Senbabaoglu Y, Desrichard A, Havel JJ, Dalin MG, Riaz N, Lee KW, Ganly I, Hakimi AA, Chan TA, Morris LG. The head and neck cancer immune landscape and its immunotherapeutic implications. JCI Insight. 2016 Oct 20;1(17):e89829. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.89829.

    PubMed 27777979
  • Balasubramanian K, Schroit AJ. Characterization of phosphatidylserine-dependent beta2-glycoprotein I macrophage interactions. Implications for apoptotic cell clearance by phagocytes. J Biol Chem. 1998 Oct 30;273(44):29272-7. doi: 10.1074/jbc.273.44.29272.

    PubMed 9786940

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Bavituximab and Pembrolizumab in people with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 13 inclusion and 21 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Feb 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

CR+PR (time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 55 months.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04150900, which also lists 36 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Feb 2026.

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