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Nasopharyngeal CarcinomaPhase 3NCT04456322

Radiotherapy Plus Nimotuzumab or Cisplatin in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

A Phase 3 study testing RT plus Nimotuzumab and RT plus Cisplatin in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

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 is a phase III randomized clinical trial of definitive radiotherapy plus EGFR blocker nimotuzumab versus radiotherapy plus cisplatin(CCRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with favorable response to induction chemotheray(IC), determining whether radiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab was non-inferior… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
What is being tested?
RT plus Nimotuzumab and RT plus Cisplatin
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
381 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
17 Aug 2020to 11 May 2027
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-70, regardless of sex.
  • Patients with newly histologically confirmed non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma, type of WHO II or III, clinical stage II-IVa (except N3)(according to the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer[AJCC] edition)
  • Patients with pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA<1500 copies/mL
  • Patients with plasma EBV DNA= 0 copy/mL and CR/PR according to RECIST after two cycle induction chemotherapy
  • ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) score: 0-1
  • Women in their reproductive years should ensure that they use contraception during the study period.
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  • Hemoglobin (HGB) ≥90 g/L, white blood cell (WBC) ≥4×109 /L, platelet (PLT) ≥100×109 /L.
  • Liver function: Alanine transaminase(ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase(AST)< 2.5 times the upper limit of normal value (ULN), total bilirubin <2.0×ULN.
  • Renal function: serum creatinine <1.5×ULN
  • Patients must sign informed consent and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of visits, treatment, laboratory tests and other research requirements stipulated in the research schedule;

Who cannot join

  • Histologically confirmed keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (WHO I)
  • Receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy or targeted therapy previously
  • Women of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or breastfeeding because of the potentially dangerous effects of the preparative chemotherapy on the fetus or infant.
  • Suffered from other malignant tumors (except the cure of basal cell carcinoma or uterine cervical carcinoma in situ) previously.
  • Patients with significantly lower heart, liver, lung, kidney and bone marrow function.
  • Severe, uncontrolled medical conditions and infections.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • At the same time using other test drugs or in other clinical trials.
  • Refusal or inability to sign informed consent to participate in the trial.
  • Other treatment contraindications.
  • Emotional disturbance or mental illness, no civil capacity or limited capacity for civil conduct.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site

  • Sun Yat-sen Universitty Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Non-inferiority Trial of Radiotherapy Plus Nimotuzumab or Cisplatin in Patients With Favorable Response to Induction Chemotherapy for Low-risk Locoregionally Advanced-Staged Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

This is a phase III randomized clinical trial of definitive radiotherapy plus EGFR blocker nimotuzumab versus radiotherapy plus cisplatin(CCRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with favorable response to induction chemotheray(IC), determining whether radiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab was non-inferior to CCRT and may provide new evidence for individualized comprehensive treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC.

Read the detailed description

Currently, NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guidelines recommend induction chemotherapy combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy as IIA level-evidenced treatment for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage II-IVa). However, although induction chemotherapy combined with cisplatin based concurrent radiotherapy (CCRT) can significantly improve the survival of patients, the side effects during radiotherapy are more serious.

Previous studies have demonstrated that with a cut-off point of 1500 copies/mL, NPC patients could be segregated into a low-risk subgroup and a high-risk subgroup. Besides, our previous results showed that patients with plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA= 0 copy/mL and complete response/partial response (CR/PR) after induction chemotherapy had a significantly lower risk of disease progression than patients with plasma EBV DNA>0 copy/mL and stable disease /progressive disease (SD/PD),according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). As for these low-risk and chemotheray sensitive patients, it can be considered to reduce the current standard treatment intensity without affecting the survival rate of patients, which reduces the side effects of patients and improve the their life qualities.

Epidermal growth factor (EGFR) is an important therapeutic target for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A retrospective study suggested that there was no significant difference in the 3-year overall survival between NPC patients who received nimotuzumab / cetuximab plus radiotherapy and those who received standard CCRT. Besides, in terms of hepatorenal toxicity, anti-EGFR drugs showed better safety compared with traditional cisplatin chemotherapy. Up to now, randomized clinical trial about the application of nimotuzumab after IC is still limited.

This is a phase III randomized clinical trial of definitive radiotherapy plus EGFR blocker nimotuzumab versus radiotherapy plus cisplatin for NPC patients with favorable response after IC, determining whether radiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab was non-inferior to CCRT after IC and may provide new evidence for individualized comprehensive treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC.

Being tested
RT plus Nimotuzumab, RT plus Cisplatin
Medical subject headings
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

What participants receive

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

  • RT plus NimotuzumabDrug

    Nimotuzumab (200mg, once a week during radiotherapy, a total of 7 weeks)

  • RT plus CisplatinDrug

    Also called Cisplatin

    concurrent cisplatin (100mg/m2, every three weeks,D1,D22,D43 of intensity modulated radiotherapy )

Study groups in NCT04456322
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
RT plus NimotuzumabExperimentalPatients with pretreatment plasma EBV DNA<1500 copy/ml and up to CR/PR according to RECIST and the EBV DNA reduced to undectable(0 copy/mL ) after two cycle induction chemotherapy ( TPF :Paclitaxel liposome135mg/m2 d1+DDP 25mg/m2 d1-d3+ 5-FU 750mg /m2/day civ120h, every 3 weeks for 2 courses) will have nimotuzumab (200mg, once a week during radiotherapy, a total of 7 weeks)
Receives: Drug: RT plus Nimotuzumab
RT plus CisplatinActive comparatorPatients with pretreatment plasma EBV DNA<1500 copy/ml and up to CR/PR according to RECIST and the EBV DNA reduced to undectable(0 copy/mL ) after two cycle induction chemotherapy( TPF :Paclitaxel liposome135mg/m2 d1+DDP 25mg/m2 d1-d3+ 5-FU 750mg /m2/day civ120h, every 3 weeks for 2 courses) will have concurrent cisplatin (100mg/m2, every three weeks,D1,D22,D43 of intensity modulated radiotherapy) )
Receives: Drug: RT plus Cisplatin

What is being measured

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

  1. Progression-Free Survival (PFS)

    Defined from date of randomization to date of first documentation of progression or death due to any cause

    Measured: 2 years

Secondary outcomes (9)

  1. Overall Survival (OS)

    Defined from date of randomization to date of first documentation of death from any cause or censored at the date of the last follow-up.

    Measured: 2 years

  2. Locoregional Relapse-Free Survival (LRFS)

    Defined from date of randomization to date of first documentation of locoregional relapse or the date of death from any cause or until the date of the last follow-up visit

    Measured: 2 years

  3. Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS)

    Defined from date of randomization to date of first documentation of distant metastases or the date of death from any cause or until the date of the last follow-up visit

    Measured: 2 years

  4. Objective Response Rate (ORR)

    An objective response is defined as either a confirmed CR or a PR, as determined by the investigator using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST1.1) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    Measured: Sixteen weeks after the completion of the CCRT with or without Nimotuzumab treatment

  5. Incidence rate of adverse events (AEs)

    Analysis of acute and late adverse events (AEs) are evaluated. Numbers of patients of treatment-related adverse events(acute toxicity) as assessed by CTCAE v5.0.Numbers of patients of late radiation toxicities were assessed using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer late radiation morbidity scoring scheme.

    Measured: 2 years

  6. Evaluate EGFR expression level and EGFR Gene Copy Number as a predictive marker for survival outcomes

    Pre-treatment EGFR expression level and EGFR Gene Copy Number is evaluated by means of immunohistochemical testing and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), respectively.

    Measured: 2 years

  7. Change of QoL

    QoL scores were assessed for each scale by using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTCQLQ-C30) before induction chemotherapy, before radiotherapy, at the end of radiotherapy, at 3 months after radiotherapy, at 6 months after radiotherapy and 12 months after radiotherapy

    Measured: 1 years

  8. Change of EORTC quality of life questionnaire(QLQ) Head and Neck score

    QoL scores were assessed by using EORTC quality of life questionnaire(QLQ) Head and Neck. The QLQ-H\&N35 is composed of seven multi-item symptom scales (pain, swallowing, sensation, speech, eating from a social,perspective, social interactions, and sexuality) and 11 single-item symptom scales (teeth, opening mouth,dry mouth, sticky saliva,coughing, felt ill, pain medication use, nutritional supplementation, feeding tube requirement, weight loss, and weight gain). All of the scales and items ranged in score from 0 to 100. A high score for a functional or global QoL scale represents a relatively high/healthy level of functional or global QoL, whereas a high score for a symptom scale or item represents a high number of symptoms or problems.All of the scores mentioned above were assessed at the below time point:before induction chemotherapy, before radiotherapy, at the end of radiotherapy, at 3 months after radiotherapy, at 6 months after radiotherapy and 12 months after radiotherapy

    Measured: 1 years

  9. Plasma EBV DNA copy number

    Plasma EBV DNA copy number in both arms was assessed by Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) at pretreatment, after two cycle induction chemotherapy, during CCRT and follow up time . The predictive value of plasma EBV DNA copy number was assessed by survival analysis.

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

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

  1. First posted2 Jul 2020
  2. Study start17 Aug 2020
  3. Primary completion11 May 2024
  4. Study completion11 May 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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
381 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04456322
Sponsor's protocol ID
2020-FXY-001
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
30 Jun 2020
Last updated
26 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Lee AW, Lau WH, Tung SY, Chua DT, Chappell R, Xu L, Siu L, Sze WM, Leung TW, Sham JS, Ngan RK, Law SC, Yau TK, Au JS, O'Sullivan B, Pang ES, O SK, Au GK, Lau JT; Hong Kong Nasopharyngeal Cancer Study Group. Preliminary results of a randomized study on therapeutic gain by concurrent chemotherapy for regionally-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: NPC-9901 Trial by the Hong Kong Nasopharyngeal Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Oct 1;23(28):6966-75. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2004.00.7542.

    PubMed 16192584

  • Ribassin-Majed L, Marguet S, Lee AWM, Ng WT, Ma J, Chan ATC, Huang PY, Zhu G, Chua DTT, Chen Y, Mai HQ, Kwong DLW, Cheah SL, Moon J, Tung Y, Chi KH, Fountzilas G, Bourhis J, Pignon JP, Blanchard P. What Is the Best Treatment of Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma? An Individual Patient Data Network Meta-Analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Feb 10;35(5):498-505. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.4119. Epub 2016 Dec 5.

    PubMed 27918720

  • Blanchard P, Lee A, Marguet S, Leclercq J, Ng WT, Ma J, Chan AT, Huang PY, Benhamou E, Zhu G, Chua DT, Chen Y, Mai HQ, Kwong DL, Cheah SL, Moon J, Tung Y, Chi KH, Fountzilas G, Zhang L, Hui EP, Lu TX, Bourhis J, Pignon JP; MAC-NPC Collaborative Group. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an update of the MAC-NPC meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2015 Jun;16(6):645-55. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)70126-9. Epub 2015 May 6.

    PubMed 25957714

  • Bossi P, Orlandi E, Bergamini C, Locati LD, Granata R, Mirabile A, Parolini D, Franceschini M, Fallai C, Olmi P, Quattrone P, Potepan P, Gloghini A, Miceli R, Mattana F, Scaramellini G, Licitra L. Docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil-based induction chemotherapy followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy concurrent with cisplatin in locally advanced EBV-related nasopharyngeal cancer. Ann Oncol. 2011 Nov;22(11):2495-2500. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdq783. Epub 2011 Mar 11.

    PubMed 21398385

  • Zhang Y, Chen L, Hu GQ, Zhang N, Zhu XD, Yang KY, Jin F, Shi M, Chen YP, Hu WH, Cheng ZB, Wang SY, Tian Y, Wang XC, Sun Y, Li JG, Li WF, Li YH, Tang LL, Mao YP, Zhou GQ, Sun R, Liu X, Guo R, Long GX, Liang SQ, Li L, Huang J, Long JH, Zang J, Liu QD, Zou L, Su QF, Zheng BM, Xiao Y, Guo Y, Han F, Mo HY, Lv JW, Du XJ, Xu C, Liu N, Li YQ, Chua MLK, Xie FY, Sun Y, Ma J. Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Induction Chemotherapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2019 Sep 19;381(12):1124-1135. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1905287. Epub 2019 May 31.

    PubMed 31150573

  • Chan AT, Lo YM, Zee B, Chan LY, Ma BB, Leung SF, Mo F, Lai M, Ho S, Huang DP, Johnson PJ. Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA and residual disease after radiotherapy for undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 Nov 6;94(21):1614-9. doi: 10.1093/jnci/94.21.1614.

    PubMed 12419787

  • Hou X, Zhao C, Guo Y, Han F, Lu LX, Wu SX, Li S, Huang PY, Huang H, Zhang L. Different clinical significance of pre- and post-treatment plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA load in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2011 Mar;23(2):128-33. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2010.09.001. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

    PubMed 20943358

  • Lin JC, Wang WY, Chen KY, Wei YH, Liang WM, Jan JS, Jiang RS. Quantification of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 10;350(24):2461-70. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa032260.

    PubMed 15190138

  • Liu LT, Tang LQ, Chen QY, Zhang L, Guo SS, Guo L, Mo HY, Zhao C, Guo X, Cao KJ, Qian CN, Zeng MS, Bei JX, Hong MH, Shao JY, Sun Y, Ma J, Mai HQ. The Prognostic Value of Plasma Epstein-Barr Viral DNA and Tumor Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced-Stage Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015 Nov 15;93(4):862-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.08.003. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

    PubMed 26530755

  • Huang CL, Sun ZQ, Guo R, Liu X, Mao YP, Peng H, Tian L, Lin AH, Li L, Shao JY, Sun Y, Ma J, Tang LL. Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Load After Induction Chemotherapy Predicts Outcome in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Jun 1;104(2):355-361. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

    PubMed 30682489

  • Ciardiello F, Tortora G. A novel approach in the treatment of cancer: targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor. Clin Cancer Res. 2001 Oct;7(10):2958-70.

    PubMed 11595683

  • Mendelsohn J. Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor for cancer therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Sep 15;20(18 Suppl):1S-13S. No abstract available.

    PubMed 12235219

  • Ramakrishnan MS, Eswaraiah A, Crombet T, Piedra P, Saurez G, Iyer H, Arvind AS. Nimotuzumab, a promising therapeutic monoclonal for treatment of tumors of epithelial origin. MAbs. 2009 Jan-Feb;1(1):41-8. doi: 10.4161/mabs.1.1.7509.

    PubMed 20046573

  • You R, Sun R, Hua YJ, Li CF, Li JB, Zou X, Yang Q, Liu YP, Zhang YN, Yu T, Cao JY, Zhang MX, Jiang R, Mo HY, Guo L, Cao KJ, Lin AH, Qian CN, Sun Y, Ma J, Chen MY. Cetuximab or nimotuzumab plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus cisplatin plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy for stage II-IVb nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2017 Sep 15;141(6):1265-1276. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30819. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

    PubMed 28577306

  • Lin M, You R, Liu YP, Zhang YN, Zhang HJ, Zou X, Yang Q, Li CF, Hua YJ, Yu T, Cao JY, Li JB, Mo HY, Guo L, Lin AH, Sun Y, Qian CN, Ma J, Mai HQ, Chen MY. Beneficial effects of anti-EGFR agents, Cetuximab or Nimotuzumab, in combination with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oral Oncol. 2018 May;80:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.03.002. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

    PubMed 29706183

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing RT plus Nimotuzumab and RT plus Cisplatin in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

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 10 inclusion and 10 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 26 Aug 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 China. 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 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

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

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Progression-Free Survival (PFS) (time frame: 2 years). 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 NCT04456322, which also lists 15 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 26 Aug 2026.

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