Testing Whether Cemiplimab (REGN2810) Plus CDX-1140 Given Prior to Surgery Are Better Than Cemiplimab (REGN2810) Alone in Patients With Stage III-IV Head and Neck Cancer

Recruiting now · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Nasal Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Nasal Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Stage III Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8, Stage III Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage III Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IV Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IVA Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IVB Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8

In brief

This phase II trial compares the effectiveness of cemiplimab with CDX-1140 to cemiplimab without CDX-1140 prior to surgery in treating patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. CDX-1140 is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Giving cemiplimab with CDX-1140 versus cemiplimab alone before surgery may make the tumor smaller and may reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed for patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06980038
Run by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
People needed: 44
Starts: 2026-05-27
Expected to finish: 2027-11-24
Last updated by the study team: 2026-08-04

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III-IV T0-4, N0-3b, M0 mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, and nasal cavity) that is appropriate for surgical resection. Both previously untreated (primary) and recurrent (salvage) settings will be eligible. Tumors must be accessible to biopsy in clinic (patients with laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, nasal cavity and base of tongue tumors will have endoscopic biopsies)
For patients with oropharyngeal cancer, only p16-negative (non-human papillomavirus [HPV] related) patients will be eligible
Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as ≥ 20 mm (≥ 2 cm) by chest x-ray or as ≥ 10 mm (≥ 1 cm) with CT scan, MRI, or calipers by clinical exam
Age ≥ 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event (AE) data are currently available on the use of cemiplimab (REGN2810) alone or in combination with CDX-1140 in patients < 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 (Karnofsky ≥ 60%)
Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 7 g/dL (transfusion allowed to bring Hb to this level)
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL
Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) /alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 3 × institutional ULN
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 × institutional ULN OR glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class II or better
Based on its mechanism of action, cemiplimab (REGN2810) can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Animal studies have demonstrated that inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can lead to increased risk of immune-mediated rejection of the developing fetus resulting in fetal death. Women of childbearing potential and men should use effective contraception during treatment with cemiplimab (REGN2810) and for 4 months after the last dose. The reproductive and developmental toxicity of CDX-1140 has not been evaluated. Women of childbearing potential and their partners who receive CDX-1140 must therefore take adequate contraceptive measures
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants

You may not qualify if…

Active or documented history of autoimmune disease within 2 years before screening
Prior or planned allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
History of organ transplant that requires use of immunosuppressive medications
Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days prior to the start of study drug administration. Immunosuppressants may interfere with study drug efficacy
Any previous treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor, including cemiplimab (REGN2810). It is unclear how prior exposure to immunotherapy would impact future use of checkpoint inhibitors
Concurrent use of prednisone (10 mg or more)
Patients with new pulmonary infiltrates indicative of pneumonitis, history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease, or current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease, including grade 1 pneumonitis (i.e., asymptomatic, clinical or diagnostic observation only, intervention not indicated)
Another active malignancy for which the natural history or treatment has potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen on this trial
Patients who have not recovered from AE due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities > grade 1) with the exception of alopecia
Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents, such as concurrent chemotherapy, biologic, immunologic or hormonal therapy for cancer treatment
History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to CDX-1140 or cemiplimab (REGN2810)
Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness or any other significant condition(s) that would make participation in this protocol unreasonably hazardous
Pregnant women are excluded from this study because of the increased risk of immune-mediated rejection of the developing fetus with cemiplimab (REGN2810). Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, women should not breastfeed during treatment with cemiplimab (REGN2810) and for at least 4 months after the last dose. These risks may also apply to CDX-1140

Where it is running

UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care — Irvine, California, United States (enrolling)
Los Angeles General Medical Center — Los Angeles, California, United States (enrolling)
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center — Orange, California, United States (enrolling)
Emory University Hospital Midtown — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (enrolling)
Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson — New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (enrolling)
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center — Richmond, Virginia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.