Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor In High Risk Oral Premalignant Lesions

Study Description

Brief Summary: This trial is designed as a prospective, multi-centre, open-label, single-arm, phase II study. Oral Premalignant Lesions (OPL) may be considered the equilibrium phase of the immunoediting concept, i.e. a dynamic process between the tumour cells and the immune system including surveillance by the immune system or tumour progression. Thus, an imbalance in immunosuppressive microenvironment is a possible key in malignant transformation. In this regard, the activation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has a central role, witnessed by the expression of PD-L1 by multiple cell types within the microenvironment of OPL (tumour-associated macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes) and by the fact that PD-L1 expression in epithelial and subepithelial cells is associated with malignant transformation. The use of checkpoint inhibitors in this setting seems to be justified by this rationale. Employing intermediate end-point markers during preventive strategies against OPL may allow the conduction of smaller trials, able to give insights for designing larger studies and to better select the population receiving benefit from the treatment. In this regard, the evaluation of phenotypic changes (reduction in size or in grade of dysplasia) may not be enough to assess the potential benefit of an intervention. Modulation of molecular markers may be more precise indicator of oral cancer risk in patients with OPL. Thus, the change in LOH at critical loci may be considered intermediate end-point biomarkers of prevention as well as predictors of cancer risk at baseline. Previous experience with anti-EGFR agents showed the feasibility of such measures in a prevention trial.

Detailed Description: OPL represent the most common oral precancerous condition, with a potential of malignant transformation varying from 1% to 47% in different studies. Among molecular markers, the most effective in predicting oral cancer risk is loss of heterozygosity (LOH), which may appear in tissues with different histological grade of dysplasia. Patients carrying OPL with LOH at 3p14 and/or 9p21 plus LOH at another locus have an expected 3-year risk of developing oral cancer of 35%. This chromosomal profile is found in about 28% of OPL. Moreover, when a patient has previously suffered from oral cavity cancer, the 3-year risk of malignant transformation for OPL with such a chromosomal profile reaches 69%. The presence of tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) at these chromosomal loci explains the potential for cancer development in the presence of such alterations. The clinical management of small OPL is excision by a cold knife or laser. However, treatment is not effective to prevent oral cancer in patients. Lesions recur frequently and transform subsequently, and tumours develop in the same or adjacent anatomical region. For larger OPL the clinical management is limited to lifelong surveillance. To improve clinical management of OPLs, the arsenal of treatments should be expanded. Therefore, this study is aimed at treating high-risk OPL with a short course of immunotherapy (avelumab)

Keywords

Eligibility

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Eligible Ages: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Sex: ALL

Healthy Volunteers: No

Locations

Contact Details

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