2022
Phase 1/2 study of pepinemab, an inhibitor of semaphorin 4D, in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (KEYNOTE-B84).
Fisher T, Evans E, Mallow C, Foster A, Boise M, Smith E, Leonard J, Chaney M, Beck J, Hager S, Mekhail T, Seetharamu N, Baumgart M, Saba N, Steuer C, Adkins D, Burtness B, Zauderer M. Phase 1/2 study of pepinemab, an inhibitor of semaphorin 4D, in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (KEYNOTE-B84). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 40: e18033-e18033. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.e18033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmune checkpoint inhibitorsFirst-line treatmentDose-expansion phaseM HNSCCComplete responsePD-L1Tumor microenvironmentClinical benefitSingle-arm open-label studyPrior immune checkpoint inhibitorsNeck squamous cell carcinomaSemaphorin 4DActivation of DCsExploratory biomarker analysisImmunosuppressive myeloid cellsTumor PD-L1Open-label studyPrimary efficacy endpointSquamous cell carcinomaPK/PDBiomarker analysisECOG 0Measurable diseaseTreatment biopsiesCheckpoint inhibitorsPhase 2 LEAP-009: Lenvatinib (Lenva) With or Without Pembrolizumab (Pembro) vs. Chemotherapy (Chemo) for Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) That has Progressed on Platinum and Immunotherapy
Harrington K, Cohen E, Siu L, Rischin D, Licitra L, Vermorken J, Le Q, Tahara M, Machiels J, Hawk N, Ge J, Bidadi B, Swaby R, Burtness B. Phase 2 LEAP-009: Lenvatinib (Lenva) With or Without Pembrolizumab (Pembro) vs. Chemotherapy (Chemo) for Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) That has Progressed on Platinum and Immunotherapy. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2022, 112: e43-e44. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.12.101.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsECOG performance statusPD-L1 inhibitorsM HNSCCDisease progressionRECIST v1.1Monotherapy armPerformance statusPO QDPD-L1 tumor proportion scoreOptimal second-line regimenEnd pointNeck squamous cell carcinomaPrimary end pointSecond-line regimenSecondary end pointsFirst-line treatmentTumor proportion scoreKey eligibility criteriaSquamous cell carcinomaInterim futility analysisMeasurable diseaseSOC chemotherapyMetastatic headUnacceptable toxicity
2017
KEYNOTE-412: Pembrolizumab (pembro) in combination with chemoradiation versus chemoradiation alone in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC).
Machiels J, Licitra L, Rischin D, Waldron J, Burtness B, Gregoire V, Shekar T, Brown H, Cheng J, Siu L. KEYNOTE-412: Pembrolizumab (pembro) in combination with chemoradiation versus chemoradiation alone in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35: tps6090-tps6090. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.tps6090.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlinded independent central reviewConcomitant chemoradiotherapyRECIST v1.1LA-HNSCCP16-positive oropharyngeal cancerPrimary efficacy end pointRecurrent/metastatic HNSCCNeck squamous cell carcinomaDefinitive concomitant chemoradiotherapyECOG PS 0Efficacy end pointOutcome of ptsP16 negative HNSCCEvent-free survivalHalf of patientsSquamous cell carcinomaEnd of treatmentIndependent central reviewQuality of lifeMeasurable diseaseAdvanced diseaseCTCAE v4.0Primary surgeryAdvanced headNeck dissection
2014
LBA31 A Phase Ib Study of Pembrolizumab (Pembro; Mk-3475) in Patients (Pts) with Human Papiilloma Virus (Hpv)-Positive and Negative Head and Neck Cancer (Hnc)
Chow L, Burtness B, Weiss J, Berger R, Eder J, Gonzalez E, Pulini J, Johnson J, Dolled-Filhart M, Emancipator K, Lunceford J, Pathiraja K, Gause C, Cheng J, Seiwert T. LBA31 A Phase Ib Study of Pembrolizumab (Pembro; Mk-3475) in Patients (Pts) with Human Papiilloma Virus (Hpv)-Positive and Negative Head and Neck Cancer (Hnc). Annals Of Oncology 2014, 25: v1. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdu438.32.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOverall response ratePD-L1 expressionDrug-related adverse eventsAdverse eventsRECIST v1.1Subsidiary of MerckBristol-Myers SquibbInvestigator reviewAntitumor activityCommon drug-related adverse eventsAdvisory board membershipHigh PD-L1 expressionBoehringer IngelheimMerck SharpGenentech/RochePhase Ib studyPrimary end pointDrug-related deathsMeasurable diseaseMedian OSMedian PFSMetastatic HNCAdvanced HNCUnacceptable toxicityComplete response
2011
A phase 2 trial of bortezomib followed by the addition of doxorubicin at progression in patients with recurrent or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck
Argiris A, Ghebremichael M, Burtness B, Axelrod RS, Deconti RC, Forastiere AA. A phase 2 trial of bortezomib followed by the addition of doxorubicin at progression in patients with recurrent or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer 2011, 117: 3374-3382. PMID: 21246525, PMCID: PMC3135694, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdenoid cystic carcinomaStable diseaseEvaluable patientsObjective responseCystic carcinomaEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0Day 1Common distant metastatic siteGrade 3 sensory neuropathyMedian progression-free survivalMetastatic adenoid cystic carcinomaGrade 3 anorexiaPerformance status 0Phase 2 trialProgression-free survivalTime of progressionSingle-agent bortezomibCombination of bortezomibDistant metastatic sitesAddition of doxorubicinMeasurable diseaseStatus 0Disease stabilizationFrequent toxicitiesPrior therapy
2009
Phase II trial of docetaxel–irinotecan combination in advanced esophageal cancer
Burtness B, Gibson M, Egleston B, Mehra R, Thomas L, Sipples R, Quintanilla M, Lacy J, Watkins S, Murren JR, Forastiere AA. Phase II trial of docetaxel–irinotecan combination in advanced esophageal cancer. Annals Of Oncology 2009, 20: 1242-1248. PMID: 19429872, PMCID: PMC2699385, DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdn787.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdvanced esophageal cancerPartial responseComplete responseEligible patientsEsophageal cancerEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance statusMetastatic squamous cell carcinomaSafety of docetaxelPhase II trialSquamous cell carcinomaPrincipal toxic effectsAssessable patientsEsophagogastric cancerMeasurable diseaseToxic deathsII trialCN patientsMedian survivalPerformance statusNormal bilirubinPreclinical evidenceMedian timeCell carcinomaMyocardial infarctionTumor assessment
2007
Phase II Trial of Weekly Docetaxel/Irinotecan Combination in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Burtness B, Thomas L, Sipples R, McGurk M, Salikooti S, Christoforou M, Mirto G, Salem R, Sosa J, Kloss R, Rahman Z, Chung G, Lacy J, Murren JR. Phase II Trial of Weekly Docetaxel/Irinotecan Combination in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. The Cancer Journal 2007, 13: 257-262. PMID: 17762761, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0b013e31813c1174.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdvanced pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancerEligible patientsIrinotecan combinationPartial responseComplete responseEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0Principal grade 3/4 toxicitiesWorld Health Organization criteriaSafety of docetaxelGrade 3/4 toxicitiesObjective response ratePerformance status 0One-year survivalPhase II trialCombination of docetaxelNormal bilirubin levelsEvaluable patientsFebrile neutropeniaMeasurable diseaseStatus 0Toxic deathsUnresectable diseaseII trialRecurrent disease
2006
A phase II trial of PS-341 (bortezomib) followed by the addition of doxorubicin at progression in incurable adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study
Argiris A, Goldwasser M, Burtness B, Deconti R, Axelrod R, Van Waes C, Forastiere A. A phase II trial of PS-341 (bortezomib) followed by the addition of doxorubicin at progression in incurable adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2006, 24: 5573-5573. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.24.18_suppl.5573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStable diseaseEvaluable ptsNeutropenia 5Cystic carcinomaEastern Cooperative Oncology Group StudyECOG performance status 0Median progression-free survivalGrade 3/4 toxicitiesPerformance status 0Absolute neutrophil countPhase II trialProgression-free survivalTime of progressionAdenoid cystic carcinomaDistant metastatic sitesNF-κB activityAddition of doxorubicinBaseline tumorDiarrhea 5Measurable diseasePrior therapyStatus 0Thrombocytopenia 5Disease stabilizationII trial