A Phase 2 Study Using Chemoimmunotherapy With Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Nivolumab in Newly Diagnosed Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
This phase II trial tests effects of nivolumab in combination with chemotherapy drugs prior to radiation therapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Researchers want to find out what effects, good and/or bad, adding nivolumab to chemotherapy has on patients with newly diagnosed NPC. In addition, they want to find out if children with NPC may be treated with less radiation therapy and whether this decreases the side effects of therapy.
• Patients must be ≤ 21 years of age at the time of study enrollment
• Newly diagnosed American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage II-IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
‣ Patients must have had histologic verification of the malignancy at original diagnosis
⁃ Although submission of tumor tissue for the molecular characterization initiative is not required for eligibility, it is strongly recommended
• Patients must have had histologic verification of the malignancy at original diagnosis
• Although submission of tumor tissue for the molecular characterization initiative is not required for eligibility, it is strongly recommended
• Patients must have a Lansky (for patients ≤ 16 years of age) or Karnofsky (for patients \> 16 years of age) performance status score of ≥ 60%
• Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/uL (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy)
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/uL (transfusion independent) (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy)
• Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 or (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy)
• A serum creatinine based on age/gender (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy) Age: Maximum serum creatinine (mg/dL)
• 1 month to \< 6 months: 0.4 mg/dL (male); 0.4 mg/dL (female) 6 months to \< 1 year: 0.5 mg/dL (male); 0.5 mg/dL (female)
• 1 to \< 2 years: 0.6 mg/dL (male); 0.6 mg/dL (female) 2 to \< 6 years: 0.8 mg/dL (male); 0.8 mg/dL (female) 6 to \< 10 years 1 mg/dL (male); 1 mg/dL (female) 10 to \<13 years: 1.2 mg/dL (male); 1.2 mg/dL (female) 13 to \< 16 years: 1.5 mg/dL (male); 1.4 mg/dL (female)
• ≥ 16 years: 1.7 mg/dL (male); 1.4 mg/dL (female)
• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, and (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy)
• Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) ≤ 135 U/L\* (within 7 days prior to start of protocol therapy)
‣ Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L
• Shortening fraction of ≥ 27% by echocardiogram, or
• Ejection fraction of ≥ 50% by radionuclide angiogram
• No evidence of dyspnea at rest, no exercise intolerance, and a pulse oximetry \> 94% if there is clinical indication for determination
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months and T-cell count above the lower limit of normal 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