A Phase II Study of ACR-368 and Low Dose Gemcitabine Combination Therapy in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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Trial Details

Sponsor: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute (other)

Phase: 2

Start date: Sept. 25, 2024

Planned enrollment: 43

Trial ID: NCT06597565
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More trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov More info

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Investigational Drug AI Analysis

chevron Show for: ACR-368 (Prexasertib)

TrialFetch AI Analysis

Goal: Assess antitumor activity and safety of ACR-368 (prexasertib) combined with ultra–low-dose gemcitabine in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with separate evaluation by HPV/p16 status.

Patients: Adults with recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx, including p16-positive or HPV-positive unknown primary. Must have measurable disease by RECIST v1.1, ECOG 0–1, adequate organ function, and prior exposure to PD-1/PD-L1 therapy unless ineligible for immunotherapy; any number of prior systemic lines allowed. Patients must provide recent tumor tissue for p16/HPV testing and OncoSignature, agree to on-treatment and progression biopsies, and have controlled/treated brain metastases if present. Key exclusions include recent systemic therapy or palliative RT windows, significant unresolved toxicities, clinically significant cardiac disease, uncontrolled hypertension, QTc prolongation, and pregnancy or inability to consent.

Design: Open-label, nonrandomized, two-cohort phase 2 study stratified by p16/HPV status. Approximately 43 patients will be enrolled and treated in 4-week cycles until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal.

Treatments: Lead-in low-dose gemcitabine 10 mg/m2 IV Day −7 (±3 days; Cycle 1 only), followed by ACR-368 105 mg/m2 IV every 2 weeks plus low-dose gemcitabine 10 mg/m2 IV every 2 weeks, continued together until discontinuation. ACR-368 (prexasertib) is an investigational small-molecule inhibitor of checkpoint kinases CHK1 and CHK2 that abrogates S and G2/M checkpoints, increases replication stress, and induces DNA damage–mediated tumor cell death; tumors with high replication stress or DDR defects may be more sensitive. Early-phase studies have shown single-agent activity across several solid tumors, including subsets of ovarian and squamous carcinomas, with predominant transient myelosuppression (notably grade 3/4 neutropenia); biomarker-guided selection with a proteomic OncoSignature has enriched for responses in ongoing gynecologic cohorts. Gemcitabine at ultra–low dose here is intended as a priming/synergy strategy rather than cytotoxic dosing.

Outcomes: Primary: Overall response rate in Cohort A (p16/HPV-negative) and Cohort B (p16/HPV-positive) by investigator and blinded independent central review. Secondary: Safety/tolerability (AEs/SAEs), duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival, each analyzed with time-to-event methods as appropriate.

Burden on patient: Moderate to high. Patients must supply recent tumor tissue suitable for biomarker testing and undergo mandatory biopsies after the gemcitabine lead-in and at progression, adding procedural risk and additional visits. The dosing schedule requires infusions every 2 weeks with a pre–Cycle 1 lead-in infusion, increasing clinic time and travel. Given ACR-368’s known myelosuppressive profile, frequent laboratory monitoring and potential growth factor or transfusion support are likely. Imaging for response assessment will be at typical phase 2 intervals, but overall visit frequency, monitoring, and biopsy requirements exceed standard-of-care palliative regimens.

Last updated: Oct 2025

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Moffitt Cancer Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

[email protected] / 813-745-6020

Status: Recruiting