New combo shows promise in Tough-to-Treat head and neck cancer
NCT ID NCT04338399
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding the drug buparlisib to standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel) helps people with advanced head and neck cancer live longer. About 487 adults whose cancer had returned or spread and who had already tried other treatments took part. The goal was to see if the combination improves survival and quality of life compared to chemotherapy alone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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487 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2020
- Finished
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Nov 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged ≥18 years old. 2. Able to provide informed consent obtained before any trial related activities and according to local guidelines. 3. Patient has histologically and/or cytologically-confirmed HNSCC. 4. Patient has archival or new tumor tissue for the analysis of biomarkers and confirmation of HPV status (if unknown). One tumor block (preferred) or a recommended minimum of 5 unstained slides for patients with known HPV status (for tumor DNA characterization) or a recommended minimum of 10 slides for patients whose HPV status is unknown (5 slides for HPV testing plus 5 slides needed for biomarker testing). Enrollment in the study is contingent on confirmation of the availability of an adequate amount of tumor tissue, except in rare special circumstances, which must be reviewed and approved by the sponsor. 5. Patient has either progressive or recurrent disease after treatment with PDL1/PD1 based therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease: 1. PDLl/PD1 therapy alone for metastatic (monotherapy) disease 2. PDL1/PD1 in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic and recurrent disease 3. PDL1/PD1 used for metastatic disease, after or prior to receiving a platinum agent for locally advanced or metastatic disease. 6. 6\. Patient has received no more than two prior lines of systemic treatment for HNSCC (single agent chemotherapy used as a radiosensitizer is not counted as a prior line of therapy). 7. Patient has measurable disease as determined per RECIST version 1.1. If the only site of measurable disease is a previously irradiated lesion, documented progression of disease and a four-week period since radiotherapy completion is required. 8. Patient has adequate bone marrow function and organ function as shown by the following: 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 109/L. 2. Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL (which may be reached by transfusion). 3. Platelets ≥100 x 109/L (which may be reached by transfusion). 4. International normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5. 5. Calcium (corrected for serum albumin) within normal limits (WNL) or ≤ grade 1 severity according to NCI-CTCAE version 5.0 if judged clinically not significant by the Investigator. Patients concomitantly taking bisphosphonates or denosumab for calcium correction are eligible. 6. Normal potassium and magnesium levels. 7. Alanine aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or \< 3.0 x ULN if liver metastases are present. 8. Total serum bilirubin ≤ ULN or ≤ 1.5 x ULN if liver metastases are present; or total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 x ULN with direct bilirubin below or within normal range in patients with well documented Gilbert's Syndrome. Gilbert's syndrome is defined as presence of episodes of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia with normal results from cells blood count (including normal reticulocyte count and blood smear), normal liver function test results, and absence of other contributing disease processes at the time of diagnosis. 9. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or calculated and directly measured creatinine clearance (CrCL) \> 30 mL/min. 10. Haemoglobin A1c (glycosylated hemoglobin; HbA1c) ≤8%. 9. Patient has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤1. 10. Patient is able to swallow and retain oral medication. Patients able to swallow oral medication but mostly self-nourished through gastric or jejunal feeding tube are eligible. 11. Patients must apply highly effective contraception during and throughout the study, as well after the final dose of study treatment Exclusion Criteria: Patients meeting any of the following criteria will not be eligible for participation in the study: 1. Patient has received previous treatment with any protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, or phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibitors. 2. Patient received treatment with a taxane as part of prior treatment for metastatic disease. 3. Patient has symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Patients with asymptomatic CNS metastases may participate in this study. Patient must have completed any prior local treatment for CNS metastases ≥ 28 days prior to the start of study treatment (including radiotherapy) and must be on a stable low dose of corticosteroid therapy. Radiosurgery must have been completed at least 14 days prior to start of study treatment. 4. Patient has received wide field radiotherapy ≤ 4 weeks or limited field radiation for palliation ≤ 2 weeks prior to starting study treatment or who have adverse events which have not recovered to grade 1 or better from previous chemotherapy treatment (except alopecia, autoimmune endocrine events must be stable and controlled). 5. Patient has grade ≥ 2 neuropathy, colitis, pneumonitis, , and uncontrolled endocrinopathies (e.g., hypothyroidism, diabetes with hemoglobin A1c \> 8%) from previous treatment 6. Patient has had major surgery within 14 days prior to starting study treatment or has not recovered from major side effects. 7. Patient is currently receiving increasing or chronic treatment (\>5 days) with corticosteroids or another immunosuppressive agent. The following uses of corticosteroids are permitted: single doses; standard premedication for paclitaxel, topical applications (e.g., rash), inhaled sprays (e.g., obstructive airways diseases), eye drops, or local injections (e.g., intra-articular), or \< 10 mg prednisolone or equivalent. 8. Patient is being treated at start of study treatment with any of the following drugs: 1. Drugs known to be strong or moderate inhibitors or inducers of isoenzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) including herbal medications (see Table 16). 2. Drugs with a known risk of inducing Torsades de Pointes. Note: The patient must have discontinued strong inducers for at least one week and must have discontinued strong inhibitors before the treatment is initiated. Switching to a different medication prior to starting study treatment is allowed. 9. Patient is currently receiving warfarin or other coumarin-derived anti-coagulant, for treatment, prophylaxis, or otherwise. Therapy with heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), fondaparinux or new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) is allowed. 10. Patient has a known hypersensitivity and/or contraindication to paclitaxel, standard premedication for paclitaxel, or other products containing Cremophor®. 11. Patient has other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate patient participation in the clinical study (e.g., active or uncontrolled severe infection, chronic active hepatitis, immunocompromised, acute or chronic pancreatitis, uncontrolled high blood pressure, interstitial lung disease, etc). 12. Patient has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (testing not mandatory). 13. Patient has any of the following cardiac abnormalities: 1. Symptomatic congestive heart failure within 12 months of the screening period. 2. History of documented congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional classification III-IV) or documented cardiomyopathy and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<50% as determined by multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scan or echocardiogram (ECHO). 3. Myocardial infarction ≤six months prior to enrollment. 4. Unstable angina pectoris. 5. Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia. 6. Symptomatic pericarditis. 7. QT interval corrected according to the formula of Fridericia (QTcF) \> 450 msec for males and \> 470 msec for females, on the screening electrocardiogram (ECG). 8. Currently receiving treatment with medication that has a known risk to prolong the QT interval or inducing Torsades de Pointes, and the treatment cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study treatment. 14. Patient has impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of study treatment (e.g., ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection). 15. Patient has a medically documented history of or active major depressive episode, bipolar disorder (I or II), obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, a history of suicidal attempt or ideation, or homicidal ideation (e.g., risk of doing harm to self or others), or active severe personality disorders (defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition \[DSM-V\]) are not eligible. Note: For patients with psychotropic treatments ongoing at baseline, the dose and the schedule should not be modified within the previous six weeks prior to start of study treatment. 16. Patient has other prior or concurrent malignancy except for the following: adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or other adequately treated in situ cancer, early gastric or GI cancer resected completely by endoscopy procedures or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease free for ≥ 3years. 17. Patient has a history of non-compliance to any medical regimen or inability to grant consent. 18. Patient is concurrently using or has used another approved or investigational cancer agent within 4 weeks of randomization. 19. Patient is pregnant or nursing (lactating). Patients with elevated human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at baseline that is judged to be related to the tumor are eligible if hCG levels do not show the expected doubling when repeated five to seven days later, or pregnancy has been ruled out by vaginal ultrasound. 20. Patient has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed. Non-live COVID vaccinations or boosters should not occur within 30 days of study start.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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A.O. S. Croce e Carle
Cuneo, 12100, Italy
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A.O.U. "Maggiore della Carita"- S.C.D.U Oncologiac
Novara, 28100, Italy
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AO Card. G. Panico
Tricase, 73039, Italy
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AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D'Aragona, Università degli Studi di Salerno
Salerno, 84131, Italy
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ASST Spedali Civili Brescia
Brescia, 25123, Italy
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ASST Valtellina e Alto Lario - UOC Oncologia Medica Ospedale di Sondrio
Sondrio, 23100, Italy
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Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University
Chongqing, 400000, China
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Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Guangzhou, 510095, China
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Aichi Cancer Center
Nagoya, 464-8681, Japan
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Ajou University Hospital
Suwon, 16499, South Korea
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Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital
Hefei, 230031, China
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Asan Medical Center
Seoul, 5505, South Korea
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Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo Polo Universitario
Milan, 20142, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona
Verona, 37126, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi
Bologna, 40138, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese Policlinico Le Scotte
Siena, 53100, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi - Firenze
Florence, 50134, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone" U.O.C. Oncologia Medica
Palermo, 90127, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Parma
Parma, 43126, Italy
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Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine
Udine, 33100, Italy
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Beatson Oncology Centre
Glasgow, G12 0YN, United Kingdom
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Beijing Tongren Hospital
Beijing, 100176, China
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CHP Saint-Grégoire
Saint-Grégoire, 35760, France
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CHUM
Montreal, H2X 0C2, Canada
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Cancer Hospital affiliated to Guangxi Medical University
Naning, 530021, China
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CancerCare Manitoba
Winnipeg, R3E 0V9, Canada
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Centre Franois Baclesse
Caen, 14000, France
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Centre Leon Berard
Lyon, 69008, France
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Centre hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, 33075, France
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Centro de Investigacion Pergamino SA - Clinica Pergamino S.A.
Buenos Aires, B2700CPM, Argentina
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Centro para la Atencion Integral del Paciente Oncologico - CAIPO
San Miguel de Tucumán, T4000GTB, Argentina
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-KaohSiung
Kaohsiung City, 833, Taiwan
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-LinKou
Taoyuan, 33342, Taiwan
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Changhua Christian Hospital
Changhua, 500, Taiwan
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Chi Mei Medical Center Liouying
Tainan, 73657, Taiwan
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City of Hope
Duarte, California, 91010, United States
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Clinica Universidad de Navarra
Madrid, 28027, Spain
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Clinique CHC MontLégia
Liège, 4000, Belgium
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Clinique Hartmann
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 92200, France
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Clinique Saint-Pierre dOttignies CSPO
Ottignies, 1340, Belgium
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Complejo Hospitalario de Jaen
Jaén, 23007, Spain
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Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Edinburgh Cancer Center
Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, United States
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Franziskus Hospital
Georgsmarienhütte, 49124, Germany
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Fundacion CORI para la Investigacion y Prevencion del Cáncer
La Rioja, F5300COE, Argentina
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Fundacion Cenit para la Investigacion en Neurociencias
Buenos Aires, 1125, Argentina
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Fundacion Oncologico de Galicia Jos Antonio Quiroga y Pieyro
A Coruña, 15009, Spain
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Gachon University Gil Medical Center
Incheon, 21565, South Korea
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HNO-Klinik des Universitats-Klinikums Giessen
Giessen, 35392, Germany
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Hannover Medical School
Hanover, 30625, Germany
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Henan Cancer Hospital
Zhengzhou, 450000, China
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Henry Ford Health System
Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
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Hokkaido University Hospital
Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
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Hollings Cancer Center
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
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Hope Cancer Center, UT Health East Texas
Tyler, Texas, 75701, United States
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Hopital La Pitie Salpetriere
Paris, 75013, France
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Hopital Tenon
Paris, 75970, France
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Hopital de la Timone
Marseille, 13005, France
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Hospital Clinic Barcelona
Barcelona, 08036, Spain
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Hospital Clinico Universitario Valencia - INCLIVA
Valencia, 46010, Spain
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Hospital Clinico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca
Madrid, 30120, Spain
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Hospital Duran i Reynals - Institut Catala dOncologia ICO
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Spain
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Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maran
Madrid, Spain
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Hospital Puerta de Hierro- Majadahonda
Majadahonda, 28220, Spain
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Hospital Regional de Malaga
Málaga, 29010, Spain
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Hospital Reina Sofia
Córdoba, 14004, Spain
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Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
Madrid, 28041, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
Madrid, 28040, Spain
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Hospital Universitario La Paz
Madrid, 28046, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti
Lugo, 27003, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla
Santander, 39008, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet
Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal
Madrid, 28034, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa
Leganés, 28911, Spain
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Hospital Universitario de Burgos
Burgos, 09006, Spain
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Hospital de Navarra
Pamplona, 31008, Spain
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Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Barcelona, 08025, Spain
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Hunan Cancer Hospital
Changsha, 410000, China
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Hyogo Cancer Center
Akashi-shi, 673-8558, Japan
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Hôpital St-Louis
Paris, 75010, France
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INT IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale
Naples, 80131, Italy
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IONC SRL- Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba
Córdoba, X5002HWE, Argentina
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IRCCS - Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per la Cura e lo Studio dei Tumori
Cesena, Italy
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IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas
Rozzano, 20089, Italy
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IRCCS Maugeri Pavia
Pavia, 27100, Italy
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Institut Catala d Oncologia Badalona
Badalona, 08916, Spain
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Institut de cancerologie de Lorraine
Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, 54500, France
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Institut regional du Cancer de Montpellier
Montpellier, 34298, France
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Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia
Valencia, 46009, Spain
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Instituto de Investigaciones Metabólicas (IDIM) // Instituto de Investigaciones Metabólicas S.A.
Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aire, C1012AAR, Argentina
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Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
Milan, 20133, Italy
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Istituto di Candiolo IRCCS
Candiolo, 10060, Italy
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Kagawa University Hospital
Kita-gun, 761-0793, Japan
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Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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Kindai University Hospital
Osaka Sayama-shi, 589-8511, Japan
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Kobe University Hospital
Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
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Korea University Anam Hospital
Seoul, 2841, South Korea
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Korea University Guro Hospital
Seoul, 8308, South Korea
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Kosin University Gospel Hospital
Busan, 49267, South Korea
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Kyushu University Hospital
Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
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LHopital prive du Confluent Nantes
Nantes, 44277, France
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Marienkrankenhaus Hamburg
Hamburg, 22045, Germany
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Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States
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NYU Langone
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Narodowy Instytut Onkologii im. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie
Gliwice, 44-102, Poland
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Narodowy Instytut Onkologii im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie
Warsaw, 02-781, Poland
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National Cancer Center Hospital
Chūōku, 104-0045, Japan
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National Cheng Kung University Hospital
Tainan, 704017, Taiwan
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National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center
Matsuyama, 791-0280, Japan
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National University Corporation Tohoku University, Tohoku University Hospital
Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Norton Cancer Institute
Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, United States
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Orszagos Onkologiai Intezet
Budapest, 1122, Hungary
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Princess Alexandra Hospital
Brisbane, 4102, Australia
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Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Saitama Medical University International Medical Center
Hidaka, 350-1298, Japan
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Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Seongnam-si, 13620, South Korea
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Shandong Provincial Tumor Hospital
Jinan, 250000, China
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Shanghai Dongfang Hospital
Shanghai, 310115, China
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Shizuoka Cancer Center
Shizuoka, 411-8777, Japan
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Showa University Hospital
Shinagawa-Ku, 142-8666, Japan
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Sichuan Cancer Hospital
Chengdu, 610042, China
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Stony Brook University Medical Center
Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
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Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Guangzhou, 510000, China
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Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Taichung, 40705, Taiwan
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Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Taipei, 11217, Taiwan
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The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR
Kōtoku, 135-8550, Japan
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The Catholic University of Korea Seoul ST. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, 6591, South Korea
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The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
Zhuhai, 519000, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College
Bengbu, 233004, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of CQMU
Chongqing, 400042, China
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust - Sutton
Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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Tianjin Cancer Hospital
Tianjin, 300202, China
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Tolna Megyei Balassa Janos Korhaz
Szekszárd, 7100, Hungary
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UNIVERSITÄTSMEDIZIN Mainz III. Klinik/Poliklinik
Mainz, 55131, Germany
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UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
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Uniklinik RWTH Aachen
Aachen, 52074, Germany
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Universitaetsklinikum Bonn
Bonn, 53127, Germany
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Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Jette, 1090, Belgium
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Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent UZ Gent
Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Universitatsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf
Hamburg, 20246, Germany
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Universitatsklinikum Leipzig
Leipzig, 04103, Germany
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Universitatsmedizin Greifswald - KoR
Greifswald, 17489, Germany
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University College London Hospitals
London, NW1 2BU, United Kingdom
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University Hospital Essen
Essen, 45147, Germany
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University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States
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University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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University of Pecs Department of Oncotherapy
Pécs, 7624, Hungary
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Vall dHebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Valme Hospital Medical Oncology Department
Seville, 41014, Spain
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Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States
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West Cancer Center
Germantown, Tennessee, 38138, United States
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Xiangya Hospital Central South University
Changsha, 410000, China
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Yale University, Yale Cancer Center
New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, United States
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Yunnan Cancer Hospital
Kunming, 650000, China
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Zhejiang Cancer Hospital
Hangzhou, 310022, China
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