Cilengitide in Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) (ADVANTAGE)

• Overall survival (OS) time [ Time Frame: Time from randomization to death, reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The OS time is defined as the time from randomization to death. Participants without event are censored at the last date known to be alive or at the clinical cut-off date, whichever is earlier.
• Best overall response (BOR) rate [ Time Frame: Evaluations will be performed every 6 weeks until progression reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The BOR rate is defined as the percentage of the participants having achieved confirmed complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) as the best overall response according to radiological assessments (based on RECIST Version 1.0).
• Disease control rate [ Time Frame: Evaluations will be performed every 6 weeks until progression reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The disease control rate is defined as the percentage of participants having achieved confirmed CR, PR or stable disease (SD) as best overall response according to radiological assessments (based on RECIST Version 1.0).
• Time to treatment failure (TTF) [ Time Frame: Time from randomization to disease progression, death or last tumor assessment, reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  TTF is defined as the time from randomization to date of the first occurrence of; progression, discontinuation of treatment due to progression or adverse event, start of new anticancer therapy, withdrawal of consent, or death (within 84 days of last tumor assessment). Participants without event are censored on the date of last tumor assessment.
• Duration of response [ Time Frame: Time from first assessment of CR or PR until PD, death or last tumor assessment, reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Duration of response is defined as the time from the first assessment of CR or PR until the date of the first occurrence of progressive disease (PD), or until the date of death.
• Safety - Number of participants experiencing Any Adverse Event [ Time Frame: Time from first assessment of CR or PR until PD, death or last tumor assessment, reported between day of first participant randomized, 01 October 2008, until cut-off date (03 September 2011) ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Please refer to Adverse Events section for details of individual serious adverse events and other adverse events

The purpose of this open-label, randomized, controlled, Phase 1/2 study of the integrin inhibitor cilengitide is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of different regimens of cilengitide added to cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

The Phase 1 part was conducted in dedicated study centers. In the Phase 2 part of this trial, cilengitide is administered at two different doses to two experimental groups. The third group will only receive cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab. In the Phase 1 part of this trial, the dose of cilengitide in combination with cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab was determined.

Cilengitide is an experimental anti-cancer substance interacting with so-called integrins. Integrins are protein molecules that are known to be present on the surface of certain cancer cells. Integrins are also found on certain cells that belong to growing blood vessels (endothelial cells). Integrins potentially facilitate the blood vessels' support of the tumor (angiogenesis) as well as the tumor's growth and further spread throughout the body (metastasis). By inhibiting integrins on the tumor cell surface, cilengitide potentially kills cancer cells, and potentially sensitizes cancer cells to other co-administered therapeutics. By inhibiting integrins on the endothelial cell surface, it potentially inhibits the ingrowth of additional blood vessels towards the tumor.

Cilengitide is given as an intravenous infusion (given by a drip in one vein of your arm). If any unacceptable side effect occurs, treatment with the study drug will be stopped.

• Drug: Cilengitide 2000 mg once weekly
  Cilengitide 500 milligram (mg) will be administered as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes, daily from Day 1 to 4 of the first week of each 3-week cycle, subsequently followed by 2000 mg dose of cilengitide on Day 8 and 15 of every cycle for a total of 6 cycles (18 weeks) or until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason. After 6 cycles, participants received cilengitide 2000 mg once weekly until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason.
• Drug: Cilengitide 2000 mg twice weekly
  Cilengitide 2000 mg will be administered as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes, twice weekly on Day 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, and 18 of each 3-week cycle for a total of 6 cycles (18 weeks) or until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason. After 6 cycles, participants will receive cilengitide 2000 mg once weekly until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason.
• Drug: Cetuximab
  Cetuximab will be administered as 250 milligram per square meter (mg/m^2) as infusion (initial starting dose of 400 mg/m^2) on Day 1, 8 and 15 of each 3-week treatment cycle. Cetuximab will be administered for a total of 6 cycles (18 weeks) or until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason. After 6 cycles, participants received Cetuximab 250 mg/m^2 once weekly until PD, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal for any other reason.
  Other Name: Erbitux®
• Drug: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
  5-FU will be administered as an intravenous continuous infusion at a dose of 1000 mg/m^2 daily from Day 1 to 4 of each 3-week treatment cycle. 5-FU will be administered for a total of 6 cycles (18 weeks), or until PD, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal for any other reason, whichever occur first.
• Drug: Cisplatin
  Cisplatin will be administered as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes, at a dose 100 mg/m^2 on Day 1 of each 3-week treatment cycle. Cisplatin will be administered for a total of 6 cycles (18 weeks), or until PD, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal for any other reason, whichever occur first.

• Experimental: Cilengitide 2000 mg once weekly+Cetuximab+5-FU+Cisplatin
  Interventions:

  • Drug: Cilengitide 2000 mg once weekly
  • Drug: Cetuximab
  • Drug: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
  • Drug: Cisplatin
• Experimental: Cilengitide 2000 mg twice weekly+Cetuximab+5-FU+Cisplatin
  Interventions:

  • Drug: Cilengitide 2000 mg twice weekly
  • Drug: Cetuximab
  • Drug: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
  • Drug: Cisplatin
• Active Comparator: Cetuximab+5-FU+Cisplatin
  Interventions:

  • Drug: Cetuximab
  • Drug: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
  • Drug: Cisplatin

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of SCCHN
• At least one measurable lesion either by computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of greater than or equal to 70 or eastern cooperative oncology group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0-1 at trial entry

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior systemic chemotherapy, except if given as part of a multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease, which was completed more than 6 months prior to trial entry
• Surgery (excluding prior diagnostic biopsy) or irradiation within 4 weeks before trial entry
• Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Documented or symptomatic brain or leptomeningeal metastasis
• Previous treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting therapy or signal transduction inhibitors