Testing the Addition of BMS-986016 (Relatlimab) to the Usual Immunotherapy After Initial Treatment for Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer

To be considered for this study, you would generally need to have nasopharyngeal cancer that has either returned in the same area or spread to other parts of your body. If your cancer returned in the same area, it must not be possible to treat it with surgery or further radiation.

You also need to have clear signs of the cancer that can be measured, for example, on scans. Your cancer cells must show certain genetic markers, specifically related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), or you must have had detectable EBV in your blood at some point since your diagnosis.

Important note: This study is for adults aged 18 and over. If you have active brain or spinal cord spread of cancer with symptoms, or if you're taking high doses of steroids for it, you might not be eligible immediately. However, if these issues have been stable for a couple of months and you're off high-dose steroids, you might still qualify. Your doctor will be able to check all the specific details with you.

If you join this study, you will first receive an initial treatment phase. This involves getting nivolumab, cisplatin (or carboplatin), and gemcitabine through a drip into your vein. These treatments are given on specific days over a 21-day cycle, for up to 6 cycles, as long as your cancer isn't getting worse.

Following this initial treatment, if your cancer is stable, you could continue onto the next phase. In this phase, you would either receive nivolumab on its own, or nivolumab combined with the new drug, relatlimab. Both drugs are given through a drip. Throughout the study, you'll have regular hospital visits for blood tests, physical exams, and imaging scans like CT, MRI, PET, and bone scans to monitor your health and how the treatment is working. This might vary but could involve monthly or less frequent visits. Biospecimen collections (like extra blood or tissue samples) will also be taken for future research. The total duration of your participation would depend on how your treatment progresses, but regular follow-up scans and checks continue even after you stop active treatment.