This is a phase 2 window of opportunity trial in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. A key objective is to provide the first proof that macrophage phenotype switching can be accomplished in humans and lay the groundwork for future trials of this novel approach to immune therapy. Patients who are candidates for surgical resection will be enrolled and treated with 2 weeks of IPI-549, a specific PI3Kγ inhibitor. Tumor tissue for research purposes through core biopsies will be obtained prior to initiation of IPI-549 and at surgery.~The study team hypothesizes that mRNA signatures of immune response will be increased in IPI-549-treated patients. For the efficacy endpoints, RECISTv1.1 will be used.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how effective the study drug IPI-549 is against types of cancers. IPI-549 is considered experimental because it is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cancer.~Patients will be treated with 2 weeks of IPI-549, a specific PI3Kγ inhibitor. Tumor tissue for research purposes through core biopsies will be obtained prior to initiation of IPI-549 and at surgery.