Phase II Clinical Trial of De-Intensified Therapy in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phasePhase 2
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Vermont Medical Center

About this trial

HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) is a type of cancer that affects parts of the throat, like the tonsils and the base of the tongue. The treatments for OPSCC, which may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, often cause serious side effects, such as loss of taste, dry mouth, and long-term problems with swallowing. These side effects can lower patients' quality of life and make it difficult for them to eat and speak normally.

This study aims to explore whether using lower doses of radiation after surgery can help improve long-term swallowing function in patients with HPV-positive OPSCC. By doing this, the study team hopes to reduce treatment-related side effects while maintaining good cancer control.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Histologically confirmed or suspected HPV associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

p16 immunohistochemistry is the surrogate marker for HPV positivity and will be scored as positive if there is strong and diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic staining present in greater than 70% of the tumor specimen. (A negative result excludes the patient from the trial)

In the case of equivocal p16, High Risk HPV (HR HPV), In-Situ Hybridization (ISH) / Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) may be performed to determine HPV positivity

AJCC TNM 7th edition stage T1-T3, N0-N2b (or AJCC TNM 8th edition stage T1-T3 N0-N1) disease.

Disqualifiers

HPV negative squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

T4 and/or T1-T3 tumors where transoral surgery is considered not feasible or there is a high likelihood of positive margins.

AJCC TNM 7th edition N2c-N3 nodal disease (or AJCC TNM 8th edition N2-N3 nodal disease) or high likelihood of gross extranodal extension.

Patients for whom transoral surgery and neck dissection is not considered the primary treatment modality.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • de-intensified radiation

    Radiation

    Adjuvant radiation will be administered on a de-intensified schedule.

Treatment groups

20 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groups
Group A: Very Low RiskNo intervention 0 interventions
Group B: Low RiskExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Intermediate RiskExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group D: High RiskExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Assess oncologic outcomes of a de-intensified post-surgical adjuvant treatment by measuring overall survival.

Overall survival will be monitored.

Time frame
from enrollment to 5 year follow-up
2

Safety and tolerability

The study will use the CTCAE version 5.0 for reporting of non-hematologic adverse events.

Time frame
from enrollment to 5 year follow-up
3

Assess oncologic outcomes of a de-intensified post-surgical adjuvant treatment by measuring progression free survival.

Assess oncologic outcomes of a de-intensified post-surgical adjuvant treatment by measuring progression free survival.

Time frame
from enrollment to 5 year follow-up
4

Assess oncologic outcomes of a de-intensified post-surgical adjuvant treatment by measuring locoregional control.

Locoregional control (LRC) is defined as time from treatment initiation to local or regional recurrence

Time frame
from enrollment to 5 year follow-up

Secondary outcomes

1

Evaluate how changes in serum HPV ctDNA are associated\ with HPV-positive OPSCC recurrence

ctDNA will be measured at baseline and at several points during follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity and concordance of the HPV ctDNA results in relation to the clinical and pathologic disease status (presence/absence) will be corelated.

Time frame
from enrollment to 5 year follow-up

Other outcomes

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

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This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: