De-Intensification of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This randomized, prospective, multicenter phase II/III trial will study the reduction of radiation volume by eliminating radiotherapy (RT) to the elective neck using strictly defined surgical and radio-oncological standards to reduce radiotherapy-related long-term side effects without affecting locoregional control.

Detailed Description
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This study aims to determine whether it is possible to achieve an individual target volume concept that eliminates elective irradiation of uninvolved lymph drainage areas while maintaining clearly defined surgical standards and using modern imaging and radiation techniques. The aim of this study is to achieve reduced late toxicity without compromising locoregional control. Patients will be randomized to: either RT to primary tumor region, regions with lymph node metastases and elective nodal irradiation (control arm) or RT to primary tumor region and regions with lymph node metastases without elective nodal irradiation (investigational arm) A two-stage design was chosen for this purpose. Phase II: A randomized phase II study whose primary endpoint is the 1-year percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube dependence rate will be performed first. Phase III: If the primary endpoint of the phase II study is met and the interim analysis shows no increase in the locoregional recurrence rate in the study/investigational arm, the study will be continued as a phase III study whose primary endpoint is the locoregional control rate.

Official Title
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De-Intensification of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Conditions
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx

Intervention / Treatment
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* Radiation: Eliminating RT to the elective neck
* Radiation: RT standard of care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity/larynx/oro-or hypopharynx (except glottis cancer (pT1/2pN0)) Surgery of primary tumor and neck dissection performed according to predefined surgical standard Indication for postoperative radio(chemo)therapy No lymph node metastases > 6cm Lymph node metastases in not more than 3 lymph node level No distant metastases (cM0) Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≤ 2 Patients who understood protocol contents and are able to behave according to protocol Signed study-specific consent form prior to therapy Start of radiotherapy at least 6 weeks after last tumor-specific surgery (e.g. resection primary tumor, neck dissection, excluded are surgeries according to wound healing complications) Exclusion Criteria: macroscopic incomplete resection R2 Distant metastases (cM1) Radiologically or histologically proven early recurrence after surgery (time frame from surgery to start of radio(chemo)therapy) Lymph node metastases in > 3 lymph node level pregnant or lactating/nursing women fertile patients that are not willing to use highly effective methods of contraception (per institutional standards) during treatment Any condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule On-treatment participation on other clinical therapeutic trials Prior tumor-specific therapy any other than surgery (like prior radiotherapy in the head and neck region, prior chemo- or immunotherapy (neoadjuvant/induction)) Patients who have contraindication for MRI and CT with contrast agent (both) Prior (> 2 months before beginning of radio(chemo)therapy) neck dissection or surgery in the head and neck area affecting lymph drainage History of another primary malignancy except for malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease ≥5 years before diagnosis of head and neck cancer, adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease, adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Control Arm<br>postoperative radiotherapy of the head and neck region according to current standard including elective nodal irradiation | Radiation: RT standard of care<br>* postoperative radiotherapy of the head and neck region according to current standard including elective nodal irradiation<br>|
| Experimental: Investigational Arm<br>postoperative radiotherapy of the head and neck region without elective nodal irradiation | Radiation: Eliminating RT to the elective neck<br>* Reduction of radiation volume by eliminating radiotherapy to the elective neck<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Phase II: 1-year PEG feeding tube dependence rate | observe change of PEG-dependence due to different target volumes | PEG-dependent 1 year after radiotherapy | 
| Phase III: Time to local relapse | difference between the date of randomization and the date of observation of local relapse (LR), or the date of last observation if no LR occurred (censored observation) | From the date of randomization until the date of observation of local relapse or the date of last observation if no LR occurred, whichever came first (assessed up to 26 months) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disease-free survival | Disease-free survival | up to 26 months | 
| Distant-metastasis-free survival | Distant-metastasis-free survival | through study completion, an average of 26 months | 
| Overall survival (OS) | Overall survival (OS) | up to 26 months | 
| Cause of death (tumor-related, not tumor-related) | Cause of death (tumor-related, not tumor-related) | through study completion, an average of 26 months | 
| Acute toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria (CTC) version 5.0 | Acute toxicity according to CTC version 5.0 | up to 2 months | 
| Late toxicity according to CTC version 5.0 | Late toxicity according to CTC version 5.0 | up to 24 months |