This trial will explore giving standard dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy to sites of disease including all lymph nodes involved with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, but administer lower doses of radiation therapy to the lymph nodes that are not known to be involved with cancer. By doing so, it is hypothesized that there will be equally good long term loco-regional and distant disease control but will reduced long term treatment side effects and improved quality of life in persons living well beyond their cancer treatment.
This is a trial of definitive chemotherapy and radiation therapy in human papilloma virus positive oropharyngeal cancers, in a population whose cancer is thought to be highly radio-sensitive. This is a population whose outcomes are already known to be very good with high rates of local and distant control of the disease. With the long term disease control and survival of patients with this disease, long term treatment toxicity and resulting reduction in quality of life poses new problems. This has lead to several studies to examine the role of radiation dose de-escalation through various strategies in attempt to reduce long term toxicity from treatment and yet achieve equivalent long term disease control. This trial specifically hypothesizes that a lower dose of radiation therapy to the clinically and radiographically uninvolved lymph nodes will no detrimental effect on loco-regional control or overall survival and will improve the long-term side effect profile, particularly with regards to xerostomia and dysphagia. The goal of this study is therefore to determine whether a lower dose to the clinically and radiographically uninvolved lymph nodes can be done safely and with better long-term toxicity profile and better overall quality of life without compromising the expected outcomes of progression free survival.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
28
Standard dose cisplatin given concurrently with radiation therapy
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, United States
RECRUITINGRate of PEG tube placement
To determine rate of PEG tube placement
Time frame: During the procedure
Progression-free survival
Progression-free survival of 85% or more at measured a 2 years post treatment
Time frame: Two years post treatment
Dysphagia index
To report the change in dysphagia using the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) scores. Scores are 0 (lowest functioning) to 100 (highest functioning).
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month and 6 months after treatment
Patient Reported Outcomes
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months after end of treatment
Survival
To determine overall survival and progression-free survival
Time frame: At 6 months and at 2 years
Toxicity profiles
Incidence of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 2 or higher for mucositis, dysphagia, xerostomia and altered taste
Time frame: 1 year and 2 years post treatment
Hypothyroidism incidence
To monitor rate of hypothyroidism
Time frame: At 1 and 2 years post treatment
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.