Doctors leading this study will give blood tests to head and neck cancer participants during the beginning of chemotherapy treatment (also known as induction therapy) to see if these blood tests can help predict tumor shrinkage after therapy and reduce the amount of additional radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment the participant may need. This study will also examine ways to reduce overall side effects of treatment using robotic surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or radiotherapy alone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Participants assigned to this group will receive transoral robotic surgery (TORs) or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is given once a day for 5 weeks. A percentage of subjects who undergo surgery may need further radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy based on the results of the surgery. TORs is surgery in which a robot with arms is used to remove cancer from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat.
Participants assigned to this group will receive 5 weeks of chemotherapy combined with low- dose radiotherapy.
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Feasibility of collection of serial HPV-DNA blood samples in patients undergoing treatment for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
To determine if it is possible (feasibility) to measure HPV-DNA using blood tests among participants undergoing induction chemotherapy followed by a second round of response-based therapy for their HPV-associated cancer. This feasibility will be determined by measuring the proportion of patients who complete chemotherapy treatment and HPV-DNA assessments.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Relationship Between HPV-DNA Found in Participant's Blood and Participant Response to Chemotherapy
To evaluate the relationship (aka correlation) between the amount of HPV-DNA found in a participant's plasma/blood and the participant's response to induction chemotherapy based on how their tumor responds to treatment.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Changes in Blood Containing HPV-DNA During Response-Based Therapy
To evaluate changes in blood containing HPV-DNA during a second round of chemotherapy (known as response-based chemo-radiotherapy) that will be based on how the participant responded to their first/induction phase of chemotherapy treatment. This outcome will be measured by checking quantitative HPV DNA in plasma with each cycle of induction chemotherapy, weekly during radiation treatment, and following completion of radiation at set time points within the study.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Side Effects of Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy Treatment
To evaluate the side effects of weekly cisplatin-based treatment in participants receiving chemotherapy followed by a second round of response-based therapy for their HPV-associated cancer.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Tumor Response Among Participants Undergoing Transoral Robotic Surgery
To determine how participant's tumor/cancer responds when they are undergoing Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) following induction chemotherapy. TORs is surgery in which a robot with arms is used to remove cancer from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat. Data about how patients' tumors respond in this study will be compared to similar data from a previous study.
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Participants assigned to this group will receive 7 weeks of chemotherapy combined with high- dose radiotherapy.
This drug will be combined with carboplatin during induction therapy for 9 weeks.
This drug will be combined with paclitaxel during induction therapy for 9 weeks.
Time frame: 20 weeks
Time to Disease Recurrence
Length of time participants remain without evidence of disease.
Time frame: 5 years
Overall Survival
Length of time until participant death.
Time frame: 5 years
Locoregional Control
Number of participants who experience local control of their primary tumors after treatment.
Time frame: 5 years
Distant Control
Number of participants who experience control of metastatic disease (distant tumors) after treatment.
Time frame: 5 years