This research is being conducted to understand if treatment can be tailored for participants with HPV-related oropharynx cancers using both clinical features (stage of the tumor, smoking status) combined with an investigational HPV blood test. The names of the test and treatments involved in this study are: * NavDx® HPV ctDNA testing (HPV blood test) * Radiation therapy * Chemotherapy: Cisplatin, or Carboplatin and Paclitaxel (not all participants receive any or all of these agents)
This research study involves HPV DNA testing (a blood test that measures the levels of DNA from the human papillomavirus in the bloodstream which investigator think sheds from the cancer itself), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for some participants. The research study procedures includes: screening for eligibility, and study treatments including evaluations and follow-up visits. The names of the test and treatments involved in this study are: * NavDx® HPV ctDNA testing (HPV blood test) * Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy alone or combined with chemotherapy is considered a standard treatment for this disease. The investigators are researching the effectiveness of reducing the radiation doses and, in some cases, also reducing the chemotherapy dose for certain participants with favorable clinical characteristics and with certain HPV blood test results. * Chemotherapy: Cisplatin, or Carboplatin and Paclitaxel (not all participants receive any or all of these agents) * Study treatment will for up to 7 weeks and participants will be followed for 5 years from the beginning of the study. * It is expected that about 145 people will take part in this research study. The HPV ctDNA levels will be measured using a blood test called NavDx®, which will be provided free of charge from the company NAVERIS. ctDNA testing refers to circulating tumor (ct)DNA or measuring DNA fragments floating in the bloodstream that are released from the cancer cells. This testing has shown promise in early detection of cancer recurrence in several solid tumor types (including colorectal, urothelial, and breast cancer). Additionally, recent studies have shown a connection between baseline ctDNA levels and disease risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved NavDx® as a method for guiding treatment decision-making, but this is an important part of this research study. While the NavDx® assay is investigational, it is performed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified clinical laboratory and is currently available as a clinical tool for measuring HPV ctDNA levels in some cancer patients. CLIA regulations include federal standards applicable to all United States facilities or sites that test human specimens for health assessment or to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational intervention to learn whether the intervention works in treating a specific disease. "Investigational" means that the intervention is being studied. Radiation therapy alone or combined with chemotherapy is considered a standard treatment for this disease. The investigators are researching the effectiveness of reducing the radiation doses and, in some cases, also reducing the chemotherapy dose for certain participants with favorable clinical characteristics and with certain HPV blood test results.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
145
Blood will be collected and shared with an outside lab for analysis. This test will be done at Week 4 and at End of Treatment. This test will be done at at End of Treatment and in follow-up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after completing the study treatment. In years 2 and 3 after treatment, the test will be collected every 6 months or twice a year. The specimens will be identifiable. The specimens will be banked for future use.
Radiation Therapy (administered daily, Monday-Friday). Higher risk participants will receive standard radiation dose for up to 7-8 weeks. Lower risk participants will receive a lower dose and treatment will only last 5-6 weeks.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both considered standard treatments * Bolus Cisplatin: Infused every 21 days for up to 2 or 3 doses. * Weekly Cisplatin or Carboplatin with Paclitaxel: Infused weekly during radiation therapy.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGDana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGProgression Free Survival 2 Years
Progression-free survival (PFS) is defined as the time from the date of study registration to first invasive local, regional, distant progression, or death due to any cause. Participants alive without progression are censored at date of last disease evaluation
Time frame: 2 Years
Overall Survival at 2 Years
Defined as the time from study registration to death due to any cause, or censored at date last known alive.
Time frame: 2 Years
Rate of Distant Failure
Distant metastatic-free survival (DMFS) is defined as the time from confirmed disease response (CR/PR) to the earlier of the first occurrence of distant or metastatic disease, or death due to any cause. Participants alive without distant or metastatic progression are censored at date of last disease evaluation.
Time frame: every 12 weeks (or 3 months) from the time of therapy completion for years 1 and 2, and every 24 weeks (or 6 months) from the time of therapy completion in year 3.
Best Overall Response
The best response recorded from the start of the treatment until disease progression or recurrence, with documentation of local (primary site) or regional (neck lymph node) disease clearance being of interest. Clinical or radiographic evidence of progressive locoregional disease beyond 12 weeks (or 3 months) from the end of treatment should be documented and ideally confirmed by locoregional or distant disease biopsy, neck dissection, or salvage surgery. CT or MRI (of head and neck region, with chest CT), or PET-CT may be used as radiographic evaluation of overall disease status.
Time frame: every 12 weeks (or 3 months) from the time of therapy completion for years 1 and 2, and every 24 weeks (or 6 months) from the time of therapy completion in year 3.
Score Change FACT-H&N survey data
The self-administered Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head \& Neck Cancer (FACT-HN) questionnaire consists of FACT-G, a cancer specific QOL questionnaire that includes 27 questions in 4 domains - physical, social, emotional, and function, and a 12-time H\&N cancer-specific modules. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 scale. Higher scores represent better Quality of Life. A clinically significant change in score on this instrument is represented by an increase of 6 units or decrease of 12 units
Time frame: baseline up to 5 years
Safety and Toxicity
Evaluated by measuring feeding tube rate.
Time frame: 6 and 12 months after protocol therapy
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.