Radiation is commonly used to treat cancer in the head and neck, however, this can lead to a serious complication called osteoradionecrosis (ORN), where there is necrotic (dead) open bone inside or outside of the mouth. This complication is difficult to treat, involves large healthcare costs, and can have devastating effects on quality of life. Two common adjuncts used in treatment of ORN are hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which may requires up to 60 treatments at a specialized clinic where patients are treated with high concentrations of oxygen using special chambers, and a less complex option called PENTOCLO which involves treating patients with several antibiotics followed by a combination of other oral medications taken for at least 1 year. This pilot study will be guide the design of a definitive trial to examine if the combination of HBOT and a modified PENTOCLO protocol together is better than the current standard treatment of HBOT alone. Outcomes will include pain, side effects and the need for surgery in patients with ORN. Specifically, the results of this small, pilot study will help to inform the design of a future larger study.
Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a potentially devastating complication which can occur following radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. ORN is difficult to treat using standard methods, and is associated with high healthcare costs and potentially dire impacts on quality of life. In addition to conservative measures (e.g. antibiotics, local irrigation, oral care) and surgical management, there are two established adjuvant treatments for ORN: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and an oral regimen called PENTOCLO, which consists of pre-treatment with oral antibiotics followed by prolonged treatment with a combination of PENtoxifylline, TOcopherol (Vitamin E) and CLOdronate. This will be the first study to investigate the potential benefits of combining HBOT and a modified PENTOCLO regimen for treatment of ORN. This study is a prospective, pilot, open label, outcome blinded, randomized controlled trial where participants with a confirmed diagnosis of mandibular ORN will be randomized (1:1 in blocks of 4, stratified by ORN stage) to receive either the standard HBOT treatment or HBOT plus a modified PENTOCLO regimen. The primary objective of this pilot trial is to determine feasibility of a larger definitive trial by assessing recruitment, adherence to the interventional protocol, ability to achieve 12 months follow up, feasibility of completing outcome measures, and study costs (including research support and healthcare resources costs per patient). Clinical outcomes including improvement or worsening of ORN of the mandible after 12-month treatment will also be assessed. Participants will be followed for 12 months from the start of treatment, with follow-ups at 4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to assess pain scores, ORN characteristics, quality of life and adverse events.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
24
4-week "pre-treatment" phase consisting of 2 g daily of Amoxicillin+Clavulanic acid 875/125 mg (1 g morning and night), 1 g ciprofloxacin (500 mg morning and night) and 50 mg Fluconazole daily (morning), taken orally by the patient. This is followed by an additional 11 months (12 months total) "treatment" phase consisting of 800 mg pentoxifylline (400 mg morning and night) and 800 IU tocopherol (400 IU morning and night) taken orally 5 days per week (Monday to Friday with no medications on Saturday and Sunday). If the patient deteriorates (i.e., worsening of ORN T 6 or 9-month follow-up) then clodronate 1600 mg once daily (Monday to Friday) for the rest of the study period will be added.
4-week "pre-treatment" phase consisting of 2 g daily of Amoxicillin+Clavulanic acid 875/125 mg (1 g morning and night), 1 g ciprofloxacin (500 mg morning and night) and 50 mg Fluconazole daily (morning), taken orally by the patient. This is followed by an additional 11 months (12 months total) of sham "treatment" phase (placebo).
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGRecruitment and adherence to protocol (process)
Recruitment of two subjects per month on average over 12 months
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Recruitment and adherence to protocol (process)
At least 70% of all eligible patients are recruited
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Recruitment and adherence to protocol (process)
More than 80% of all recruited subjects complete 60 sessions of HBOT (20/24)
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Recruitment and adherence to protocol (process)
More than 80% of patients in mPENTOCLO group complete mPENTOCLO protocol (10/12)
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Recruitment and adherence to protocol (process)
80% 12-month follow-up rate (20/24)
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Feasibility (resource) - Time
Investigators to keep logs of time required to perform study related work
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Feasibility (resource) - Cost
Cost of study including research support and healthcare resource costs per patient
Time frame: Pilot study (including 12-month follow-up)
Recovery from ORN at one-year follow-up
Proportion of patients reaching recovery within the study period in each group. "Recovery" will be defined as the absence of pain, pathologic fracture, and cutaneous fistula; exposed bone area (EBA) less than 20 mm2; and by evidence of stabilization or regression on radiographic findings (Notani classification score). Minor bone spicules of less than 20 mm2 that have no ongoing pain, and no radiographic abnormalities will be considered fully healed and not Notani grade 1.
Time frame: 12-month follow-up
Time required to achieve recovery in patients
Difference in time required to reach recovery in each group. "Recovery" will be defined as the absence of pain, pathologic fracture, and cutaneous fistula; exposed bone area (EBA) less than 20 mm2; and by evidence of stabilization or regression on radiographic findings (Notani classification score). Minor bone spicules of less than 20 mm2 that have no ongoing pain, and no radiographic abnormalities will be considered fully healed and not Notani grade 1.
Time frame: Assessed at each scheduled follow-up (4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months)
Improvement and failure rates in patients treated in each group using an accepted clinical and radiographic scoring system:
Exposed bone area (EBA)
Time frame: Assessed at each scheduled follow-up (4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months)
Improvement and failure rates in patients treated in each group using an accepted clinical and radiographic scoring system:
Notani Classification Score I ORN confined to dentoalveolar bone II ORN limited to dentoalveolar bone or mandible above the inferior dental canal, or both III ORN involving the mandible below the inferior dental canal, or pathological fracture, or skin fistula
Time frame: Assessed at each scheduled follow-up (4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months)
Improvement and failure rates in patients treated in each group using an accepted clinical and radiographic scoring system:
Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force-Subjective, Objective, Management and Analytic (LENT-SOMA) score
Time frame: Assessed at each scheduled follow-up (4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months)
Complications that arise from treatment
Complications related to HBOT and/or mPENTOCLO, as defined in product monographs and study protocol.
Time frame: Assessed at each scheduled follow-up (4 weeks, 5/6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months)
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