De-intensified chemoradiotherapy: Radiotherapy to a dose of 60 Gy to the primary tumour and involved lymph nodes and 54 Gy to subclinical regions at risk in 30 fractions. Reduced volume of elective nodal radiation.
Study summary
Volume and Dose De-Intensified Radiotherapy for p16+ Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: A Multi-Centre, Single Arm Prospective Cohort Study
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
—
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 18 or older
* Provide informed consent
* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma
* p16-positive tumor, as determined by immunohistochemistry at local hospital
* Primary tumor site in the oropharynx (includes tonsil, soft palate, base of tongue, walls of oropharynx)
* Eligible for curative intent treatment.
* Smokers and non-smokers are included
* Tumor stage (AJCC 8th edition): T1 to T3
* Nodal stage (AJCC 8th edition): N1 to N2
* Adequate bone marrow function, hepatic, and renal function for chemotherapy (Hemoglobin \> 80 g/L; Absolute neutrophil count \>1.5x109 /L, platelets \> 100 x109/L; Bilirubin \< 35 umol/L; AST or ALT \< 3 x the upper limit of normal; serum creatinine \< 130 umol/L or creatinine clearance ≥ 50 ml/min)
Exclusion Criteria:
* \- Clinical, radiologic or pathologic Ib nodal involvement (including invasion into submandibular gland)
* Primary cancer with extension and involvement of the oral cavity
* Metastatic disease
* Contraindications to radiotherapy or chemotherapy
* Prior history of head and neck cancer within 5 years
* Prior head and neck radiation at any time
* Inability to attend full course of radiotherapy or follow-up visits
* Pregnant or lactating women
Primary outcome measure(s)
Xerostomia-related quality of life — 12 months Measured by the Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ), which is an 8 item self-reported xerostomia specific questionnaire. Patients rate each item on an 11 point ordinal Likert scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater dryness or discomfort due to dryness. Item scores are added and the sum is transformed linearly to a final summary score ranging between 0 and 100, with higher scores representing greater levels of xerostomia. Based on existing literature, the mean XQ score for patients treated with standard dose and volume radiotherapy is estimated to be 52 (null hypothesis). To detect a clinically meaningful reduction of 11 points in patients treated with volume and dose de-intensified radiotherapy, with a resulting mean XQ score of 41 (alternative hypothesis), with an alpha of 0.05 and 80% power using a one-sided Wilcoxon test assuming normal distribution, 28 patients are required. Accounting for 10% dropout a total sample size of 32 patients is required.
Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events — Baseline to 5 years Measured by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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