Fractionated Radiation Therapy in Treating Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00771641 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : October 13, 2008
Last Update Posted : January 24, 2014
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RATIONALE: Patient abstract not available
PURPOSE: Patient abstract not available
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Head and Neck Cancer | Procedure: conventional surgery Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy Radiation: low-LET electron therapy Radiation: low-LET photon therapy Radiation: radiation therapy | Phase 3 |
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether hyperfractionation and/or accelerated fractionation (split-course or with a concomitant boost) improves the locoregional control rate over standard fractionation radiotherapy in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. II. Determine the disease-free survival and overall survival of these patients treated with different radiotherapy fractionation schemes. III. Determine the acute and late toxicities of each fractionation schedule. IV. Compare the quality of life on the two regimens.
OUTLINE: Randomized study. Arm I: Radiotherapy. Irradiation of primary tumor and involved and at-risk nodal areas using linear accelerators with photon energies of 1.25-6.0 MV (dual energy arrangements may also use a beam greater than 6.0 MV), electrons of 4-25 MV, or Co60. Standard fractionation. Arm II: Radiotherapy. Targets and equipment as in Arm I. Hyperfractionation. Arm III: Radiotherapy. Targets and equipment as in Arm I. Accelerated split-course hyperfractionation. Arm IV: Radiotherapy. Targets and equipment as in Arm I. Accelerated fractionation with concomitant boost.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 1,080 patients (270/arm) will be accrued over 5.75 years. If excessive toxicity is noted in any arm after entry of 324 and 634 patients, that arm may be closed.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 1113 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Phase III Randomized Comparison of Radiotherapy Fractionation in Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Twice-Daily Hyperfractionation vs Split-Course Accelerated Hyperfractionation vs Accelerated Fractionation With Concomitant Boost vs Standard Fractionation |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | August 2002 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2013 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Standard Fractionation
Standard Fractionation: 2 Gy/Fx, Q.D. 5 Days/wk, Total Dose: 70 Gy/35 Fx x 7 wks
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Procedure: conventional surgery Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy Radiation: low-LET electron therapy Radiation: low-LET photon therapy Radiation: radiation therapy |
Experimental: Hyperfractionation
Hyperfractionation: 1.2 Gy/Fx, b.i.d. (> 6 hours apart, 5 days/wk) Total Dose: 81.6 Gy/68 Fx/7 weeks
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Procedure: conventional surgery Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy Radiation: low-LET electron therapy Radiation: low-LET photon therapy Radiation: radiation therapy |
Experimental: Accelerated Hyperfractionation with split
Accelerated Hyperfractionation with split: 1.6 Gy/Fx b.i.d. (> 6 hours apart), 5 days/wk, Total Dose: 67.2 Gy/42 Fx/6 wks with a 2 week rest after 38.4 Gy
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Procedure: conventional surgery Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy Radiation: low-LET electron therapy Radiation: low-LET photon therapy Radiation: radiation therapy |
Experimental: Accelerated fractionation with concomitant boost
Accelerated fractionation with concomitant boost
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Procedure: conventional surgery Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy Radiation: low-LET electron therapy Radiation: low-LET photon therapy Radiation: radiation therapy |

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including lymphoepithelioma and anaplastic carcinoma Biopsy from the primary or regional nodes acceptable No adenocarcinomas The following stages and sites are eligible: Stage III/IV oral cavity, including: Anterior 2/3 of the tongue Buccal mucosa Floor of mouth Hard palate Gingiva Retromolar trigone Stage III/IV oropharynx, including: Tonsil and pillars Faucial arch and soft palate Posterolateral pharyngeal walls Stage II/III/IV base of the tongue and hypopharynx Stage III/IV supraglottic larynx, including: Ventricular band Arytenoid Supra- and infrahyoid epiglottis Aryepiglottic fold (tumors at glottic and subglottic sites excluded) Nonpalpable nodes detected only on CT or MRI must be at least 1.0 cm in diameter or contain necrosis to prove N+ disease No metastasis below the clavicle clinically or radiologically
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: At least 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Medically able to withstand radiotherapy No second malignancy within 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer Follow-up by participating radiotherapist required
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to head and neck No planned combined external beam and interstitial boost irradiation Surgery: No prior surgery (other than biopsy) No planned combined pre- or postoperative programs Radical neck dissections allowed if lymph nodes are greater than 3 cm prior to radiotherapy or involvement persists after treatment Resection of persistent disease at the primary site may be performed 6 weeks after completion of radiotherapy

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00771641
Study Chair: | K. Kian Ang, MD, PhD | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
Other Publications:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Radiation Therapy Oncology Group |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00771641 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RTOG-9003 CDR0000076475 |
First Posted: | October 13, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 24, 2014 |
Last Verified: | January 2014 |
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx stage II lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx stage III lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx |
stage IV lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx |
Carcinoma Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Neoplasms, Squamous Cell |
Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Cobalt Trace Elements Micronutrients Physiological Effects of Drugs |