De-intensification of Radiation and Chemotherapy for Low-Risk HPV-related Oropharyngeal SCC: Follow-up Study
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02281955 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : November 4, 2014
Results First Posted : December 22, 2020
Last Update Posted : March 7, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Head and Neck Neoplasms Oropharyngeal Neoplasms | Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Drug: Cisplatin (or alternative) Procedure: Assessment for surgical evaluation | Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 115 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | De-intensification of Radiation and Chemotherapy for Low-Risk HPV-related Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 2014 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 2019 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | November 2024 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: De-escalated Radiation and Chemotherapy
Patients will receive Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Treatments (IMRT), 60 Gy at 2 Gy/fx. The acceptable weekly chemotherapy regimens are Cisplatin 30 to 40 mg/m2 (first choice), Cetuximab 250mg/m2 (second choice), Carboplatin AUC 1.5 and paclitaxel 45 mg/m2 (third choice), Carboplatin AUC 3 (fourth choice). Chemotherapy will be given intravenously weekly during IMRT, 6 total doses. Chemotherapy will not be given to patients with T0-2 N0-1 disease, ≤ 10 pack years smoking history. Decision for surgical evaluation will be based on the results of the PET/CT and clinical exam 10-16 weeks after CRT. Patients with a positive PET/CT scan will undergo surgical evaluation at the discretion of the surgeon. Patients with a negative PET/CT scan will be observed.
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Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)
All patients will receive Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Treatments (IMRT). Dose painting IMRT will be used and all doses will be specified to the planning target volume (PTV). The high risk planning target volume (PTV-HR) and standard risk planning target volume (PTV-SR) will be treated to the following respective total doses: 60 Gy and 54 Gy. The dose per fraction to the PTV-HR and PTV-SR will be 2 Gy per day and 1.8 Gy per day respectively. The PTV-HR will include the gross tumor and the PTV-SR will include areas at risk for harboring subclinical microscopic disease. Drug: Cisplatin (or alternative) Cisplatin is the preferred mandated first choice chemotherapy, however alternative weekly regimens are permissible. Justification for not using cisplatin must be documented. Chemotherapy will be given intravenously weekly during IMRT. 6 total doses will be given. It is preferred that the doses be administered on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36; however, this is not mandatory. Chemotherapy will not be given to patients with T0-2 N0-1 disease, ≤ 10 pack years smoking history. Procedure: Assessment for surgical evaluation Decisions for surgical evaluation will be based on the results of the PET/CT 10 to 16 weeks after CRT and clinical exam (including fiberoptic laryngoscopy) at that time. Other optional imaging studies may be performed. Patients with a positive PET/CT scan will undergo surgical evaluation at the discretion of the surgeon, with the goal being to remove any suspected residual tumor with a negative resection margin while maintaining organ preservation. This may include biopsies and/or oncological resections of the primary tumor and lymph node metastases. Patients with a negative PET/CT scan will be observed. |
- 2 Year Progression Free Survival After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks) ]Progression Free Survival (PFS) was defined as the time from the beginning of treatment to cancer progression or death. The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients with PFS at 2 years post-treatment.
- 2 Year Local Control (LC) Rate After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks). ]The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients with LC at 2 years post-treatment.
- 2 Year Regional Control (RC) Rate After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks). ]The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients with RC at 2 years post-treatment.
- 2 Year Local-regional Control (LRC) Rate After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks). ]The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients with LRC at 2 years post-treatment.
- 2 Year Distant Metastasis Free Survival (DMFS) Rate After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks). ]The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients with DMFS at 2 years post-treatment.
- 2 Year Overall Survival (OS) Rate After De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-Positive and/or p16 Positive Low-risk Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) [ Time Frame: Two years after completion of CRT on last enrolled patient (Note: CRT duration is 6 weeks). ]The outcome measure will be reported as the proportion of patients who are still alive (overall survival) at 2 years post-treatment.
- Head and Neck Quality of Life Assessments [ Time Frame: Within 2 weeks prior to CRT, weekly during CRT, 10-16 weeks after CRT, follow-up visits every 2 months after CRT for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 years, then yearly, up to 10 years. ]
- Speech and Swallowing Function [ Time Frame: Within 2 weeks prior to CRT, 6-8 weeks after CRT, 6 months after CRT (MBS); Within 2 weeks prior to CRT, 10-16 weeks after CRT, follow-up visits every 2 months after CRT for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 years, then yearly (EAT-10), up to 10 years. ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- ≥ 18 years of age (no upper age limit)
- T0-3, N0 to N2c, M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
- Biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma that is HPV and/or p16 positive
- ≤ 10 pack-years smoking history or ≤ 30 pack-years smoking history WITH ≥ 5 years abstinence from smoking
- Radiologic confirmation of the absence of hematogenous metastasis within 12 weeks prior to treatment
- ECOG Performance Status 0-1
- CBC/differential obtained within 8 weeks prior to treatment, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows: Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3; Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl.
- Adequate renal and hepatic function within 4 weeks prior to registration, defined as follows: Serum creatinine < 2.0 mg/dl; Total bilirubin < 2 x the institutional ULN; AST or ALT < 3 x the institutional ULN.
- Negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to registration for women of childbearing potential
- Women of childbearing potential and male participants who are sexually active must practice adequate contraception during treatment and for 6 weeks following treatment.
- Patients must be deemed able to comply with the treatment plan and follow-up schedule.
- Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior history of radiation therapy to the head and neck
- Prior history of head and neck cancer.
- Unresectable disease (e.g. immobile node on physical exam, nodal disease that radiographically involves the carotid arteries, nerves)
- Currently taking Disease Modifying Rheumatoid Drugs (DMRDs)
- Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows: Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months; Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months; Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration; Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects (Note, however, coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol); Pre-existing ≥ grade 2 neuropathy; Prior organ transplant; Systemic lupus; Psoriatic arthritis.
- Known HIV positive.

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): NCT02281955
United States, Florida | |
University of Florida | |
Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610 | |
United States, North Carolina | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Radiation Oncology | |
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599 | |
Pardee Memorial Hospital | |
Hendersonville, North Carolina, United States, 28791 | |
High Point Regional Health | |
High Point, North Carolina, United States, 27262 | |
Rex Healthcare | |
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 27607 |
Principal Investigator: | Colette Shen, MD | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Radiation Oncology |
Documents provided by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center:
Responsible Party: | UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02281955 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
LCCC1413 |
First Posted: | November 4, 2014 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | December 22, 2020 |
Last Update Posted: | March 7, 2023 |
Last Verified: | March 2023 |
Human Papillomavirus Oropharynx Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
Radiation Therapy Chemotherapy p16 |
Carcinoma Neoplasms Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Head and Neck Neoplasms Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck Oropharyngeal Neoplasms Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms, Squamous Cell |
Neoplasms by Site Pharyngeal Neoplasms Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms Pharyngeal Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Cisplatin Antineoplastic Agents |