OPC Survivor: Optimizing Long-Term Health After Oropharyngeal Cancer
Official title: OPC SURVIVOR: Optimizing OroPharyngeal Cancer SURVIVORship
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11415554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program studies how to improve long-term health and quality of life for adults treated for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,320,910 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA285249-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who have or had HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and have undergone or are undergoing conformal radiotherapy with systemic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without OPC or those not receiving conformal radiation or related therapies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
OPC survivors often face lasting side effects from treatment that can affect chewing, swallowing, jaw strength, and overall daily function. This grant supports coordinated research to reduce toxic effects while maintaining high cancer control, using advanced radiation techniques and systemic therapies. By following patients over many years, the study aims to map late complications, identify who is at risk, and develop strategies to preserve quality of life after cure. The work will involve multiple centers, clinical data collection, and patient follow-up to translate findings into survivorship care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer long-term side effects and better quality of life after HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials have shown mixed outcomes when reducing therapy intensity, but this program builds on prior work to further refine survivorship and late-effect management.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hutcheson, Katherine Arnold — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hutcheson, Katherine Arnold
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.