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Clinical trial Recruiting at 4 sites Interventional Ages 18 to 80

Circulating DNA to detect leftover disease after chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

Official title: Evaluation of Circulating DNA as a Biomarker of Residual Disease After Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Necksquamous Cell Carcinoma

Run by Centre Jean Perrin · NCT07178847 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial will test whether a blood test for circulating tumor DNA can find leftover cancer three months after chemoradiotherapy in people with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma enrolled in Neck-TAR.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
Enrollment59 (estimated)
SponsorCentre Jean Perrin
Academic / other
Locations4 sites (Aurillac, CANTAL and 3 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 13, 2025
Main results expectedApril 2029
Study endsJuly 2031
Registry record updatedSeptember 11, 2026
Trial IDNCT07178847 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are already enrolled in the Neck-TAR study, have provided informed consent for the NeckTAR‑IN ancillary protocol, and are covered by the French social security system.

Probably not a fit

Patients not enrolled in Neck-TAR, those without detectable circulating tumor DNA shedding, or those with conditions that preclude follow-up imaging are unlikely to benefit from this ancillary protocol.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This ancillary interventional study collects blood samples at one and three months after the end of chemoradiotherapy to measure circulating tumor DNA (cDNA). Participants are drawn from the ongoing Neck-TAR cohort and provide additional informed consent for the cDNA sampling. Researchers will compare cDNA detection at three months with clinical and radiological assessments of response to identify residual disease. The aim is to determine whether cDNA can serve as a minimally invasive biomarker to complement standard post-treatment surveillance.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the test could provide a noninvasive way to detect residual disease earlier or more accurately, helping guide follow-up and additional treatment decisions.

How similar studies have gone: Circulating tumor DNA approaches have shown promise in several cancer types and emerging, but not yet definitive, evidence supports their use for detecting residual disease in head and neck cancers.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Selection Criteria:

* Patient included in NeckTAR study
* Written informed consent signed for NeckTAR-IN study
* Affiliation to the French social security system

Where it's running

  • CH Henri Mondor Aurillac
    Aurillac, Cantal, France     Recruiting
  • Centre Jean PERRIN
    Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France     Recruiting
  • Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse
    Lyon, France     Recruiting
  • CHU de Saint-Étienne
    Saint-Etienne, France     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.