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

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

NA · Centre Jean Perrin · NCT07178847

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

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment59 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorCentre Jean Perrin (other)
Locations3 sites (Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07178847 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

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.

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.

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 performed: 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.

Eligibility criteria

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 this trial is running

Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Locally Advanced Head and Neck Carcinoma, circulating DNA, residual disease

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.