Clinical trial Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 to 70

CompARE: Escalating Treatment of Intermediate and High-risk Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC)

Run by University of Birmingham · NCT04116047 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Fully enrolled, still running. This study is not taking new participants. Its registered completion date is 2026-12.

CompARE is a multicentre, phase III open-label randomised controlled trial using an adaptive, Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage (MAMS) design.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment785 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Birmingham
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsCisplatin, Durvalumab, Radiotherapy
Locations38 sites (Ireland, United Kingdom)
Trial IDNCT04116047 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The CompARE Trial examines alternative regimens for escalating treatment of intermediate and high-risk oropharyngeal cancer in an adult patient population. The aim is to assess whether escalated radiotherapy, adding surgery or immunotherapy will improve overall survival and quality of life in these patients.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in base of tongue and tonsil with a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) recommendation for treatment with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy
2. All OPC T4 or N3 (HPV+ and HPV-) OR all HPV -ve (negative) OPC T1-T4, N1-N3 or T3-4, N0 OR HPV +ve (positive) OPC T1-T4 with N2b-N3 nodes AND who are smokers ≥ 10 pack years current or previous smoking history
3. Minimum life expectancy of 3 months
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
5. Adequate renal function, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>50ml/min calculated using Cockcroft-Gault formula
6. Adequate bone marrow function (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 109/L, haemoglobin ≥9.0g/dL and platelets ≥100 x 109/L)
7. Adequate liver function i.e. plasma bilirubin ≤1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤2.5 x ULN
8. Prothrombin time (PT) ≤1.5 x ULN or International Normalised Ratio (INR) ≤1. 5
9. Magnesium ≥ lower limit of normal
10. No cancers in previous 5 years, except basal cell carcinoma of skin and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN)
11. Aged 18-70
12. Written informed consent given for the trial
13. Surgically resectable disease if being randomised to all four arms
14. Females must either be of non-reproductive potential (i.e. post-menopausal by history: ≥55 years old and no menses for ≥1 year without an alternative medical cause; or history of hysterectomy, or history of bilateral tubal ligation or history of bilateral oophorectomy) or must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry
15. Willingness to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including follow up

Exclusion Criteria:

1. All T1-T2,N0 OPC (HPV +ve or HPV-ve)
2. HPV positive patients who are:

   T1-T3, N0-N2c non-smokers T1-T3, N0-N2c smokers with ≤10 pack years or T1-T2, N0-N2a smokers with ≥10 pack years
3. Unfit for chemoradiotherapy regimens
4. Creatinine Clearance \<50ml/min
5. Treatment with any of the following, prior to randomisation:

   1. Any Investigational Medicinal Products (IMP) within 30 days
   2. Any other chemotherapy, immunotherapy or anticancer agents within 3 weeks
   3. Major surgery within 4 weeks
6. History of allergic reactions to any of the IMPs and excipients used in this trial
7. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, active peptic ulcer disease or gastritis, active bleeding diatheses including any subject known to have evidence of acute or chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or compromise the ability of the subject to give written informed consent
8. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Women of child- bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to randomisation
9. Men or women who are not prepared to practise methods of contraception of proven efficacy during treatment and for 6 months following the end of treatment
10. Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results

    Additional Exclusion Criteria for Arm 5 only:
11. Any previous treatment with PD-L or PD-L1 inhibitor, including durvalumab
12. Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of durvalumab, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid dose
13. Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders including inflammatory bowel disease e.g. colitis or Crohn's disease, diverticulitis (with the exception of diverticulosis), celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis syndrome, or Wegener syndrome (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis). The following are exceptions to this criterion:

    * Patients with vitiligo or alopecia
    * Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g. following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement
    * Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy
    * Patients without active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the study physician
14. Patients with an active non-infectious pneumonitis
15. History of primary immunodeficiency
16. History of allogeneic organ transplant
17. Known history of previous clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis
18. Receipt of live attenuated vaccination within 30 days prior to study entry or within 30 days of receiving durvalumab. Inactivated viruses, such as those in the influenza vaccine, are permitted

Where it's running

  • St Luke's Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
  • St James's Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
  • Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
    Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
  • Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre
    Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Velindre Cancer Centre
    Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom
  • Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
    Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Show 32 more locations
  • Leicester Royal Infirmary
    Leicester, East Midlands, United Kingdom
  • Castle Hill Hospital
    Cottingham, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • Western General Hospital
    Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • Colchester General Hospital
    Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
  • Queen's Hospital
    Romford, Essex, United Kingdom
  • Royal Preston Hospital
    Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
  • North Middlesex Hospital
    London, London, United Kingdom
  • James Cook University Hospital
    Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • York Hospital
    York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • Nottingham City Hospital
    Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • Churchill Hospital
    Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
  • Weston Park Hospital
    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • Singleton Hospital
    Swansea, Swansea, United Kingdom
  • Freeman Hospital
    Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital
    Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
  • University Hospital Coventry
    Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom
  • Newcross Hospital
    Wolverhampton, West Midlands, United Kingdom
  • Bradford Royal Infirmary
    Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • St James's University Hospital
    Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  • Royal United Hospital
    Bath, United Kingdom
  • Belfast City Hospital
    Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Addenbrooke's Hospital
    Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • Cheltenham General Hospital
    Cheltenham, United Kingdom
  • Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
    Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • Aintree University Hospital
    Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • Christie Hospital
    Manchester, United Kingdom
  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
    Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, United Kingdom
  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
    Norwich, United Kingdom
  • Derriford Hospital
    Plymouth, United Kingdom
  • Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
    Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
  • Musgrove Park Hospital
    Taunton, United Kingdom
  • Torbay Hospital
    Torquay, United Kingdom

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Prof Mehanna — University of Birmingham

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-15 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.