Evaluating Photoacoustic Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer

Is this trial a fit for you?

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

What this trial studies

This pilot study aims to assess the changes in lymph node involvement in patients with head and neck cancer during their radiotherapy treatment, with or without chemotherapy, using photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Up to 50 participants will be recruited and imaged five times over the course of their treatment, which lasts up to seven weeks. The study will correlate changes in PA imaging parameters with radiological responses assessed via MRI 10 to 12 weeks post-treatment. The goal is to enhance understanding of treatment responses through innovative imaging techniques.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed head and neck carcinoma which has not been treated with any first-line therapy and will be treated with radiotherapy
* Measurable disease by ultrasound, or MRI performed within 28 days prior to treatment
* Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1
* Life expectancy of at least 6 months
* Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function as assessed by the following laboratory requirements to be conducted within 7 days prior to dosing:

  1. hemoglobin \>90 mg/dL
  2. leukocytes \>3,000/mL
  3. absolute neutrophil count \>1,500/mL
  4. platelets \>100,000/mL
  5. total bilirubin within normal institutional limits
  6. AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \<2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal
  7. creatinine within normal institutional limits or creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional upper limit of normal
* Subjects must give appropriate written informed consent prior to participation in the study;
* Subjects must be able and willing to comply with the safety procedures during the Scanning Period;

Exclusion Criteria:

* Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or major surgery within 4 weeks prior to registering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks prior to registration
* Receiving any other investigational agents
* Known brain metastases
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition
* Contraindications to radiotherapy such as but not limited to:

  1. previous radiotherapy to an involved area
  2. active collagen vascular disease
  3. genetic diseases associated with hyper-radiosensitivity
* Any clinically serious infections requiring systemic anti-bacterial, antifungal or antiviral therapy
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection,
* Symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, and cardiac arrhythmia
* History of active ongoing seizure disorder
* Any condition that is unstable or could jeopardize the safety of the patient and their compliance in the study

Where it's running

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Gregory J Czarnota, PhD, MD — Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

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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.