Proactive risk-based coordination to shorten time from surgery to post-operative radiation for head and neck cancer
Proactive Risk-based Optimization & Notifications for Treatment & Outcomes (PRONTO) in Head & Neck Cancer: A Strategy to Reduce Delays From Surgery to Post-Operative Adjuvant Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer
This pilot tests whether an automated care-coordination system (PRONTO-HN) can help adults with oral or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma begin post-operative radiotherapy within 42 days after surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 85 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Trial ID | NCT07180901 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-center, quasi-experimental interrupted time-series pilot compares a historical control period (August 2024–August 2025) with an intervention period (September 2025–September 2026) at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). The intervention, PRONTO-HN, delivers automated alerts, multidisciplinary task coordination, and risk stratification using a predictive model built from pre-operative data. The primary focus is improving adherence to recommended surgery-to-post-operative-radiotherapy (S-PORT) intervals of ≤42 days. Outcomes will compare the proportion of patients meeting the S-PORT target before and after implementation and examine process measures related to scheduling and coordination.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with pathologically confirmed oral cavity or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who are planned for primary surgical resection and receive care at CHUM between July 2024 and September 2026 are eligible.
Not a fit: Patients who do not undergo surgery, those with S-PORT delays beyond 180 days, or patients treated outside CHUM are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PRONTO-HN could increase the number of patients starting post-operative radiotherapy within recommended timelines, which is associated with better oncologic outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Observational research consistently links shorter S-PORT intervals to better outcomes, but automated, risk-based coordination systems like PRONTO-HN are novel and have limited prior interventional evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All adult patients (age 18 or older). * Pathologically confirmed oral cavity or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. * Diagnosed from July 2024 to September 2026. * With planned primary intention surgical resection. * With or without adjuvant therapy. * Treated at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who do not end up receiving surgery. * S-PORT \> 180 days
Where this trial is running
Montreal, Quebec
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Houda Bahig, MD PhD — Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
- Study coordinator: Apostolos Christopoulos, MD, MSc
- Email: a.christopoulos@umontreal.ca
- Phone: +1 (514) 625-7360
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.