Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 70

Reduced postoperative radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

Official title: De-escalation of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Pathological Complete Response/Major Pathological Response: A Single-arm, Prospective Phase II Clinical Study

Run by Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University · NCT05854823 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if giving a lower dose of radiation after surgery can help people with advanced head and neck cancer stay cancer-free while causing fewer side effects.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment23 (estimated)
SponsorFifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Zhuhai, Guangdong)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 10, 2023
Main results expectedApril 9, 2027
Study endsApril 9, 2027
Registry record updatedMay 11, 2023
Trial IDNCT05854823 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 70 with specific stages of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who have shown a strong response to prior treatment.

Probably not a fit

Patients with less advanced disease or those who do not meet the criteria for pathological response may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the efficacy and safety of a reduced dose of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who have achieved a pathological complete response or major pathological response after neoadjuvant therapy. Eligible participants will receive a dose of 50Gy over 25 fractions instead of the standard 60Gy. The primary hypothesis is that this de-escalation will not negatively impact disease-free survival while significantly reducing treatment-related adverse events.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could minimize side effects for patients while maintaining effective cancer control.

How similar studies have gone: While similar approaches have been explored, this specific de-escalation strategy in this patient population is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Untreated, histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx), staging T3-4N0M0 or T1-4N1-3M0, III-IVB, according to the eighth edition of the AJCC staging system; within 6 weeks after receiving neoadjuvant therapy and radical surgery.
2. Pathological evaluation of surgical specimens was pCR (pathologic complete response, no viable tumor cells) or MPR (Major pathologic response, residual viable tumor cells≤10%).
3. Negative surgical margin.
4. No extranodal extension.
5. Aged ≥ 18 years and ≤ 70 years.
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2.
7. Life expectancy of more than 6 months.
8. Adequate organ function, based on meeting all of the following criteria (no blood components and cytologic growth factors were received within 14 days prior to the test):

   1. Hemoglobin ≥ 75 g/L; absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10\^9/L; and platelet count ≥ 100 × 10\^9/L;
   2. Serum albumin ≥ 25 g/L;
   3. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 × ULN;
   4. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN;
   5. Activated partial clotting enzyme time and international standardized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 × ULN (Patients on stable doses of anticoagulant therapy such as low molecular weight heparin or warfarin with INR within the expected treatment range of anticoagulants can be screened ).
9. Women of childbearing age should agree to the use of contraception (e.g., intrauterine devices, birth control pills, or condoms) during treatment and for 3 months thereafter.
10. The regimen of neoadjuvant therapy can be determined by the clinician.
11. Subjects voluntarily join the study and sign an informed consent form, with good compliance.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or lactating women.
2. A history of other malignant tumors within the previous 5 years or at the time of enrollment, except for cured skin basal cell carcinoma and cervical in situ cancer, as well as thyroid papilloma.
3. Neoadjuvant therapy or radical surgery was not completed.
4. Recurrence or distant metastasis occurred before postoperative radiotherapy.
5. There are contraindications for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
6. Uncontrolled cardiac clinical symptoms or diseases.
7. Serious infections.
8. A history of immunodeficiency, including HIV-positive status or other acquired congenital immunodeficiency diseases, or a history of organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation.
9. Patients with active tuberculosis infection found by history or CT examination, or patients with active tuberculosis infection history within 1 year prior to enrollment, or patients with active tuberculosis infection history before 1 year without formal treatment.
10. Active hepatitis B (HBV DNA ≥ 2,000 IU/mL or 10,000 copies/mL) or hepatitis C (positive HCV antibody test and HCV RNA above the lower limit of detection).
11. Known history of psychotropic drug abuse, alcoholism and drug use.
12. Not suitable for inclusion, as judged by the investigator.

Where it's running

  • Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
    Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
    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.
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.