Adaptive De-intensified Radiotherapy Using Circulating Tumor DNA in HPV- Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer

Launched by OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER · Mar 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how well a new approach to radiation therapy works for patients with a specific type of throat cancer linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). Researchers want to see if using a blood test to guide a lower dose of radiation can effectively treat patients while causing fewer side effects compared to the standard treatment. The trial focuses on patients with confirmed HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, which includes those with tumors in areas such as the tonsils or the base of the tongue. Participants will be required to have certain health conditions and be within specific age ranges, and they will need to provide consent before joining the study.

Eligible participants should be adults aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in the oropharynx and must have a specific test result showing the presence of HPV. They will also need to meet other health criteria, such as having a stable level of blood cells and certain organ functions. Those who join the trial can expect to receive either the lower dose of radiation guided by their blood test or the standard treatment, and researchers will monitor their progress to understand the effects of this new approach. It's important to know that this trial is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to improve treatment options for patients with HPV-related throat cancer.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (unknown primary, base of tongue, tonsil, oropharyngeal walls, soft palate). Cytologic or fine needle aspiration (FNA) confirmation is sufficient if a biopsy of the primary tumor is not feasible
• • P16 positive immunohistochemical staining. FNA may be used as the sole diagnostic tissue. If staining was done at an outside hospital, central review by the Ohio State University (OSU) department of pathology must occur prior to trial enrollment
• • Clinical stage T0, N1-N2, T1-2, N1-N2, T3-T4, N0-2 (American Joint Committee on Cancer \[AJCC\] 8th edition) including no evidence of distant metastases based on general history, imaging, physical examination, and examination with laryngopharyngoscopy
• • Clinical or radiographic evidence of measurable disease at the primary site or lymph nodes. Simple tonsillectomy or excision of primary without removal of nodal disease is permitted, as is excision of gross nodes but with intact primary site
• • Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG) PET/CT from the base of skull to the mid-thigh is mandatory and patients cannot be enrolled without a pretreatment PET/CT. PET/CT must be completed prior to enrollment
• • Pretreatment tumor tissue modified HPV virus (TTMV-HPV) particles present in plasma cell free DNA value of \>= 200 copies/mL at baseline
• • Patients must provide their smoking history prior to enrollment. Patients must have =\< 10 pack years of smoking. The number of pack years will be calculated using the following formula: Frequency of smoking (cigarettes/day) x duration of cigarette smoking (years)/20
• • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
• • Age \>= 18
• • Absolute neutrophil count: ≥ 1500/mcL (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Platelets: \>= 100,000/mcL (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Hemoglobin \>= 8.0 g/dL (use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve this is acceptable) (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Total bilirubin \>= 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) \>= 3.0 x institutional upper limit of normal (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault Formula) (within 14 days prior to registration)
• • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible
• • Patients with known positive hepatitis B surface antigen indicating acute or chronic infection would make patient ineligible unless viral load becomes undetectable on suppressive therapy
• • Patients with history of hepatitis C virus must have been treated and cured
• • For women of childbearing potential, negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days of registration
• • Patient or legally authorized representative must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Recurrent disease
• • Clinical or radiographic evidence of metastatic disease or adenopathy below the clavicles
• • Cancers from an oral cavity site, even if p16 positive
• • Patients with simultaneous primary cancers or separate bilateral primary tumors will be excluded, except for patients with bilateral tonsil cancers
• • Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years
• • Prior systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy
• • Prior radiotherapy that would result in overlap of radiation fields
• • Severe active co-morbidity defined as: Unstable angina or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization in the last 6 months. Condition requiring systemic treatment with steroids or immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of registration
• • Patients with active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment (disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs
• • Patients who are pregnant, nursing, or expected to conceive or father children
• • Patients who are allergic to cisplatin, carboplatin, or paclitaxel