Reduced Volume of Neck Prophylactic Irradiation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

May 6, 2026 updated by: Zhao Chong, Sun Yat-sen University

Reduced Volume of Neck Prophylactic Irradiation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: a Multi-center, Non-inferiority, Open-label, Randomized Controlled Phase III Clinical Trial

This is a multi-center, non-inferiority, open-label, randomized controlled phase III clinical trial in primary diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients without distant metastasis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of reduced neck prophylactic radiotherapy versus conventional neck prophylactic radiotherapy, and compare the radiotherapy-related adverse events and quality of life in two groups.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
474

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Chongqing Municipality
      • Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China
        • Chongqing Cancer Hospital
    • Guangdong
      • Dongguan, Guangdong, China
        • Dongguan People Hospital
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510060
        • Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
    • Guangxi
      • Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
        • Liuzhou Worker's Hospital
      • Nanning, Guangxi, China
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
    • Jiangxi
      • Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
        • Jiangxi Cancer Hospital of Nanchang University
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
        • Zhejiang Cancer Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Newly histologic diagnosis of nasopharyngeal non-keratinizing carcinoma (WHO II/III);
  • All genders, range from 18-70 years old;
  • ECOG score 0-1;
  • Clinical stage I-IVa (AJCC/UICC 8th);
  • Not received radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other anti-tumor treatment (including immunotherapy);
  • No contraindications to chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
  • Adequate organ function: white blood cell count ≥ 4×109/L, neutrophile granulocyte count ≥ 1.5×109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 9g/L, platelet count ≥ 100×109/L; alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase < 2.5×upper limit of normal; blood urea nitrogen or creatinine ≤ 1.5×upper limit of normal or endogenous creatinine clearance ≥ 60ml/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula);
  • Sign the consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neck lymph nodes exist skipping metastasis;
  • Distant metastases;
  • Keratinized squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell like squamous cell carcinoma;
  • Have or are suffering from other malignant tumors;
  • Participating in other clinical trials;
  • Pregnancy or lactation;
  • Have uncontrolled cardiovascular disease;
  • Severe complication, eg, uncontrolled hypertension;
  • Mental disorder;
  • Drug or alcohol addition;
  • Do not have full capacity for civil acts.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Reduced CTVn2
Patients will receive the reduced neck prophylactic irradiation, only the level of positive lymph nodes and its next level.
Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
All target volumes will be outlined slice by slice on the axial contrast-enhanced CT with MR fusion images in the treatment planning system. The target volumes are defined in accordance with the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Reports 83. The prescribed dose is 70-72 Gy to PTVp (Planning target volume of the primary tumor), 64-70 Gy to PTVn (Planning target volume of the lymph node),60- 64Gy to PTV1 (High-risk planning target volume), and 54-58 Gy to PTV2 (Low-risk planning target volume) in 30-32 fractions. The details of dose limits for organs at risk are based on the study 0225 from The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG 0225).
Other Names:
  • IMRT
Drug: Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy will be arranged by the physician-in-charge according to the NCCN guideline, patient's stage and physical condition.
Active Comparator: Conventional CTVn2
Patients will receive the conventional neck prophylactic irradiation, as suggested by the international guideline.
Radiation: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
All target volumes will be outlined slice by slice on the axial contrast-enhanced CT with MR fusion images in the treatment planning system. The target volumes are defined in accordance with the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Reports 83. The prescribed dose is 70-72 Gy to PTVp (Planning target volume of the primary tumor), 64-70 Gy to PTVn (Planning target volume of the lymph node),60- 64Gy to PTV1 (High-risk planning target volume), and 54-58 Gy to PTV2 (Low-risk planning target volume) in 30-32 fractions. The details of dose limits for organs at risk are based on the study 0225 from The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG 0225).
Other Names:
  • IMRT
Drug: Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy will be arranged by the physician-in-charge according to the NCCN guideline, patient's stage and physical condition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Regional recurrence-free survival
Time Frame: 3 years
From the date of randomization to regional recurrence or any death
3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall survival
Time Frame: 3 years
From the date of randomization to any death, with patients unavailable for follow-up censored at the date of last follow-up
3 years
Local recurrence-free survival
Time Frame: 3 years
From the date of randomization to local recurrence or any death
3 years
Distant metastasis-free survival
Time Frame: 3 years
From the date of randomization to distant metastasis or any death
3 years
Progression free survival
Time Frame: 3 years
From the date of randomization to local or regional recurrence, distant metastasis or any death
3 years
Acute toxicities
Time Frame: From the start of treatment until 3 months post treatment
Assessed with CTCAE v5.0
From the start of treatment until 3 months post treatment
Late toxicities
Time Frame: 3 years post treatment
Assessed with RTOG/EORTC
3 years post treatment
Quality of life score
Time Frame: During treatment and 3 years post treatment
Assessed with EORTC-Quality of life questionnaire-C30 version 3.0
During treatment and 3 years post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sun Yat-sen University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Zhejiang Cancer Hospital
Wuzhou Red Cross Hospital
Chongqing University Cancer Hospital
Hubei Cancer Hospital
Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital
First Hospital of China Medical University
Dongguan People's Hospital
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Liuzhou Workers' Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Chong Zhao, MD PhD, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 8, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 8, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 20, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Reduced CTV in NPC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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