The Role of the Free/Pedunculated Flap in Total Laryngectomy After (Chemo-)Radiotherapy Failure for Laryngeal Carcinoma: Impact on the Risk of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF)

June 4, 2026 updated by: Regina Elena Cancer Institute
Multicenter, prospective, randomized study aimed at evaluating the difference in risk of PCF after salvage laryngectomy in two groups of patients: one cohort treated with Total Laryngectomy (LT) with primary suture, a second group treated with LT and reinforcement by flap positioning with onlay technique (PMM, ALT)

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
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.

Detailed Description

Patients, once eligibility has been verified, will then be randomized (1:1) to one of the following groups: Gruop 1: STL primary suture. Group 2: STL primary suture + onlay flap Patients in both groups will then undergo surgery STL with primary suture; in those of the second group, in addition, the positioning of a free/pedunculated covering flap will also be carried out with the onlay technique. 4 months after surgery, questionnaires will be administered to the patient for the subjective evaluation of the quality of life in relation to vocal rehabilitation obtained through voice prosthesis or esophageal voice (SECEL questionnaire) and swallowing rehabilitation (SOAL questionnaire). Demographic and preoperative data will be collected, data relating to pre-(chemo-)radiotherapy and pre-STL clinical staging, as well as the interval in days between the end of (chemo-)radiotherapy and surgery, perioperative data, type of eventual unilateral or bilateral laterocervical lymph node emptying, the type of pharyngotomy suture, the type of flap possibly used, the packaging of the tracheoesophageal fistula for positioning the voice prosthesis, the definitive histological examination.

The patient must undergo a radiological examination for loco-regional and distant staging before the STL (CT or MRI) and a biopsy demonstrating the recurrence/persistence of the disease.

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.
Observational

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.
102

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 Locations

  • Italy
    • Rome
      • Rome, Rome, Italy, 00144
        • Recruiting
        • "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients suffering from recurrence/persistence of laryngeal SCC following exclusive RT treatment or concomitant RT/ChT without extension to the pharynx (rcT1/T2/T3 selected rcT4a N0/N+) who will have to undergo STL and who will meet the following criteria. Patients undergoing extensive laryngectomies or with disease with even partial involvement of the pharyngeal mucosa (pyriform sinus, posterior wall of the pharynx) will not be included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histological confirmation of recurrence/persistence of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx previously subjected to exclusive radiotherapy or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy treatment:

    1. pre (ChT-)RT staging: cT1/T2/T3 N0/N+;
    2. pre STL staging: rcT1/cT2/ Selected cT3 cT4a (extension to thyroid cartilage and/or prelaryngeal tissues) N0/N+ (clinically and radiologically).
  • Indication for STL surgery (no pharyngeal mucosal resection);
  • Functional total laryngectomies after radical (chemo-)radiotherapy treatment;
  • Age > 18 years;
  • Signature of informed consent and ability to complete in-office questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • STL extended to the pharynx and/or total pharyngeal laryngectomies;
  • Extension of the tumor to the pharyngeal mucosa and/or massive extra-laryngeal extension;
  • Previous open organ preservation surgery (OPHL).

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Salvage total laryngectomy STL primary suture
Patients in both groups will then undergo salvage total laryngectomy STL surgery with primary suturing.The primary suture can be performed according to the different techniques available at the discretion of the surgeon (vertical, horizontal or T-shaped closure, with continuous suture, according to Connell or with detached stitches)31. It would be preferable for all centers to use a homogeneous pharyngeal suture technique, such as the T-shaped with Connell suture.
Procedure: Primary suture
The primary suture can be performed according to the different techniques available at the discretion of the surgeon (vertical, horizontal or T-shaped closure, with continuous suture, according to Connell or with detached stitches)
Salvage total laryngectomy STL primary suture + onlay flap
Patients in both groups will then undergo salvage total laryngectomy STL surgery with primary suturing, but in the patients of the second group, in addition, the positioning of a free/pedunculated covering flap will also be carried out with the onlay technique. Reconstruction with the onlay technique can be performed using a pedicled pectoralis major myofascial flap or anterolateral thigh myofascial free flap at the surgeon's discretion (pharyngeal suture unchanged). The flap will be positioned with an onlay technique to reinforce the pharyngeal suture and in turn sutured to the prevertebral fascia or residual surrounding tissues.
Procedure: Primary suture
The primary suture can be performed according to the different techniques available at the discretion of the surgeon (vertical, horizontal or T-shaped closure, with continuous suture, according to Connell or with detached stitches)

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
questionnaires for evaluation of the quality of life
Time Frame: 30 months
Questionnaires will be administered to the patient for the subjective evaluation of the quality of life in relation to vocal rehabilitation obtained through voice prosthesis or esophageal voice (SECEL questionnaire).
30 months

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
Identification of risk factors
Time Frame: 4 months
Identification of risk factors related to the formation of pharyngocutaneous fistulas after salvage total laryngectomy
4 months
Evaluation of swallowing function
Time Frame: 4 months
Evaluation of swallowing function assessed using the SOAL questionnaire
4 months
Evaluation of vocal rehabilitation
Time Frame: 4 months
Evaluation of vocal rehabilitation using the SECEL questionnaire
4 months

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.
Regina Elena Cancer Institute

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: Raul Pellini, Doctor, IRCCS "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute

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.
March 21, 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.
March 21, 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.
September 21, 2027

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).
January 12, 2024

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.
February 22, 2024

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.
February 29, 2024

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.
June 5, 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.
June 4, 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.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • RS1833/23

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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