Risk Adapted De-Intensification of Radio-Chemotherapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Risk Adapted De-Intensification of Radio-Chemotherapy for Favorable Prognosis Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on HPV Subtype and Plasma Circulating Free HPV DNA Level and Clearance Rate

This study builds on the results of several prior studies that we have been involved with to test the hypothesis that Risk-Adapted De-Intensification of Radiation Therapy and chemotherapy based on HPV subtype, plasma circulating free HPV DNA (cfHPV DNA) level, and cfHPV DNA clearance rate produces Local-Regional Control rates that are similar to what has been achieved with more aggressive therapy in patients with Favorable Prognosis Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cisplatin; Radiation: Radiation therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 250
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Teresa Ware, MPH; Phone Number: 352-273-5739; Email: PMO@cancer.ufl.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610
      • Recruiting
      • University of Florida
      • Contact: Lydia Napier; Phone Number: 352-273-8139; Email: lydianapier@ufl.edu
    • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32206
      • Recruiting
      • UF Health Proton Therapy Institute
      • Contact: Jonathan Gaskins; Phone Number: 904-588-1512; Email: jgaskins@floridaproton.org
      • Principal Investigator: Roi Dagan, MD
  • South Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
      • Recruiting
      • Medical University of South Carolina
      • Principal Investigator: Bhishamjit Chera, MD
      • Contact: Madelyn Langley; Phone Number: 843-792-0198; Email: langlema@musc.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥ 18 years of age (no upper age limit)
2. T0-3, N0 to N2, M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx by AJCC 8th Edition staging. If T0 the adenopathy must be predominantly in Level 2.
3. Tissue diagnosis of HPV and/or p16 positivity from the primary site or an associated lymph node.
4. Radiologic confirmation of the absence of lung metastasis within 12 weeks prior to treatment; at a minimum, CT of the chest is required. PET-CT is acceptable.
5. ECOG Performance Status 0-2
6. ≤10 pack-years of smoking or no smoking for ≥ 10 years
7. Eligible for chemotherapy

8. CBC/differential obtained within 12 weeks prior to treatment, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows:

   • Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3
   • Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 8.0 g/dl is acceptable.)

9. Adequate renal and hepatic function within 12 weeks prior to treatment, defined as follows:

   • Serum creatinine < 2.0 mg/dl
   • Total bilirubin < 2 x the institutional ULN (upper limit of normal)
   • AST or ALT < 3 x the institutional ULN
   • Note that physician attestation of patient having no known history of liver disease can take the place of bilirubin and AST/ALT labs.
10. Negative pregnancy test within 3 weeks prior to treatment for women of childbearing potential.

11. People of childbearing potential (POCBP) must be using an adequate method of contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study and for at least 14 months after the last dose of study drug to minimize the risk of pregnancy. Prior to study enrollment, people of childbearing potential must be advised of the importance of avoiding pregnancy during trial participation and the potential risk factors for an unintentional pregnancy.

    POCBP includes any person who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone successful surgical sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or who is not post-menopausal. Post-menopause is defined as:

    • Amenorrhea that has lasted for ≥ 12 consecutive months without another cause, or
    • For people with irregular menstrual periods who are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a documented serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level of greater than 35 mIU/mL.
12. Subjects with partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use physician-approved contraceptive methods (e.g., abstinence, condoms, vasectomy) throughout the study and should avoid conceiving children for 14 months following the last dose of study drug.
13. Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior radiotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) OR to the head and neck that, if combined with the protocol therapy, is deemed likely to compromise critical organs at risk in the opinion of the investigator.

2. Prior cancer within the last 10 years.

   •This exclusion does not apply to the history or presence of any non-oropharynx cancer when the treating physician (or PI) deems that it is resolved or expected to have an indolent growth rate such that evaluation of the efficacy of the study treatment is unlikely to be compromised.

3. Prior surgery with curative intent for this OPSCC.
4. Patients who have undergone tonsillectomy for diagnosis or excisional biopsy of a neck node for diagnosis are eligible provided there is "gross" cancer present at the primary site or in the neck at the start of radiation therapy on this protocol with "gross" defined as visible on an imaging study.
5. Inhalation smoking of tobacco within the last 10 years with > 10 pack-year equivalent history.
6. Currently taking Disease Modifying Rheumatoid Drugs (DMRDs) or immunosuppressive medication, for example as for organ transplant or multiple sclerosis.

7. Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

   • Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
   • Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
   • Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
   • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration
   • Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects; Note, however, coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol.
   • Evidence of ACTIVE systemic lupus or scleroderma
   • Psoriatic arthritis
8. Known HIV positivity. HIV positive patients are known to have worse clinical outcomes especially for local, regional, and distant cancer control. This poorer prognosis is thought to be secondary to a compromised immune system. Thus, de-intensification of radiation and chemotherapy is not justifiable in this population. HIV testing at the time of enrollment is not required.
9. Subjects of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method to avoid pregnancy for the entire study period and for at least 14 months after the last dose of study drug.
10. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
11. Prisoners or subjects who are involuntarily incarcerated, or subjects who are compulsorily detained for treatment of either a psychiatric or physical illness.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Chemo-radiotherapy; Participants will receive chemo-radiotherapy.

Drug: Cisplatin; All participants will receive 40 mg/m2 of cisplatin intravenously over 60 minutes weekly during radiation therapy. If cisplatin is not recommended by the treating medical oncologist or is not tolerated, it is permissible to switch to an alternative chemotherapy regimen per institutional practice, but chemotherapy should not be discontinued unless mandated by the patient's condition.; Radiation: Radiation therapy; Participants will receive either 70 gray (Gy), 60 Gy, or 50 Gy of radiation based on the following criteria: 70 Gy: Pretreatment level of plasma circulating free HPV DNA (cfHPV DNA) ≤ 3 copies/mL 60 Gy: Tumor tissue positive for HPV subtype other than 16 OR Pretreatment level of cfHPV DNA 4-99 copies/mL OR Pretreatment level of cfHPV DNA ≥ 100 copies/mL AND <95% decrease in the level cfHPV DNA by the end of week 4 of radiation therapy 50 Gy: Tumor tissue positive for HPV subtype 16, pretreatment level of cfHPV DNA ≥ 100 copies/mL, AND ≥ 95% decrease in the level cfHPV DNA by the end of week 4 of radiation therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Local-Regional Control Rate	Determine the Local-Regional Control Rate, defined as the absence of recurrence of OPSCC at the primary site or in a neck node that was included in a radiation therapy target volume	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Local Control Rate	Determine the local control rate, defined as as the absence of recurrence of OPSCC at the primary site	2 years
Regional Control Rate	Determine the regional control rate, defined as the absence of recurrence in a neck node	2 years
Disease-Free Survival	Determine the disease-free survival, defined as the time from the first day of radiation to the date of first recurrence (local, regional, or distant)	2 years
Distant Metastasis-Free Survival	Determine the distant metastasis-free survival, defined as the time from the first day of radiation to the date distant metastases are confirmed	2 years
Overall Survival	Determine the overall survival, defined as the time from the first day of radiation to the date of death	2 years
Participant Quality of Life	Assess participant quality of life using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30) instrument. The EORTC QLQ-C30 measures ability to perform everyday activities and whether the subject has experienced select physical symptoms on a scale of 1-4 (with 1 meaning "Not at all" and 4 meaning "Very much"), as well as overall quality of life and overall health over the past week on a scale from 1-7 (with 1 meaning "Very Poor" and 7 meaning "Excellent"). For questions measuring ability to perform everyday activities, overall quality of life, and overall health, a higher score means better functioning, quality of life or overall health. For questions related to symptoms, a higher score means that the subject has experienced that symptom more.	2 years
Swallowing Ability	Assess participant swallowing ability using the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) instrument. The EAT-10 instrument asks subjects to rate the extent to which ten scenarios related to swallowing are problematic for them on a scale of 0-4, where a score of 0 means "No Problem" and a score of 4 means "Severe Problem".	2 years
Swallowing Ability	Assess participant swallowing ability using the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) instrument. The MDADI asks participants if they strongly agree, agree, have no opinion, disagree, or strongly disagree with twenty statements related to swallowing. Each response is given a score of 1 to 5 points and all the scores are summed to produce a composite score ranging from 20 to 100, where a higher score means better functioning related to swallowing.	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Florida
• Collaborators: Naveris, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert Amdur, MD, University of Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 16, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2032

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 7, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; chemo-radiotherapy; cfHPV DNA
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Therapeutics; Inorganic Chemicals; Chlorine Compounds; Nitrogen Compounds; Platinum Compounds; Cisplatin; Radiotherapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: UF-HN-004; OCR41015 (Other Identifier: University of Florida)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No