Clinical trial · Interventional
A Single Arm Phase II Trial in p16-positive Oropharynx Cancer of Selective Dose De-escalation of nodAl VolumEs at Minimal Risk and Primary Site Disease (SAVED)
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer generally have very good outcomes. Patients' treatment responses depend more on their individual cancer characteristics and personal risk factors than on the specific type of treatment they receive. However, the different treatments used for this cancer can cause significant side effects. Because outcomes are often favorable regardless of treatment type, reducing treatment-related side effects should be a priority when choosing care. Studies have reported that lowering radiation doses for some patients can reduce side effects while still effectively controlling the cancer. Patients with this type of head and neck cancer typically receive either surgery or radiation as their first treatment. For patients who receive surgery first, radiation to the surgical area and nearby neck lymph nodes is often recommended afterward. In these patients, the study will test whether lowering the radiation dose to low-risk lymph nodes on the side of the neck opposite the tumor can reduce side effects while still effectively controlling the cancer (Method A). For patients who receive radiation as their first treatment, the study will test one or both of two radiation approaches aimed at reducing both short-term and long-term side effects. These approaches include reduced lymph node radiation (Method A, described above) and a tumor dose reduction approach (Method B), which lowers the radiation dose delivered directly to the tumor. Information such as tumor size, the number of cancerous or suspicious lymph nodes, and risk factors like smoking history will be used to determine which patients may be eligible for reduced lymph node radiation (Method A), reduced tumor radiation (Method B), or both. Patients who may qualify for tumor dose reduction (Method B), either alone or combined with Method A, will need an additional blood test called a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test to determine eligibility. The ctDNA test measures small amounts of tumor-related DNA in the blood, which are often elevated at the time of diagnosis. Studies have shown that cancer is more likely to return when ctDNA levels remain positive after treatment. This study will evaluate whether ctDNA levels measured before and during treatment can help identify patients who can safely receive lower radiation doses to the tumor (Method B). Overall, this study aims to safely evaluate two radiation de-escalation approaches in order to lessen short- and long-term side effects while maintaining excellent cancer control.
Conditions
Conditions (14)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head and Neck Cancer | Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
| Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| HPV 16 Positive Oropharyngeal Tumors (OPC) | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| HPV (Human Papillomavirus)-Associated Carcinoma | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| HPV Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma | ALIAS | 0.90 |
| Oropharyngeal Cancer | Malignant Oropharyngeal Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT |
Interventions
Interventions (4)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circulating Tumor DNA test (ctDNA test) | Diagnostic Test | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Dose de-escalation to contralateral neck. | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Dose de-escalation to gross disease | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Dose de-escalation to gross disease to contralateral neck | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (1)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Selective dose de-escalation of nodAl VolumEs at minimal Risk and primary site Disease
- interventionNames
- Radiation: Dose de-escalation to contralateral neck.
- Radiation: Dose de-escalation to gross disease to contralateral neck
- Radiation: Dose de-escalation to gross disease
- Diagnostic Test: Circulating Tumor DNA test (ctDNA test)
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- Freedom From Regional Failures (FFRF)
- timeFrame
- 2 years post treatment
- description
- The efficacy of dose de-escalation to the elective nodal regions will be evaluated by ensuring a 93% freedom from regional failures (FFRF) at 2 years.
- measure
- Freedom From Local Recurrence (FFLR)
- timeFrame
- 2 years post treatment
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
4.1 Step 1 Registration 4.1.1 Step 1 Inclusion (Y) 1. Is there pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (including the histological variants papillary squamous cell carcinoma and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma) of the oropharynx or squamous cell carcinoma unknown primary? Note: specimen from cervical lymph nodes with a well-defined primary site documented clinically or radiologically is acceptable; in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary this will be sufficient for pathologic confirmation without a clinically or radiographically defined primary site. (Y) 2. Is the patient ≥ 18 years of age? (Y) 3. Did the patient provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry, including consent for mandatory submission of tissue for required p16 review? (Y) 4. Clinical TNM staging criteria by cohort (AJCC 8th edition): TORS candidate patients must be: • cT0-4 and N0, N1, N3 Non-TORS candidate patients must be either: * cT1-4 N0, N1, N3 * cT1-3 N2 with \< 10 pack years 4.1.2 Step 1 Exclusion (N) 1. Patient who are clinical N2 and have ≥10 pack years smoking history (N) 2. Patients who are clinical T4N2 (N) 3. Patients with distant metastasis (M1) 4.2 Step 2 Registration 4.2.1 Step 2 inclusion (Y) 1. Does the patient have pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven P16+ status? (Y) 2. Does the patient have appropriate imaging (PET/CT preferred, CT neck with IV contrast and CT chest without contrast as recommended alternative to PET/CT) completed within 90 days of enrollment? (Y) 3. Does the patient have clinical or pathological M0 staging? (Y) 4. Patients who have undergone TORS must have pathological stage pT1-4 N0, N1 or N3. TORS patients found to be clinical N2 post TORS or have contralteral neck dissection and positive nodes will be excluded. (Y) 5. Is the patient a candidate for bilateral radiation based on evaluation by ENT, Rad Onc, or Med Onc and review at multi-disciplinary tumor board? (Y) 6. Non-TORS patients who are cT1-3 N0, N1, N2 and have \<10 PY must have completed a ctDNA evaluation prior to Step 2 enrollment. (Y) 7. Non-TORS patients who are cT1-3 N2 must have a positive ctDNA result prior to Step 2 enrollment. (Y) 8. Was a general history and physical examination performed by a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or head and neck surgeon within 60 days prior to registration? (Y) 9. Was the patient's Zubrod Performance Status 0-1 within 30 days prior to registration? (Y) 10. If a woman of child-bearing potential or sexually active male, is the patient willing to use effective contraception throughout their participation in the treatment phase of the study and at least 180 days following the last study treatment. 4.2.2 Step 2 Exclusion (N) 1. Does the patient have cancer considered to be from an oral cavity site (oral tongue, floor mouth, alveolar ridge, buccal or lip), nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx? (N) 2. Does the patient have distant metastasis? (N) 3. Does the patient have prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer and low/intermediate risk prostate cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years? (N) 4. Did the patient have prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer (prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable)? (N) 5. Did the patient have prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields? (N) 6. Did the patient have prior cancer-related surgeries of curative intent of the head and neck excluding superficial removal of cutaneous skin malignancies? (N) 7. Does the patient have any co-morbid condition or concern that may interfere with follow up per experimental arm? (N) 8. Does the patient have an active drug or alcohol dependency that in the opinion of the investigator would limit compliance with study requirements? (N) 9. Is the patient pregnant or nursing (an exception will be made for nursing patients that are not receiving chemotherapy)?
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available