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The Quarterback Trial: Reduced Dose Radiotherapy for HPV+ Oropharynx Cancer

The Quarterback Trial: A Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial Comparing Reduced and Standard Radiation Therapy Doses for Locally Advanced HPV Positive Oropharynx Cancer

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01706939
Enrollment
23
Registered
2012-10-15
Start date
2012-09-01
Completion date
2035-05-01
Last updated
2026-04-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Keywords

Reduced radiotherapy, Randomization, Phase III, Reduced radiation therapy, head and neck, oropharynx, unknown primary (cervical lymph nodes), nasopharynx primary, HPV, p16

Brief summary

This trial aims to directly compare a reduced radiation dose to the standard of care in HPVOPC for non-inferiority, thus allowing for direct comparison of outcomes between the two groups. The study hypothesis is that LRC and PFS at 3 years for reduced dose CRT are non-inferior to standard dose CRT.

Detailed description

This is a randomized Phase III study comparing two doses of definitive radiation therapy given with induction and concurrent chemotherapy in HPV-positive oropharynx, unknown primary or nasopharynx cancer. Eligible, consented and registered patients will receive three cycles of Docetaxel Cisplatin and 5-FU (TPF) induction chemotherapy. After 3 cycles, the patients will be assessed for clinical, radiographic and pathologic response to TPF. Patients with a clinical or radiographic CR or PR will be randomized on the second phase of this study, where patients will undergo a 2:1 randomization to reduced (5600 cGy) or standard (7000 cGy) dose radiotherapy with weekly Carboplatin. Patients not meeting the response criteria will be treated with standard dose CRT. Patients not completing 3 cycles TPF for reasons of toxicity, progressive disease, choice, or other medical necessity will be treated with standard dose CRT or surgery depending on their primary site and overall medical condition and followed for survival. Toxicity will be assessed by Symptom scores, QOL and SAE monitoring. The primary end point of the trial is equivalent local regional control and PFS at 3 years. Patients will be followed for 5 years.

Interventions

Reduced Dose Radiation (5600 cGy) dose radiotherapy

Standard Dose Radiation (7000 cGy) dose radiotherapy

DRUGCarboplatin

Day 1, every 7 days ( + 2 days)

Sponsors

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Lead SponsorOTHER
Biodesign Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
Arizona State University
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, unknown primary, or nasopharynx that is HPV positive as determined by PCR and p16 positive as determined by IHC. Tissue from the primary site must be available for biomarker studies. PCR and IHC must be performed in the central laboratory (Zhang, MSSM) * Stage 3 or 4 disease without evidence of distant metastases. * At least one clinically evaluable or uni- or bi-dimensionally measurable lesion by RECIST 1.1 criteria. * Age \> 18 years. * No previous surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy for SSCHN (other than biopsy or tonsillectomy) is allowed at time of study entry. * ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. * No active alcohol addiction (as assessed by medical caregiver and defined as at least 6 months without activity). * Participants must have adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal functions as defined in the protocol. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. * Patients with Gilbert's Disease and absent hepatic pathology by history and clinical assessment maybe treated on study with bilirubins \> the ULN for the institution if other liver function studies are within the normal range

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant or breast feeding women, or women and men of childbearing potential not willing to use adequate contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter. * Previous or current malignancies at other sites, with the exception of adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix, basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, thyroid cancer, or other cancer curatively treated by surgery and with no current evidence of disease for at least 5 years. * Symptomatic peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 by NCI Common Terminology Criteria (NCI-CTC) version 4. * Symptomatic altered hearing \> grade 2 by NCI-CTCv4 criteria. * Other serious illnesses or medical conditions including but not limited to: 1. Unstable cardiac disease despite treatment, myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry 2. History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including dementia or seizures 3. Active clinically significant uncontrolled infection 4. Active peptic ulcer disease defined as unhealed or clinically active 5. Hypercalcemia 6. Active drug addiction including alcohol, cocaine or intravenous drug use defined as occurring within the 6 months preceding diagnosis 7. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, defined as being associated with a hospitalization for pneumonia or respiratory decompensation within 12 months of diagnosis. This does not include obstruction from tumor 8. Autoimmune disease requiring therapy, prior organ transplant, or HIV infection 9. Interstitial lung disease 10. Hepatitis C (test required) * Patients that have experienced an involuntary weight loss of more than 25% of their body weight in the 2 months preceding study entry. * Concurrent treatment with any other anticancer therapy. * Participation in an investigational therapeutic drug trial within 30 days of study entry. * Active smoking within the past 20 years with a cumulative Pack Year history of \> 20 Pack Years or active smoking (Defined as \> 1 cigarette per day) within the last 2 years

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)at 3 and 5 yearsProgression free survival (PFS) at 5 years in patients with advanced HPV related oropharynx cancer, nasopharynx cancer or unknown primary treated with reduced or standard dose radiation.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Local-regional Controlat 3 yearsLocal-regional control (LRC) at 3 years in patients with advanced HPV related oropharynx cancer or unknown primary treated with reduced or standard dose radiation.
Number of Participants With Overall Survival at 5 Yearsat 5 yearsOverall Survival (OS) 5 years treated with reduced or standard dose CRT.
Number of Participants With Acute Toxicity of Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)at 5 yearsNumber of participants with acute toxicity treated with reduced or standard dose CRT.
Biomarkers Predictive of Failureat 5 yearsTo determine biomarkers predictive of failure with either reduced or standard dose radiotherapy.
Overall Survival at 15 Yearsat 15 years
Change in MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) From BaselineBaseline and 5 yearsMDADI is a questionnaire of 20 questions and contains a global subscale, and three other categories of questions (emotional, functional, and physical). The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated. This mean score was multiplied by 20 to obtain a score, with a range of 0 (extremely low functioning) to 100 (high functioning). Thus, a higher MDADI score represented better day-to-day functioning and better QOL.
Change in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)Baseline and 5 yearsMD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS) MDASI Head and Neck is a site-specific MDASI module which includes the core MDASI 13 symptom severity items (SS) and 6 symptom interference items (SI), alongside 9 items relevant to head and neck cancer. The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated on a scale of 0 (low severity or interference) to 10 (high severity or complete interference). In order to calculate the mean score, a majority of the subscale's items must have been completed. A lower or negative score reflects a better quality of life compared to baseline.
Change in Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ)Baseline and 5 yearsXQ is a nine questions survey developed specifically for xerostomia symptoms. The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated on a scale of 0 (low xerostomia interference) to 10 (high xerostomia interference). A lower or negative score reflects a better quality of life compared to baseline.
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)Baseline and 5 yearsThe EORTC Head and Neck module was specifically designed and validated for head and neck cancer patients. This 35-item questionnaire contains 7 symptom scales (pain, swallowing, senses, speech, social eating, social contact, and sexuality), 6 single-item scales (difficulties of teeth, mouth opening, dry mouth, sticky saliva, coughing, and feeling ill), and 5 items about the additional use of pain medicine, nutritional supplements, and feeding tube and changes in body weight. All items were transformed to scales from 0 to 100, and divided into respective sub-scores of global health (GHS), functional (FS), and symptom scale (SS). Subscales from 0-100. A high score on global health and functional scale represents a better level of functioning, whereas a high score on a symptom scale and head and neck module indicates more severe symptoms.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKrzysztof Misiukiewicz, M.D.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

23 participants were assessed and started in pre-randomization induction phase. Participants were not randomized until after they completed the pre-randomization phase and TPF induction.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Reduced Dose Radiation
After TPF induction chemotherapy patients randomized to receive a reduced (5600 cGy) dose radiotherapy with weekly Carboplatin Reduced Dose Radiation: Reduced Dose Radiation (5600 cGy) dose radiotherapy Carboplatin: Day 1, every 7 days ( + 2 days)
12
Standard Dose Radiation
After TPF induction chemotherapy patients randomized to receive a standard (7000 cGy) dose radiotherapy with carboplatin Standard Dose Radiation: Standard Dose Radiation (7000 cGy) dose radiotherapy Carboplatin: Day 1, every 7 days ( + 2 days)
8
Total20

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicStandard Dose RadiationTotalReduced Dose Radiation
Age, Continuous57 years56.5 years55 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
7 Participants18 Participants11 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
HPV Status
HPV 16
6 Participants16 Participants10 Participants
HPV Status
Other than HPV 16
2 Participants4 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants6 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants14 Participants8 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants19 Participants11 Participants
Smoking Status
10-20 pack-years
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants
Smoking Status
<10 pack-years
2 Participants5 Participants3 Participants
Smoking Status
Never smoker
3 Participants12 Participants9 Participants
Tumor Site
Base of Tongue (BOT)
5 Participants10 Participants5 Participants
Tumor Site
Tonsil
3 Participants10 Participants7 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 02 / 121 / 8
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 09 / 128 / 8
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 02 / 122 / 8

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Progression free survival (PFS) at 5 years in patients with advanced HPV related oropharynx cancer, nasopharynx cancer or unknown primary treated with reduced or standard dose radiation.

Time frame: at 3 and 5 years

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Reduced Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)at 3 years10 Participants
Reduced Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)at 5 years10 Participants
Standard Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)at 3 years7 Participants
Standard Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Progression Free Survival (PFS)at 5 years7 Participants
Secondary

Biomarkers Predictive of Failure

To determine biomarkers predictive of failure with either reduced or standard dose radiotherapy.

Time frame: at 5 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Reduced Dose RadiationBiomarkers Predictive of Failure0 biomarkers
Standard Dose RadiationBiomarkers Predictive of Failure0 biomarkers
Secondary

Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)

The EORTC Head and Neck module was specifically designed and validated for head and neck cancer patients. This 35-item questionnaire contains 7 symptom scales (pain, swallowing, senses, speech, social eating, social contact, and sexuality), 6 single-item scales (difficulties of teeth, mouth opening, dry mouth, sticky saliva, coughing, and feeling ill), and 5 items about the additional use of pain medicine, nutritional supplements, and feeding tube and changes in body weight. All items were transformed to scales from 0 to 100, and divided into respective sub-scores of global health (GHS), functional (FS), and symptom scale (SS). Subscales from 0-100. A high score on global health and functional scale represents a better level of functioning, whereas a high score on a symptom scale and head and neck module indicates more severe symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 years

Population: Of the 20 participants, 3 had progression of disease, and 2 were excluded due to insufficient survey compliance.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC GHS5.95 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 27.52
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC FS5.14 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 30.38
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC SS-3.91 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 22.36
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC HN-2.80 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 20.55
Standard Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC HN8.97 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.55
Standard Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC GHS-30.56 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 31.55
Standard Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC SS14.97 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 20.67
Standard Dose RadiationChange in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Head and Neck (EORTC HN)EORTC FS-6.33 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 19.01
Secondary

Change in MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) From Baseline

MDADI is a questionnaire of 20 questions and contains a global subscale, and three other categories of questions (emotional, functional, and physical). The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated. This mean score was multiplied by 20 to obtain a score, with a range of 0 (extremely low functioning) to 100 (high functioning). Thus, a higher MDADI score represented better day-to-day functioning and better QOL.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 years

Population: Of the 20 participants, 3 had progression of disease, and 2 were excluded due to insufficient survey compliance.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) From Baseline-8.12 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 26.21
Standard Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) From Baseline-8.93 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 18.31
Secondary

Change in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)

MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS) MDASI Head and Neck is a site-specific MDASI module which includes the core MDASI 13 symptom severity items (SS) and 6 symptom interference items (SI), alongside 9 items relevant to head and neck cancer. The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated on a scale of 0 (low severity or interference) to 10 (high severity or complete interference). In order to calculate the mean score, a majority of the subscale's items must have been completed. A lower or negative score reflects a better quality of life compared to baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 years

Population: Of the 20 participants, 3 had progression of disease, and 2 were excluded due to insufficient survey compliance.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)MDASI-HN SI0.64 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.4
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)MDASI-HN SS0.52 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.11
Standard Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)MDASI-HN SI1.56 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.92
Standard Dose RadiationChange in MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Symptom Inventory and Severity (MDASI-HN SI and SS)MDASI-HN SS1.48 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.16
Secondary

Change in Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ)

XQ is a nine questions survey developed specifically for xerostomia symptoms. The scores are summed and a mean score is calculated on a scale of 0 (low xerostomia interference) to 10 (high xerostomia interference). A lower or negative score reflects a better quality of life compared to baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 years

Population: Of the 20 participants, 3 had progression of disease, and 2 were excluded due to insufficient survey compliance.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Reduced Dose RadiationChange in Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ)2.18 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.07
Standard Dose RadiationChange in Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ)4.38 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.39
Secondary

Number of Participants With Acute Toxicity of Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)

Number of participants with acute toxicity treated with reduced or standard dose CRT.

Time frame: at 5 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Reduced Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Acute Toxicity of Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)3 Participants
Standard Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Acute Toxicity of Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)1 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Local-regional Control

Local-regional control (LRC) at 3 years in patients with advanced HPV related oropharynx cancer or unknown primary treated with reduced or standard dose radiation.

Time frame: at 3 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Reduced Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Local-regional Control10 Participants
Standard Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Local-regional Control7 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Overall Survival at 5 Years

Overall Survival (OS) 5 years treated with reduced or standard dose CRT.

Time frame: at 5 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Reduced Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Overall Survival at 5 Years10 Participants
Standard Dose RadiationNumber of Participants With Overall Survival at 5 Years7 Participants
Secondary

Overall Survival at 15 Years

Time frame: at 15 years

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 10, 2026