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Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging & Blood Biomarkers for Head and Neck Cancer

Quantification of Tumor Imaging Kinetics and Blood Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03491176
Enrollment
100
Registered
2018-04-09
Start date
2017-05-18
Completion date
2027-10-31
Last updated
2026-05-20

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

Conditions

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, Head and Neck Cancer, Healthy Subject

Keywords

Head and Neck Cancer, Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, Biomarker testing, Blood draws, Questionnaires, Surveys

Brief summary

The goal of this research study is to find out if using additional MRIs and biomarker testing can help researchers learn to predict how the tumor may change during radiation therapy. Biomarkers are found in the blood/tissue and may be related to participant's reaction to treatment. Biomarker testing in the study may include genetic biomarkers. This is an investigational study. MRIs on this study are performed using FDA-approved and commercially available methods. Having added scans and blood tests is investigational. Up to 100 participants will be enrolled in this study (up to 80 patients and up to 20 healthy volunteers in another part of the study). All will take part at MD Anderson.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment volumetric tumor growth velocity (TGV), weekly tumor kinetics (TK), and blood biomarkers of mucosal head and neck cancers during radiation therapy (RT), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess functional imaging kinetics as a marker of tumor locoregional control. II. To correlate blood biomarkers with tumor kinetics during treatment. III. To generate preliminary data for future trials. OUTLINE: Patients undergo MRI scans and collection of blood samples for biomarker testing pre-radiation therapy, weekly during radiation therapy, and at 2-3 months post-radiation therapy. After completion of study, patients are followed up weekly.

Interventions

PROCEDUREBiospecimen Collection

Undergo collection of blood samples

PROCEDUREMagnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo MRI scan

OTHERQuality-of-Life Assessment

Ancillary studies

OTHERQuestionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Biopsy proven diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of head and neck mucosa. Clinical evidence should be documented, and may consist of imaging, endoscopic evaluation, palpation, and should be sufficient to estimate the size of the primary for purposes of T staging * No distant metastases, based on routine staging workup * Consent for blood collection for biomarker analysis * No head and neck surgery of the primary tumor or lymph nodes except for incisional or excisional biopsies * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) = 0, 1, or 2 * Dispositioned to curative intent radiotherapy * For females of child-bearing age, a negative pregnancy test

Exclusion criteria

* Previous radiation treatment for head and neck mucosal primary cancers within the past 5 years (i.e. oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and oral cavity) * Pregnant or breast-feeding females * Contraindications to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (e.g. implanted metallic prostheses, defibrillators, or stimulators) * History of claustrophobia * Contraindications to gadolinium contrast (e.g. kidney dysfunction)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tumor growth velocity (TGV)Baseline and up to 2-3 months after completion of radiation therapyTGV is the calculated daily increase in tumor size from diagnosis to immediately before first radiotherapy (RT) treatment as measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Will use graphs and descriptive statistics to evaluate the relationship between TGV, tumor kinetics (TK), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with response.
Change in TKBaseline up to 2-3 months after radiation therapyTumor kinetics is the weekly decrease or increase in tumor volume after initiation of radiotherapy, evaluated using MRI. Will also use generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to evaluate TK over time and to assess whether a difference exists between patients with complete response (CR) and those without CR. Will use graphs and descriptive statistics to evaluate the relationship between TGV, TK, and CTCs with response.
Change in Blood Biomarkers of Mucosal Head and Neck Cancers During Radiation Therapy (RT)Baseline and up to 2-3 months after completion radiation treatment.Will use GLMMs to evaluate CTCs over time and to assess whether a difference exists between patients with CR and those without CR. Will use graphs and descriptive statistics to evaluate the relationship between TGV, TK, and CTCs with response.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Locoregional controlFrom date of first treatment to date of death, disease progression or recurrence, whichever occurs first, assessed up to 2 yearsLocoregional control is defined as 2-year disease-free survival (DFS). Proportional hazards models will be created to examine the trajectory and intercept of TK and CTCs during radiation therapy with DFS. Time-varying covariates longitudinal modeling will be used to assess the relationship between TK and CTCs.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORClifton D Fuller

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 21, 2026