Skip to content

Radiotherapy vs. Trans-Oral Surgery for HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Phase II Randomized Trial for HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Radiotherapy vs. Trans-Oral Surgery (ORATOR)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04220749
Enrollment
68
Registered
2020-01-07
Start date
2020-06-25
Completion date
2028-02-29
Last updated
2020-09-04

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

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer, Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Keywords

Radiotherapy, Trans-Oral Surgery, HPV-Negative, Randomized

Brief summary

The goal of this randomized phase II study is a formal comparison of radiotherapy versus trans-oral surgery as the primary treatment of HPV-negative patients with early-stage oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Detailed description

This study is designed as a randomized phase II study. Patients will be randomized between current standard of care treatment (Arm 1) vs. TOS (Arm 2) in a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, patients will be stratified according to T stage (T1 vs. T2); N stage (N0/1 vs. N2/3) The randomized phase II design is required for three reasons: 1. The randomization will provide an appropriate control group to serve as a comparator for the experimental arm. Historical or contemporaneous non-randomized controls would not be appropriate due to the multitude of biases that could be introduced by patient selection and other confounders. 2. A small sample size will allow for adequate power to assess for progression-free survival, and also an assessment of quality of life, overall survival and toxicity. 3. The results will allow for a decision as to whether a multi-institutional phase III trial is warranted, and inform the design of such a trial.

Interventions

RADIATIONRadiation

Standard of Care: Radiation +/- Chemotherapy

PROCEDURETrans-Oral Surgery (TOS) + Neck Dissection

Trans-Oral Surgery (TOS) + Neck Dissection (plus radiation, if required)

Sponsors

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

2 Arm study randomized in a 1:1 ratio

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18 years or older * Willing to provide informed consent * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma * HPV-negative tumor, as determined by: negative p16 status, real time PCR or in-situ hybridization. Central confirmation is not required prior to randomization. Equivocal/uncertain HPV status will be allowed on trial. * Primary tumor site in the oropharynx (includes tonsil, soft palate, base of tongue, walls of oropharynx) * Tumor stage: T1 or T2, with likely negative resection margins at surgery * Nodal stage: N0-3. Patients with positive nodal disease and extranodal extension on imaging may be included at the surgeon's discretion, if the nodal disease is deemed resectable by the operating surgeon. * Eligible for curative intent treatment, with likely negative resection margins at surgery. For patients where adequate transoral access is in question, they will first undergo an examination under anesthesia prior to randomization to ensure adequate exposure can be obtained. * Blood work obtained within 4 weeks prior to randomization, with adequate bone marrow function, hepatic, and renal function, as determined by the investigator. * Patient assessed by a radiation oncologist and surgeon and presented at multidisciplinary tumor board prior to randomization. If not feasible, case can be discussed with study Principal Investigator.

Exclusion criteria

* Serious medical comorbidities or other contraindications to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery * Prior history of head and neck cancer within 5 years * Prior head and neck radiation at any time * Metastatic disease * Inability to attend full course of radiotherapy or follow-up visits * Prior invasive malignant disease unless disease-free for at least 5 years or more, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer * Unable or unwilling to complete QOL questionnaires * Pregnant or lactating women

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Disease-Specific Survival5 yearsTime from randomization to death from cancer

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression-Free Survival5 yearsDefined as time from randomization to death from any cause
Local-Regional Failure5 yearsDefined as time from randomization to first local-regional failure (analyzed as cumulative incidence function with death as competing event)
Distant Failure5 yearsDefined as time from randomization to first distant failure or metastasis (analyzed as cumulative incidence function with death as competing event)
Any Failure5 yearsDefined as time from randomization to first local-regional failure or distant failure, whichever occurs first (analyzed as cumulative incidence function with death as competing event)
Overall Survival5 yearsTime from randomization to death from any cause
Toxicity profile of both study arms using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 4Randomization until 5 years follow upTo determine toxicity profile of both study arms using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 4
Feeding tube rate at 1 yearBaseline to 1 year post treatmentMeasure other functional measurements such as feeding tube rate at 1 year
CTCAE Dysphagia GradeBaseline to 5 years post treatmentMeasure other functional measurements such as CTCAE Dysphagia grade
Quality of LifeBaseline to 5 years follow upQuality of Life using the following questionnaire: MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI)

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactSusan Archer
susan.archer@lhsc.on.ca519-685-8618

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026