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The Voice as a Tool to Detect Recurrence of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer

The Voice as a Tool to Detect Recurrence of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer (VoiceDetect) - a Feasibility Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05894070
Acronym
VoiceDetect
Enrollment
100
Registered
2023-06-08
Start date
2023-08-02
Completion date
2026-06-30
Last updated
2025-07-29

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

Conditions

Hypopharyngeal Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer

Brief summary

The investigators will obtain three-monthly voice recordings and fiberendoscopic examinations of the larynx/hypopharynx for a minimal period of 6 months from all laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC/HPSCC) patients, who have successfully completed curative primary treatment, except those who underwent total laryngectomy. Furthermore, the investigators will ask the patients to fill out the voice handicap index-30 questionnaire (VHI-30) during each study visit. The VHI-30 allows to make a subjective assessment of the patients' own vocal problem. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and compliance of longterm regular voice monitoring in LSCC and HPSCC follow-up.

Interventions

OTHERVoice recording, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) examination including transnasal fiberendoscopy, and VHI-30-questionnaire

The following speech samples will be recorded from the study participants: * Standardized, phonetically balanced text * Sustained, modulated production of five vowels * Picture description * Diadochokinetic exercise. Before starting speech recording, the participant fills in a questionnaire consisting of: * Health barometer * Self-rating in terms of stress/fatigue/emotional status. An Ear, Nose and Throat examination incl. transnasal fiberendoscopy is performed at each visit. The investigators will assess the vocal folds/aryepiglottic folds for the presence of paralysis or reduced mobility, as well as the presence of scar/synechia, edema, erythro-/leukoplakia, or a cancer-suspicious lesion/mass in the larynx/hypopharynx or a chondroradionecrosis in the larynx. Additionally, it will be assessed, if a tracheotomy canula or a nasogastric tube is in place or was used since the last visit. Furthermore, the investigators will ask the patients to fill out the VHI-30.

Sponsors

Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Histopathologically proven carcinoma in-situ or invasive LSCC or HPSCC (in non-surgically treated carcinoma: clinical/radiologic stage I-IV (excluding M1) according to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) / Tumor (T), Nodes (N), and Metastases (M) (TNM) 8th ed.; in surgically treated carcinoma: pathological stage I-IV (excluding M1) according to the UICC / TNM 8th ed.). 2. ≥ 18 years of age. 3. Treatment with curative intent, regardless of treatment modality (mono- or multimodal). Remark: Patients with synchronous (larynx and hypopharynx included) or metachronous (before/after the diagnosis of LSCC/HPSCC) non-laryngeal/-hypopharyngeal malignant non-metastatic tumors, with clinically confirmed complete remission 6 months after treatment and life expectancy of at least 6 months are eligible. Patients with surgically treated Tis-2 N0 M0 squamous cell carcinoma and/or basal cell carcinoma of the skin and/or other surgically treated non-head and neck Tis are eligible, although the treatment was within the 6 months before enrolment. 4. Clinical confirmation of complete remission of LSCC or HPSCC through Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) examination, including fiberendoscopy of the pharynx and larynx, at the time of enrolment, during the period of eligibility (6 to 30 months after treatment). Remark: Patients with synchronous (larynx and hypopharynx included) or metachronous (before/after the diagnosis of LSCC/HPSCC) non-laryngeal/-hypopharyngeal malignant non-metastatic tumors, with clinically confirmed complete remission 6 months after treatment and life expectancy of at least 6 months are eligible. Patients with surgically treated Tis-2 N0 M0 squamous cell carcinoma and/or basal cell carcinoma of the skin and/or other surgically treated non-head and neck Tis are eligible, although the treatment was within the 6 months before enrolment. 5. Informed consent as documented by signature.

Exclusion criteria

1. Total laryngectomy as primary therapy. 2. Any local, regional, and systemic laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer persistence/progression, or recurrence before enrolment. Excepted: Patients with synchronous laryngeal/hypopharyngeal malignant non-metastatic tumors, with clinically confirmed complete remission 6 months after treatment and life expectancy of at least 6 months are eligible. 3. Any local, regional, and systemic tumor persistence/progression, or recurrence of synchronous (larynx and hypopharynx included) or metachronous (before/after the diagnosis of LSCC/HPSCC) non-laryngeal/-hypopharyngeal malignant tumors within 6 months before enrolment. Excepted: Patients with surgically treated progredient or recurrent locally defined Tis-2 N0 M0 squamous cell carcinoma and/or basal cell carcinoma of the skin and/or non-head and neck progredient or recurrent Tis. 4. Any previously treated LSCC/HPSCC or treated second primary malignancies of the larynx or hypopharynx before the diagnosis and treatment of the investigated LSCC/HPSCC (= index tumor). 5. Presence of any medical, psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical conditions expected to potentially hamper the compliance with the study protocol. 6. Inability to follow procedures (e.g., inability to read) or insufficient knowledge of any project language (German and French).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patients' compliance with scheduled 3-monthly endoscopic exam, voice recordings, and filling out of questionnaire3-21 monthsThe number of completed visits/exams out of all scheduled visits/exams.
Recruitment rate0-21 monthsRecruitment rate (number of enrolled participants per year).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Objective changes in voice 20-21 monthsChanges in Jitter and Shimmer (JS).
Objective changes in voice 30-21 monthsChanges in Glottal-to-Noise Excitation Ratio (GNE).
Objective changes in voice 40-21 monthsChanges in Singing Power Ratio (SPR).
Recurrences of the index tumor0-21 monthsNumber/Percentage of patients with biopsy-proven local, regional, and/or systemic recurrences of the initially treated LSCC/HPSCC. Note: In special scenarios such as co-morbidities, patient's rejection or other medical conditions, a biopsy can be omitted if there is a consensus for a recurrence at the multidisciplinary tumor board based on the clinical and/or radiologic findings.
Subjective changes in voice0-21 monthsSubjective changes in voice assessed by the voice handicap index-30 (VHI-30).
Second primary malignancies in the larynx/hypopharynx0-21 monthsNumber/Percentage of patients with biopsy-proven local, regional, and/or systemic second primary malignancy in the larynx/hypopharynx. Note: In special scenarios such as co-morbidities, patient's rejection or other medical conditions, a biopsy can be omitted if there is a consensus for a second primary malignancy at the multidisciplinary tumor board based on the clinical and/or radiologic findings.
Second primary malignancies in other localizations0-21 monthsNumber/Percentage of patients with biopsy-proven local, regional, and/or systemic second primary malignancy in other localizations. Note: In special scenarios such as co-morbidities, patient's rejection or other medical conditions, a biopsy can be omitted if there is a consensus for a second primary malignancy at the multidisciplinary tumor board based on the clinical and/or radiologic findings.
Composite of clinical events0-21 monthsComposite endpoint: Number/Percentage of patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal recurrence, second primary malignancy, edema, scar/synechia, erythro-/leukoplakia, laryngeal chondroradionecrosis and hypomobility/ paralysis determined by fiber-endoscopy.
Recurrences in other localizations0-21 monthsNumber/Percentage of patients with biopsy-proven local, regional, and/or systemic recurrences in other localizations. Note: In special scenarios such as co-morbidities, patient's rejection or other medical conditions, a biopsy can be omitted if there is a consensus for a recurrence at the multidisciplinary tumor board based on the clinical and/or radiologic findings.
Objective changes in voice 10-21 monthsChanges in Roughness - Breathiness - Hoarseness (RBH).

Countries

Switzerland

Contacts

Primary ContactRoland Giger, Prof.
roland.giger@insel.ch+41 31 632 29 31
Backup ContactMiranda Visini, Dr. med.
miranda.visini@insel.ch+41 31 632 88 59

Outcome results

None listed

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