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De-Intensification of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

De-Intensification of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06030440
Acronym
DIREKHT2
Enrollment
508
Registered
2023-09-11
Start date
2024-01-26
Completion date
2033-09-01
Last updated
2026-03-13

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

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx

Brief summary

This randomized, prospective, multicenter phase II/III trial will study the reduction of radiation volume by eliminating radiotherapy (RT) to the elective neck using strictly defined surgical and radio-oncological standards to reduce radiotherapy-related long-term side effects without affecting locoregional control.

Detailed description

This study aims to determine whether it is possible to achieve an individual target volume concept that eliminates elective irradiation of uninvolved lymph drainage areas while maintaining clearly defined surgical standards and using modern imaging and radiation techniques. The aim of this study is to achieve reduced late toxicity without compromising locoregional control. Patients will be randomized to: either RT to primary tumor region, regions with lymph node metastases and elective nodal irradiation (control arm) or RT to primary tumor region and regions with lymph node metastases without elective nodal irradiation (investigational arm) A two-stage design was chosen for this purpose. Phase II: A randomized phase II study whose primary endpoint is the 1-year percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube dependence rate will be performed first. Phase III: If the primary endpoint of the phase II study is met and the interim analysis shows no increase in the locoregional recurrence rate in the study/investigational arm, the study will be continued as a phase III study whose primary endpoint is the locoregional control rate.

Interventions

RADIATIONEliminating RT to the elective neck

Reduction of radiation volume by eliminating radiotherapy to the elective neck

RADIATIONRT standard of care

postoperative radiotherapy of the head and neck region according to current standard including elective nodal irradiation

Sponsors

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School
Lead SponsorOTHER

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

1. Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity/larynx/oro-or hypopharynx (except glottis cancer (pT1/2pN0)) 2. Surgery of primary tumor and neck dissection performed according to predefined surgical standard 3. Indication for postoperative radio(chemo)therapy 4. No lymph node metastases \> 6cm 5. Lymph node metastases in not more than 3 lymph node level 6. No distant metastases (cM0) 7. Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit 8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≤ 2 9. Patients who understood protocol contents and are able to behave according to protocol 10. Signed study-specific consent form prior to therapy 11. Start of radiotherapy at least 6 weeks after last tumor-specific surgery (e.g. resection primary tumor, neck dissection, excluded are surgeries according to wound healing complications)

Exclusion criteria

1. macroscopic incomplete resection R2 2. Distant metastases (cM1) 3. Radiologically or histologically proven early recurrence after surgery (time frame from surgery to start of radio(chemo)therapy) 4. Lymph node metastases in \> 3 lymph node level 5. pregnant or lactating/nursing women 6. fertile patients that are not willing to use highly effective methods of contraception (per institutional standards) during treatment 7. Any condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule 8. On-treatment participation on other clinical therapeutic trials 9. Prior tumor-specific therapy any other than surgery (like prior radiotherapy in the head and neck region, prior chemo- or immunotherapy (neoadjuvant/induction)) 10. Patients who have contraindication for MRI and CT with contrast agent (both) 11. Prior (\> 2 months before beginning of radio(chemo)therapy) neck dissection or surgery in the head and neck area affecting lymph drainage 12. History of another primary malignancy except for malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease ≥5 years before diagnosis of head and neck cancer, adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease, adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase II: 1-year PEG feeding tube dependence ratePEG-dependent 1 year after radiotherapyobserve change of PEG-dependence due to different target volumes
Phase III: Time to local relapseFrom the date of randomization until the date of observation of local relapse or the date of last observation if no LR occurred, whichever came first (assessed up to 26 months)difference between the date of randomization and the date of observation of local relapse (LR), or the date of last observation if no LR occurred (censored observation)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Disease-free survivalup to 26 monthsDisease-free survival
Distant-metastasis-free survivalthrough study completion, an average of 26 monthsDistant-metastasis-free survival
Overall survival (OS)up to 26 monthsOverall survival (OS)
Cause of death (tumor-related, not tumor-related)through study completion, an average of 26 monthsCause of death (tumor-related, not tumor-related)
Acute toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria (CTC) version 5.0up to 2 monthsAcute toxicity according to CTC version 5.0
Late toxicity according to CTC version 5.0up to 24 monthsLate toxicity according to CTC version 5.0

Countries

Germany

Contacts

CONTACTMarlen Haderlein, PD
marlen.haderlein@uk-erlangen.de+49913185
CONTACTStudiensekretariat
studiensekretariat.ST@uk-erlangen.de+49913185
STUDY_DIRECTORSarina Müller, PD

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, HNO

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRainer Fietkau, Prof

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Radiation Oncology

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 14, 2026