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The Minimalist Trial-2

Phase II Trial of Surgery Followed by Risk-Directed Post-Operative Adjuvant Therapy for HPV-Related Oropharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma: "The Minimalist Trial-2 (MINT-2)"

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06702033
Acronym
MINT-2
Enrollment
142
Registered
2024-11-22
Start date
2025-04-10
Completion date
2033-07-15
Last updated
2026-07-24

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

Conditions

HPV-Related Oropharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Keywords

De-escalation, Adjuvant therapy, Oropharyngeal cancer, Human papillomavirus

Brief summary

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer. Oropharynx SCC (OPSCC) is a common sub-type of HNSCC. Each year, 16,000 new cases of OPSCC are diagnosed in the USA. Most cases of OPSCC (\>90%) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are often cured with current therapy. However, patients treated with surgery followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (POA(C)RT) still experience substantial morbidity. In this highly curable disease, current clinical research interest is focused on investigation of de-escalated therapy, with the goal to reduce treatment-related adverse events (AEs) while maintaining a low recurrence rate. In this study, patients with HPV-related OPSCC will undergo resection of the primary tumor site and involved/at-risk regional neck nodes. Based on the pathology report, patients will be assigned to: * Arm 1 (de-POACRT-42 Gy) * Arm 2A (de-POART-42 Gy) * Arm 2B (de-POART-37.8 Gy) * Arm 2C (de-POACRT-30 Gy). All patients with high-risk pathology will be assigned to Arm 1 whereas patients with intermediate-risk pathology will be randomized (1:1:1) to Arm 2A, Arm 2B, or Arm 2C. Patients with highest-risk pathology and low-risk pathology will be removed from the trial after surgery and will be advised to pursue standard of care options.

Interventions

RADIATIONRadiation therapy

IMRT or IMPT

DRUGCisplatin

Dose of 100 mg/m\^2 IVPB over 60 minutes

PROCEDURESurgery

Standard of care

Sponsors

Washington University School of Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER
The Joseph Sanchez Foundation
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

* Highest risk pathology (pT4) = remove from trial. * High-risk pathology = Arm 1 * Intermediate-risk pathology will be randomized to Arm 2A, Arm 2B, or Arm 2C. * Low-risk pathology = remove from trial.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed HPV-related, clinical stages I-II OPSCC (8th edition of AJCC/UICC Staging Manual) or HPV-related neck node with unknown primary. Clinical T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 disease are excluded. HPV-related may be defined by p16 IHC stain and/or HPV-High Risk RNA ISH/HPV DNA genotyping by PCR, using standard definitions of positive and negative test results. * Planned resection of the primary tumor site by a transoral approach (TORS, TLM, or conventional surgery). * Planned unilateral or contralateral selective neck dissection. * ECOG PS 0-2. * Adequate organ and marrow function defined as: * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min. * ANC ≥ 1.0 K/cumm. * Platelet count ≥100 K/cumm. * At least 18 years of age. * Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. * Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants.

Exclusion criteria

* Clinical T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 disease. * Prior radiation therapy for HNSCC. * Planned free-flap reconstruction of the resected primary site. * Cirrhosis with Child-Pugh Score B or C. * History of prior invasive malignancy diagnosed within 2 years prior to study enrollment; exceptions are malignancies with a low risk of metastasis or death (e.g., expected 5-year OS \> 90%) that were treated with curative-intent therapy. * Receiving any other investigational agents. * Uncontrolled serious inter-current illness or serious psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. A negative serum pregnancy test is required at screening for all female patients of childbearing potential.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Recurrence rateAt 2 years

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percent weight lossFrom start of radiation therapy to completion of radiation therapy (estimated to be 6 weeks)For assessing percent weight loss, weight (kg) will be collected weekly during radiation within each arm, starting at Day 1 of RT and ending on the last day of RT. The percent weight loss from the baseline is calculated at any post-baseline.
Proportion of patients undergoing PEG tube placementThrough completion of follow-up (estimated to be 5 years and 10 weeks)
Duration of need for an indwelling PEG tubeThrough completion of follow-up (estimated to be 5 years and 10 weeks)
Proportion of patients taking narcoticThrough completion of follow-up (estimated to be 5 years and 10 weeks)
Number of participants with adverse eventsFrom start of surgery through 24-month follow-up visit (estimated to be 2 years and 10 weeks)
Mean change in serum creatinine during radiation therapyFrom start of radiation therapy to completion of radiation therapy (estimated to be 6 weeks)Serum creatinine levels are collected at Day 1 of RT and ending on the last day of RT.
Progression-free survival (PFS)Through completion of follow-up (estimated to be 5 years and 10 weeks)PFS will be calculated from the date of surgery to the date of progression, death of any cause, or last known date alive.
Overall survival (OS)Through completion of follow-up (estimated to be 5 years and 10 weeks)OS will be calculated from the date of surgery to the date of death or last known date alive.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTDouglas Adkins, M.D.
dadkins@wustl.edu314-747-8475
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDouglas Adkins, M.D.

Washington University School of Medicine

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 25, 2026