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Measurable Residual Disease Detection Using Tumor-Informed ctDNA Surveillance After Curative-Intent Treatment in HPV-Independent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Measurable Residual Disease Detection Using Tumor-Informed ctDNA Surveillance After Curative-Intent Treatment in HPV-Independent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06744296
Acronym
MRD-DUCHESS
Enrollment
75
Registered
2024-12-20
Start date
2025-02-03
Completion date
2029-01-06
Last updated
2025-05-18

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

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Brief summary

This study will test the ability of a personalized blood test to determine which head and neck cancer patients will have a recurrence after treatment.

Detailed description

This is a two-arm, prospective, observational study of patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are receiving curative-intent treatment. Arm 1 will consist of patients who undergo surgery. Arm 2 will consist of patients who undergo chemoradiotherapy. The study will test the following hypotheses: 1. That applying a tumor-informed minimal residual disease (MRD) assay after completion of curative-intent treatment will accurately discriminate between patients who will eventually experience recurrence (those are MRD positive) and patients who will remain disease-free (those who are MRD negative). The hypothesis is that patients who have detectable ctDNA following treatment-MRD positive patients-will experience recurrent disease within 2 years, while patients who have no detectable ctDNA-MRD negative patients-will remain disease free at 2 years. 2. That measuring MRD after completion of curative-intent treatment will provide a lead time from detectable to clinical diagnosis of recurrent disease of at least 3 months. The primary outcome is 2-year DFS in patients with detectable vs no detectable ctDNA two weeks after treatment completion. The study will accrue 75 patients, who will be followed for a minimum of 2 years. Subjects will have blood draws before, during and following treatment at regular intervals for testing with the assay (Haystack MRD™)

Interventions

OTHERBlood Draws and Tissue Sample(s)

All participants on the study, regardless of arm, will be getting blood draws, and tissue samples.

Sponsors

Haystack Oncology, Inc.
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
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

* Newly diagnosed AJCC 8th edition Stage III-IVB mucosal SCC of the head and neck, which includes tumors arising from the oral cavity, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. * Available tissue for tumor-informed ctDNA panel creation. * Definitive treatment with standard of care surgery or chemoradiotherapy is planned to be administered at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute (MEEI) or within the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center (including but not limited to the Boston, Danvers, and Newton-Wellesley locations).

Exclusion criteria

* Patients \<18 years of age * Patients receiving non-standard of care therapy as determined by the clinical investigator * Participants who have undergone prior surgical resection, excisional biopsy, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for the treatment of HNSCC. Prior incisional biopsies are permitted. Discrepant cases will be reviewed by study PI. * Participants who are receiving any investigational agents at the time of enrollment. * Participants with AJCC Stage IVC HNSCC, which includes patients with biopsy-confirmed distant metastatic HNSCC, including but not limited to metastatic spread to the lungs, bones, or liver. * Active non-HNSCC malignancy. * Active pregnancy during treatment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
2 Years - Disease Free Survival (DFS)2 weeks after treatment completion2-year disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with detectable vs no detectable ctDNA two weeks after treatment completion

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
2 Years - Overall Survival (OS)2 weeks after treatment completion2-year overall survival (OS) in patients with detectable vs no detectable ctDNA two weeks after treatment completion
2 Years - Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS)4 weeks after treatment completion2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with detectable vs no detectable ctDNA four weeks after treatment completion
2 - Years Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS)6 week after treatment completion2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with detectable vs no detectable ctDNA six weeks after treatment completion

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactMichael Cheung, MSc, CCRP
mcheung0@meei.harvard.edu617-573-6060
Backup ContactGyjstina Lumaj
glumaj@meei.harvard.edu

Outcome results

None listed

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