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HYperfractionated Radiation Therapy Versus Concurrent Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer (HYTC)

HYperfractionated Radiation Therapy Versus Concurrent Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer (HYTC): A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07801235
Enrollment
604
Registered
2026-09-03
Start date
2026-08-20
Completion date
2033-04-01
Last updated
2026-09-03

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

Conditions

Head and Neck (HNSCC)

Keywords

head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Brief summary

This is an international multi-centre, non-inferiority phase III randomized controlled trial comparing concurrent chemoradiation with high dose cisplatin (Arm A) vs. hyperfractionated radiation therapy (Arm B) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Detailed description

This is an interventional randomized study in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , i twill compare between 2 arms (concurrent chemoradiation with high dose cisplatin (Arm A) vs. hyperfractionated radiation therapy (Arm B)

Interventions

RADIATION70 gy 35 fractions/7weeks+high dose of cisplatin

70 Gy 35 fractions/7weeks+high dose of cisplatin

RADIATION81.6 Gy /68 fractions BID FOR 7 WEEKS

81.6 Gy /68 fractions BID FOR 7 WEEKS

Sponsors

King Hussein Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
Princess Margaret Hospital, Canada
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients with pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of HNSCC (larynx, hypopharynx, or oropharynx). Pathologic confirmation may be from either nodal or primary tumour. If a biopsy is obtained from nodal disease, a clinically apparent primary tumour on imaging and/or clinical examination must be present. Diagnostic tonsillectomy or local excision of the primary without removal of nodal disease is permitted. Diagnostic lymph node excision or limited neck dissections (retrieving ≤ 4 nodes) are permitted HPV positive or negative (by p16 immunohistochemistry). OPC will be classified as p16 at local sites based on greater than 70% strong diffuse nuclear or nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. For patients with OPC: analysis of p16 status is required For patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer: analysis of p16 status is NOT required Clinical stage T1-2 N1-2 M0 or T3 N0-2 M0 (UICC/AJCC TNM 8th Edition). Staging will be determined based on clinical examination, axial imaging (CT and/or MRI), and whenever available, PET-CT imaging. The following radiological investigations must be done within 8 weeks of registration: CT or MRI of the head and neck; PET-CT scan or chest CT scan (PET-CT scan is strongly preferred and highly recommended to be used for eligibility). Planned definitive RT. Based on clinical and laboratory evaluation and in keeping with local institutional standards, the treating oncologist must declare upfront, that in the absence of the present clinical trial, the patient would be candidate for treatment with concurrent high dose cisplatin every 3 weeks. This would include: Adequate hematologic function must be documented within 8 weeks prior to registration: Hemoglobin levels of \> 8g/dL (the use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL is acceptable) Platelet count of \>100,000 cells/mm3. ANC of \> 1500 cells/mm3. Adequate hepatic function must be documented within 8 weeks prior to registration: Total bilirubin \< 2 X institutional upper limit of normal. AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal. Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL. Adequate renal function must be documented within 8 weeks prior to registration: Serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance (CC) ≥ 50 ml/min determined by 24-hour collection or estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula Patients known to be Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)+ are permitted. Patients with CD4\>200 and serum HIV viral load of \< 200 copies/mm3 are eligible HIV+ patients must receive appropriate care and treatment for HIV infection, including antiretroviral medications when clinically indicated, and should be under the care of a physician experienced in HIV management. HIV testing is not required for eligibility. Must be ≥ 18 years of age. Must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1. Patient consent must be appropriately obtained in accordance with applicable local and regulatory requirements. Each patient must sign a consent form prior to enrollment in the trial to document their willingness to participate. Patient is able (i.e. sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the PRO questionnaires in English or Arabic. The baseline assessment must be completed within required timelines, prior to treatment start. Inability (lack of comprehension in English/Arabic, or other equivalent reason such as cognitive issues or lack of competency) to complete the questionnaires will not make the patient ineligible for the study. Consent to provision of samples of blood and plasma for correlative studies is optional. The treatment team must be able to commence definitive RT within 6 weeks of randomization. Women of child bearing potential must use an accepted and effective method of contraception and/or abstain from sexual intercourse while on protocol treatment and for at least 6 months after the last day of RT. Sexually active males must use an accepted and effective method of contraception and/or abstain from sexual intercourse while on protocol treatment and for at least 6 months after the last day of RT. Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding (Women in childbearing period will be instructed by treating physician to avoid pregnancy during and 6 months after end of RT). All females of child bearing potential must have a serum or urine pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy within 4 weeks prior to registration. All breastfeeding women should discontinue breastfeeding prior to study registration. Participants must not be receiving any other standard anti-cancer therapy or experimental agent concurrently with the study drugs. \-

Exclusion criteria

Patients who fulfill any of the following criteria are not eligible for admission to the study: HNC Patients with any of the following clinical stages/categories: cT1-2 N0 M0 cT4 cN3 cM1 Patients with primary oral cavity cancer, nasopharynx cancer, or HNC of unknown primary. Previous HNC or multiple synchronous primary HNCs. Previous induction or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for the study cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable, however, any prior exposure to cisplatin is excluded. Previous RT to the head and neck or neck dissection of at least 3 levels on either side. Patients with severe, active co-morbidity including any of the following: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other pulmonary illness requiring hospitalization within 30 days of registration Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within 6 months of registration Acute myocardial infarction within 6 months of study registration Diseases precluding RT (e.g. scleroderma) Persistent grade 3-4 (CTCAE v5) electrolyte abnormalities that cannot be reversed despite replacement as indicated by repeat testing Active infection requiring IV antibiotics prior to registration; Chronic renal disease e.g., nephrotic syndrome, that could be worsened by cisplatin therapy History of allogenic organ transplantation Any symptomatic peripheral sensory neuropathy grade ≥ 2 (CTCAE v5) Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years (carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix are all permissible). Prior allergic reaction to cisplatin

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
OVERALL SURVIVAL7 YEARSTo determine if hyperfractionated radiation therapy (Arm B) has a non-inferior overall survival (OS) compared to concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) with high dose cisplatin every 3 weeks (Arm A) in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Oncologic outcomes7 YEARSTo compare between arms the following: Oncologic outcomes: loco-regional failure (LRF)
Change in hearing threshold levels as assessed by pure tone audiometry7 YEARSHearing threshold levels will be measured using pure tone audiometry across standard audiometric frequencies. Changes from baseline hearing thresholds will be assessed and compared between study groups
Treatment-related toxicity/adverse events7 YEARSTreatment-related toxicity/adverse events: physician-assessed toxicities: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events (CTCAE) v.5
Change from baseline in Head and Neck Cancer-specific quality of life as assessed by the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire7 YEARSPatient-reported quality of life and swallowing-related quality of life will be assessed using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) . Questionnaire with higher scores indicating better quality of life and swallowing function. Change from baseline scores will be evaluated at predefined study time points
Distant metastasis (DM) rate between treatment armsFrom randomisation till 7 years for each study participanthe occurrence of distant metastases will be assessed and compared between study arms during the study follow-up period
disease-free survival (DFS)7 yearsDisease-free survival (DFS) will be defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of disease recurrence (local, regional, or distant) or death from any cause, whichever occurs first
Change from baseline in ototoxicity severity as assessed by the Modified TUNE grading scale7 yearsOtotoxicity severity will be evaluated using the Modified TUNE grading scale. The scale grades hearing impairment severity based on audiologic assessment findings. Changes from baseline grading scores will be assessed and compared at predefined study time points, with higher grades indicating worse ototoxicity.
Change from baseline in speech recognition as assessed by Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word scores7 yearsSpeech recognition ability will be evaluated using speech audiometry with Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word testing. CNC word scores will be reported as the percentage of correctly identified words, with higher scores indicating better speech recognition performance. Changes from baseline scores will be assessed at predefined study time points
Number of participants with abnormal tympanometry findings7 yearsTympanometry will be performed to assess middle ear function. Tympanogram results will be classified according to standard tympanogram types, and the number of participants with abnormal findings will be reported at predefined study time points.
Treatment-related toxicity/adverse events-PRO7 yearsTreatment-related toxicity/adverse events: patient-reported toxicity: Patient Reported Outcomes - Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events (PRO CTCAE) v1.
Patient-reported outcomes (PRO):UW-QOL7 yearsPatient-reported outcomes (PRO): instrument \[University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL)\]
Patient-reported outcomes (PRO): MDADI7 Yearsswallowing-related PRO \[M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI)\]
Change from baseline in Head and Neck Cancer-specific quality of life as assessed by the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI)7 yearsPatient-reported quality of life and swallowing-related quality of life will be assessed using the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI). Questionnaire with higher scores indicating better quality of life and swallowing function. Change from baseline scores will be evaluated at predefined study time points

Countries

Jordan

Contacts

CONTACTIssa Mohamad, Radiation oncologist
imohamad@KHCC.JO0799825592
CONTACTAli Hosni, Radiation Onclogsit
ali.hosni@uhn.ca+16478951225

Outcome results

None listed

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