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Brachytherapy (Interventional Radiotherapy) for Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Nasal Vestibule: Optimization of Dose and Technique

Brachytherapy (Interventional Radiotherapy) for Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Nasal Vestibule: Optimization of Dose and Technique A Multicenter Prospective Registration Study Endorsed by HNS GEC-ESTRO WG

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07801690
Acronym
BRAVO
Enrollment
300
Registered
2026-09-03
Start date
2026-10-01
Completion date
2034-10-01
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

Carcinoma Nasal Vestibule

Keywords

brachytherapy, interventional radiotherapy, carcinoma nasal vestibule

Brief summary

Rationale: Primary brachytherapy (also known as Interventional Radiotherapy, IRT) achieves high cure rates in cancer of the nasal vestibule (CNV) while preserving nasal aesthetics and function. In our recently published nationwide multicenter study, brachytherapy (BT) increased nose preservation probability from 61 to 82 % compared to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Although late toxicity was more common following BT, it was predominantly CTCAE grade 1-2 and deemed acceptable given the substantial benefit in local control and nose preservation. However, a notable finding of our study was the substantial variation in BT practice, including implantation techniques, dose prescriptions, and treatment planning. Although this analysis covers one of the largest series of CNV patients to date, patient numbers were insufficient to reliably compare the efficacy of the different application/implantation techniques and doses. The retrospective design of the study proved inappropriate for a detailed analysis of the dose-volume data, which is necessary to correlate implantation and dose data to outcome. As the integral brachytherapy dose, as well as the dose inhomogeneity in tissue may vary widely depending on how the dose is prescribed, simple prescription doses are insufficient to characterize a brachytherapy plan comprehensively. Given the excellent disease control achieved with BT, optimizing aesthetic and functional outcomes while minimizing toxicity becomes increasingly important. Therefore, to optimize BT treatment for CNV and facilitate its wider adoption, detailed prospective data collection on treatment parameters, dose plans, toxicity (both physician-reported and patient-reported), oncological outcomes, and functional results is necessary. This study is designed as a non-comparative, descriptive prospective registry aimed at systematically documenting current international practice in brachytherapy for cancer of the nasal vestibule. Objective: To prospectively describe BT treatment techniques, parameters, oncological outcomes, acute and late toxicity and patient satisfaction; and to correlate these outcomes with treatment parameters. Specifically, to establish dose-response relationships for oncological control, toxicity, and functional outcomes. Study design: Prospective observational multicentre registration study. Study population: Adults with a squamous cell squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule, considered suitable for primary brachytherapy. Main study parameters/endpoints: To describe treatment techniques, dose prescriptions and brachytherapy dose plans in terms of dose-volume parameters. Oncological outcomes include details on recurrence and cancer-specific survival. Toxicity, patient satisfaction, and QoL will be assessed with validated patient questionnaires as through applicable CTCAE (physician based).

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Radboud University Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Amsterdam UMC
CollaboratorOTHER
Erasmus Medical Center
CollaboratorOTHER
Maastro Clinic, The Netherlands
CollaboratorOTHER
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
CollaboratorOTHER
The Greater Poland Cancer Centre
CollaboratorOTHER
Saint John's Cancer Center of Lublin
CollaboratorOTHER
Institut Català d'Oncologia
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Navarra
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital, Zürich
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Erlangen
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Luebeck
CollaboratorOTHER
Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine
CollaboratorOTHER
Atrys Health
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Hospital Clínica Benidorm
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Aged 18 years or older * Rome stage 1-4 / Wang Stage T1 -T3 * Staging of the neck by ultrasound/FNAC and/or (FDG-PET)CT and/or MRI is performed * Brachytherapy with curative intent as sole treatment for the primary tumor * Suitable to undergo brachy procedure, based on clinical judgment

Exclusion criteria

* Other primary tumor, except bcc skin or curatively treated cancer \> 3 years before inclusion * Previous radiotherapy to the treated area * Distant metastasis * Inability to comply with study procedures, including filling out treatment related questionnaires and to comply with scheduled follow-up visits * Non-squamous cell histology * Combinations with systemic therapy * Combination to EBRT and brachytherapy to primary tumor

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
3-year local disease control3 yearsThe primary endpoint is 3-year local disease control, defined as absence of histologically or radiologically confirmed local recurrence within the treated nasal vestibule region, measured from start of brachytherapy until recurrence or last follow-up.
3-year freedom from (partial) nose amputation3 yearThe second primary endpoint is 3-year freedom from (partial) nose amputation, defined as absence of histologically or radiologically confirmed local recurrence requiring (partial) removal of the nose, measured from start of brachytherapy until recurrence or last follow-up

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CTCAE toxicity scoring3 yearsCTCAE 5.0 toxicity scoring for skin, mucosa, septum (cartilage) assessed at baseline, end of treatment, 3 months, 6 months and annually up to three years after treatment. These will be assessed by the treating physician during clinical follow-up visits.
Toxicity scoring by patients3 yearsPain, dryness/mucous secretion , nasal bleeding , nasal occlusion, synechiae, loss of smell/taste (applicable PRO-CTCAE components: anosmia, dysgeusia, pain, rhinorrhea, skin hyper/hypopigmentation).
Patient satisfaction3 yearsPatient satisfaction measured using validated questionnaires filled in by the patients at baseline, 3 months, 12, 24 and 36 months (NAFEQ questionnaire).
3-year regional and distant control3 yearsDefined as absence of histologically or radiologically confirmed regional recurrence (regional lymph node metastasis) or distant recurrence within the treated nasal vestibule region, measured from start of brachytherapy until recurrence or last follow-up.
Overall survival3 yearsmeasured from start of brachytherapy until recurrence or last follow-up
Patient satisfaction (2)3 yearsPatient satisfaction measured using validated questionnaires filled in by the patients at baseline, 3 months, 12, 24 and 36 months (ROE questionnaire).

Countries

Netherlands

Contacts

CONTACTCasper Reijnen, MD, PhD
casper.reijnen@radboudumc.nl0031243614505

Outcome results

None listed

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