
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
This study is looking at 2 different ways of giving radiotherapy alongside chemotherapy for people with locally advanced head and neck cancer.
Locally advanced means the cancer has spread from where it started into nearby body tissues or but has not spread to other areas of the body.
This study is for people with cancer of the
If you have locally advanced head and neck cancer you usually have treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This is called chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiation. Some chemotherapy drugs help to make the cells more sensitive to the radiotherapy.
The most common drug used is cisplatin. You have it during the radiotherapy course, usually every 3 weeks.
When doctors plan radiotherapy, they work out how much radiation you need to treat the cancer and exactly where you need it. Cancer cells can spread into the tissues close to the tumour so your radiotherapy specialist will decide on the exact area to be treated around the cancer. They will also make allowances for possible movement of the tumour during treatment such as when you breathe or normal movement of body organs. So, there is always a margin of normal healthy tissue in the radiotherapy area.
Research has shown that having a higher dose of radiotherapy to a head a neck cancer makes it is less likely to come back. But the dose of radiation using standard radiotherapy is limited because of the increased risk of side effects from giving too much radiotherapy to the healthy tissue (the margin).
In this study the doctors want to compare giving standard radiotherapy with higher dose radiotherapy. The doctors will use a PET scan to help them target the areas where they will give a higher dose.
Part of the study is also looking at changes in proteins and genes () in your blood and, if possible, a sample of your cancer.
Looking at biomarkers helps the doctors know how well your treatment is working and could also help to develop better treatment choices in the future.
The aims of the study are to
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. If you are unsure about any of these speak with your doctor or the study team. They will be able to advise you.
You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply.
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You
This is an international trial. The doctors need 20 people in the UK to take part.
It is a randomised trial. The people taking part are put into treatment groups by a computer. Neither you nor your doctor will be able to decide which group you are in.
There are 2 treatment groups
You have cisplatin before you have your radiotherapy. You have the cisplatin as a drip into the vein overnight. You have it on the 1st day of treatment and then at 3 week intervals. You have 3 lots in total.
The study team will ask you to fill out some questionnaires before and at the end of treatment and then 6 and 12 months later. The questionnaires will ask about side effects and how you’ve been feeling. This is called a quality of life study.
The researchers will also ask for a sample of your cancer () that was removed when you were diagnosed. This is so they can look at
.
You will see the doctors and have some tests before you start treatment. The tests include
Some people taking part may also need to have a feeding tube, in case of problems swallowing. Your doctor will discuss this with you if this if you need a tube.
During treatment you
In the 2nd week of treatment you have a PET-CT and CT scan to check how the treatment is working.
After you finish treatment you see the study team weekly for 3 weeks and have a blood test once a week.
10 to 12 weeks after you have finished treatment you see the doctor or research nurse so they can ask how you are and you have a
You then see the study team every 3 months until 2 years after you finished treatment.
Between 3 and 5 years following treatment you see the doctors every 6 months. After 5 years you have routine care and will have the most appropriate clinic visits.
The side effects of cisplatin include
The side effects from radiotherapy include
We have more information about
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Lip Lee
European Commission
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”