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Clinical Trials/NCT06708754
NCT06708754Not yet recruitingNot Applicable

PBM-LEF Study: The Impact of PBM on Biomarkers of Radiation Lymphedema and Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Feasibility Study

NYU Langone Health1 site in 1 country60 target enrollmentStarted: August 1, 2025Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Not yet recruiting
Enrollment
60
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Soft tissue thickness (STT) at Nodal Level II - Right Side

Study Overview

Brief Summary

Radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS) is a general side effect of radiation therapy (RT) which can adversely impact patients chronically over years typically triggered by an acute inflammatory state that evolves into chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling causing lymphedema, fibrosis, pain, atrophy and organ dysfunction. Some of the side effects that encompass RFS in the head and neck (HNC) population include decreased ability to fully open the mouth (trismus), neck pain and tightness (cervical dystonia), lymphedema (swelling), difficult with speech and swallowing and salivary hypofunction. Although there is Level I evidence demonstrating the benefit of Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy to prevent acute mucositis in HNC patients treated with RT, there is only limited data regarding its impact.

This is a clinical trial to compare active treatment (PBM-therapy) with sham control (Sham- therapy). Up to 60 patients will be randomized to the two groups with equal allocation to estimate the efficacy (soft tissue thickness) of external Photobiomodulation (PBM) with light-emitting diode (LED) planned therapy for the treatment of radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who have undergone radiation therapy (RT) compared with sham control.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • •Patients treated with radiation for head and neck cancer who are ≥ 3 months < 36 months post-RT (last RT).
  • •Patients who received at least 50Gy of bilateral neck RT. Subjects who received RT or concurrent chemoradiation (chemoRT) therapy for HNC are eligible.
  • •No evidence of disease as documented by imaging 3 months after completion of RT.
  • •Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) fibrosis score ≥ 2 at enrollment.
  • •Patient who has body mass index (BMI) >30 at the time of enrollment may be excluded at a discretion of the principal investigator if fibrotic areas cannot be identified by clinical objective assessment of fibrosis.
  • •Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

  • •Woman who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding.
  • •Patients enrolled on another drug or device investigational trial for prevention or treatment of LEF.
  • •Patients deprived of freedom, under supervision or guardianship.
  • •Patients unable to attend to scheduled visits due to geographical, social or mental reasons.
  • •Patients who received prior PBM therapy for RT toxicities in the last year;
  • •Patients who report being photosensitive.
  • •Patients who have chronic immunosuppression or are on current immunosuppressive therapies.
  • •Any patient who, in the opinion of the investigator, is unable or unlikely to comply fully with the study requirements or procedures for any reason.

Arms & Interventions

Active Treatment: PBM Therapy

Experimental

Participants who received bilateral neck RT will be treated with PBM to a total of 12 sites - 6 sites on each side of the neck and face along the 3 neck nodal levels (II, III, IV) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), along the major salivary glands (parotid, and submandibular) and masseter].

Treatment will occur at two timepoints:

  • At least 3 months and less than 18 months after RT completion of last dose to any site
  • Between 18 and 36 months after RT completion of last dose to any site

Intervention: Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy (Device)

Sham Treatment

Sham Comparator

Participants who received bilateral neck RT will be treated with SHAM PBM to a total of 12 sites - 6 sites on each side of the neck and face along the 3 neck nodal levels (II, III, IV) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), along the major salivary glands (parotid, and submandibular) and masseter].

Treatment will occur at two timepoints:

  • At least 3 months and less than 18 months after RT completion of last dose to any site
  • Between 18 and 36 months after RT completion of last dose to any site

Intervention: Sham PBM (Device)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Soft tissue thickness (STT) at Nodal Level II - Right Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

STT at Nodal Level II - Left Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

STT at Nodal Level III - Right Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

STT at Nodal Level III - Left Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

STT at Nodal Level IV - Right Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

STT at Nodal Level IV - Left Side

Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2 Post-Treatment

STT will be measured via ultrasound.

Secondary Outcomes

No secondary outcomes reported

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

Study Sites (1)

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