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Radiation Therapy With or Without Epoetin Alfa in Treating Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Phase 3
Terminated
Conditions
Head and Neck Cancer
Registration Number
NCT00017277
Lead Sponsor
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer - EORTC
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Epoetin alfa may help prevent or treat cancer-related anemia. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy is more effective with or without epoetin alfa in treating head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of radiation therapy with or without epoetin alfa in treating patients who have head and neck cancer.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

* Compare the efficacy of radiotherapy (in terms of local-regional control) with or without epoetin alfa in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

* Compare the disease-specific and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

* Compare the hemoglobin level of these patients during radiotherapy.

* Compare the acute and late toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center, site of disease (larynx vs hypopharynx vs oropharynx vs oral cavity), T-classification (T1-2 vs T3-4), N-classification and intent of systematic neck node dissection (N0-1 vs N2-3 without node dissection vs N2-3 with node dissection), hemoglobin level and gender (men with 10-12.5 g/dL vs men with 12.5-14 g/dL vs women with 10-12 g/dL vs women with 12-13.5 g/dL), and type of treatment (EORTC standard vs other vs randomized in other trials). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Arm I: Patients undergo standard radiotherapy 5 days a week and receive concurrent epoetin alfa subcutaneously (SC) once weekly.

* Arm II: Patients undergo radiotherapy as in arm I and receive concurrent placebo SC once weekly.

Treatment on both arms continues for 6-8 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients are followed at 3-6 weeks and 9-14 weeks, every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 1 year, and then annually thereafter. After any locoregional recurrence, patients are followed every 6 months for 1 year and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 800 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
47
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (15)

Institut Jules Bordet

🇧🇪

Brussels (Bruxelles), Belgium

Institut Gustave Roussy

🇫🇷

Villejuif, France

Rambam Medical Center

🇮🇱

Haifa, Israel

Universitaetsklinikum Charite

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Beatson Oncology Centre

🇬🇧

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc

🇧🇪

Brussels (Bruxelles), Belgium

Hopital de Jolimont

🇧🇪

Haine Saint Paul, Belgium

Clinique Sainte Elisabeth

🇧🇪

Namur, Belgium

U.Z. Gasthuisberg

🇧🇪

Leuven, Belgium

Radiotherapeutisch Instituut Limburg

🇳🇱

Heerlen, Netherlands

Ospedale San Giovanni

🇨🇭

Bellinzona, Switzerland

Algemeen Ziekenhuis Middelheim

🇧🇪

Antwerp, Belgium

Hospital de la Santa Cruz I Sant Pau

🇪🇸

Barcelona, Spain

Radius Hungaricus Oncology Group

🇭🇺

Torokbalint, Hungary

Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital

🇦🇺

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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