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Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastases to the Lymph Nodes in the Neck From an Unknown Primary Tumor

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Carcinoma of Unknown Primary
Registration Number
NCT00047125
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. Giving radiation therapy in different ways may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which regimen of radiation therapy is more effective in treating patients who have metastases to the lymph nodes in the neck.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare different radiation therapy regimens in treating patients who have metastases to the lymph nodes in the neck from an unknown primary tumor.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

* Compare the disease-free survival of patients with cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary treated with selective irradiation vs extensive irradiation.

* Compare the overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

* Compare the incidence of acute and late side effects in the head and neck region in patients treated with these regimens.

* Compare control of the neck and incidence of subsequent primary in the head and neck region in patients treated with these regimens.

* Compare quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to disease stage (N1-2a vs N2b-3), radiation technique (2D vs 3D conformal vs intensity-modulated), and participating center. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Arm I: Patients undergo selective irradiation of the ipsilateral level of the neck once daily 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

* Arm II: Patients undergo extensive irradiation of the neck (nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa and ipsilateral neck node areas on both sides of the neck) once daily 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at week 4, on the last day of therapy, and then every 3 months for 1 year.

Patients are followed at day 30, every 3 months for 3 years, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 600 patients (300 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 7 years.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
600
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
disease-free survival
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (262)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Comprehensive Cancer Institute

🇺🇸

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

MBCCOP - Gulf Coast

🇺🇸

Mobile, Alabama, United States

Montgomery Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Montgomery, Alabama, United States

DCH Cancer Treatment Center

🇺🇸

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Foundation for Cancer Research and Education

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center - Burbank

🇺🇸

Burbank, California, United States

Mount Diablo Medical Center

🇺🇸

Concord, California, United States

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Duarte, California, United States

California Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Fresno, California, United States

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University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
🇺🇸Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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