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A Phase II Randomized Trial for Early-stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: Radiotherapy vs Trans-oral Robotic Surgery (ORATOR)

Phase 2
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Early-Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx
Interventions
Radiation: Radiotherapy
Procedure: Transoral Robotic Surgery + Neck Dissection
Registration Number
NCT01590355
Lead Sponsor
Lawson Health Research Institute
Brief Summary

The historical standard treatment for early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is radiation therapy. Some patients require chemotherapy with the radiation, and some patients require surgery if the tumour or lymph nodes have not responded after radiation.

This study will compare radiation therapy with a new surgical treatment called transoral robotic surgery (TORS). TORS is a new surgical approach using a robot to assist the surgeon in removing the tumour, potentially with fewer side effects than older surgical techniques.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
68
Inclusion Criteria
  • age 18 or older
  • willing to provide informed consent
  • ECOG performance status 0-2
  • Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma primary rumour site in the oropharynx (includes tonsil, soft palate, base of tongue, walls of oropharynx)
  • Tumour stage:T1 or T2, with likely negative resections at surgery
  • Nodal stage: N0, N1, or N2 (less than or equal to 4 cm in maximum dimension in any plane, on either side of the neck), without extranodal extension on pre-randomization imaging.
  • Patient assessed at head and neck multidisciplinary clinic (with assessment by radiation oncologist and surgeon) and presented at multidisciplinary tumour board prior to randomization.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Serious medical comorbidities or other contraindications to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery
  • Prior history of head and neck cancer within 5 years
  • Prior head and neck radiation at any time
  • Metastatic disease
  • Inability to attend full course of radiotherapy or follow-up visits
  • Neck disease with unknown primary site
  • Prior invasive malignant disease unless disease-free for at least 5 years or more, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer
  • unable or unwilling to complete QoL questionnaires

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Radiotherapy plus or minus ChemotherapyRadiotherapyRadiotherapy plus or minus chemotherapy with surgical treatment for salvage of persistent disease
Transoral Robotic Surgery + Neck DissectionTransoral Robotic Surgery + Neck DissectionTransoral robotic excision will be carried out using the da Vinci surgical robot. The spatula cautery will be used to remove the tumours with 1 cm margins. At the time of surgery circumferential margins will be taken and sent for frozen section analysis. The resection will proceed until negative margins are obtained if feasible.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of Life1-year post treatment
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Swallowing Function5 years from date of first treatment
Toxicity5 years from date of first treatment
Overall SurvivalAt the end of 3 years and at the end of 5 years
Progression-free survivalAt the end of 3 years and at the end of 5 years
Quality of life at other time pointsEvery 6 months for 5 years from 1st date of treament

Trial Locations

Locations (6)

Royal Adelaide Hospital

🇦🇺

Adelaide, Australia

British Columbia Cancer Agency

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

London Regional Cancer Program of the Lawson Health Research Institute

🇨🇦

London, Ontario, Canada

The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre

🇨🇦

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

University Health Network

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Jewish General Hospital

🇨🇦

Montréal, Quebec, Canada

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