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Clinical Trials/NCT04460352
NCT04460352
Recruiting
Phase 3

NEoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Versus Definitive Chemoradiotherapy with Salvage Surgery As Needed (NEEDS Trial)

Karolinska University Hospital12 sites in 5 countries1,020 target enrollmentNovember 27, 2020

Overview

Phase
Phase 3
Intervention
Esophagectomy
Conditions
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Sponsor
Karolinska University Hospital
Enrollment
1020
Locations
12
Primary Endpoint
Eating restrictions
Status
Recruiting
Last Updated
last year

Overview

Brief Summary

NEEDS is a pragmatic open-label, randomised, controlled, phase III, multicenter trial with non-inferiority design with regard to the first co-primary endpoint overall survival and superiority for the experimental intervention definitive chemoradiotherapy. A second co-primary endpoint is global health related quality of life (HRQOL) one year after randomisation. A third co-primary endpoint is eating restictions one year after randomisation.

The aim is to compare outcomes after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with subsequent esophagectomy to definitive chemoradiotherapy with surveillance and salvage esophagectomy as needed in patients with resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus, with the aim to provide generalisable guidance for future clinical practice.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
November 27, 2020
End Date
December 31, 2031
Last Updated
last year
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Sponsor
Karolinska University Hospital
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Magnus Nilsson

Professor

Karolinska University Hospital

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Histopathologically confirmed SCC of the esophagus in locally advanced stages cT1 N+ or cT2-4a any N, M0, according to current (8th) version of of the AJCC TNM classification.
  • Technically resectable disease according to the local multidisciplinary team conference (MDT)/tumor board.
  • Performance status ECOG 0-
  • Adequate organ function.
  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP\*) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test.
  • Patients of childbearing/reproductive potential should use highly effective method of birth control measures during the study treatment period and for at least five months after the last study treatment.
  • Female subjects who are breast feeding should discontinue nursing prior to the first dose of study treatment.
  • Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule.
  • Before patient registration/randomization, written informed consent must be given according to ICH/GCP/GDPR and national/local regulations.

Exclusion Criteria

  • M1 according to current (8th) version of of the AJCC TNM classification.
  • cT4b according to current (8th) version of of the AJCC TNM classification.
  • Primary tumor not resectable without laryngectomy.
  • Impaired renal, hepatic, cardiac, pulmonary or endocrine status that compromises the eligibility of the patient for multimodality treatment with chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy.
  • Subjects not considered likely to tolerate multimodality treatment with chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy.
  • Subjects with previous malignancies are excluded unless a complete remission or complete resection was achieved at least 5 years prior to study entry.
  • Prior or concomitant treatment with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy with potential overlap of radiotherapy fields.
  • Known uncontrollable hypersensitivity to the components of the chemotherapeutic agents used in the trial regimens.
  • Inability to fully understand and digest study patient information or to comply with study instructions due to language difficulty or cognitive failure such as dementia or severe psychiatric disorder.
  • (Criteria slightly shortened)

Arms & Interventions

Control arm (A)

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. Radiotherapy: 1.8 Gy fractions 5 days per week in 23 fractions to a total dose of 41.4 Gy. Chemotherapy: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 weekly x 5 (day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29), starting on the first day of radiotherapy. Esophagectomy: Within 8 weeks of termination of chemoradiotherapy,

Intervention: Esophagectomy

Experimental arm (B)

Definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by surveillance, and esophagectomy only in case of residual or recurrent locoregional cancer. Radiotherapy: Two alternative schemes: 1. 1.8 Gy fractions five days per week in 28 fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy. 2. 2.0 Gy fractions five days per week in 25 fractions to a total dose of 50 Gy. Chemotherapy: Three alternative regimens: 1. Platin-Taxane Regimen: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 on day 1 weekly during the full course of radiotherapy. 2a. Platinum-Fluoropyrimidine Regimen: Cisplatin 75mg/m2 weeks 1 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion weeks 1 and 5. 2b. FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 weeks 1, 3 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 by continuous infusion weeks 1, 3 and 5.

Intervention: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (arm B)

Control arm (A)

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. Radiotherapy: 1.8 Gy fractions 5 days per week in 23 fractions to a total dose of 41.4 Gy. Chemotherapy: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 weekly x 5 (day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29), starting on the first day of radiotherapy. Esophagectomy: Within 8 weeks of termination of chemoradiotherapy,

Intervention: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (arm A)

Control arm (A)

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. Radiotherapy: 1.8 Gy fractions 5 days per week in 23 fractions to a total dose of 41.4 Gy. Chemotherapy: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 weekly x 5 (day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29), starting on the first day of radiotherapy. Esophagectomy: Within 8 weeks of termination of chemoradiotherapy,

Intervention: Carboplatin, paclitaxel

Experimental arm (B)

Definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by surveillance, and esophagectomy only in case of residual or recurrent locoregional cancer. Radiotherapy: Two alternative schemes: 1. 1.8 Gy fractions five days per week in 28 fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy. 2. 2.0 Gy fractions five days per week in 25 fractions to a total dose of 50 Gy. Chemotherapy: Three alternative regimens: 1. Platin-Taxane Regimen: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 on day 1 weekly during the full course of radiotherapy. 2a. Platinum-Fluoropyrimidine Regimen: Cisplatin 75mg/m2 weeks 1 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion weeks 1 and 5. 2b. FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 weeks 1, 3 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 by continuous infusion weeks 1, 3 and 5.

Intervention: Carboplatin, paclitaxel

Experimental arm (B)

Definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by surveillance, and esophagectomy only in case of residual or recurrent locoregional cancer. Radiotherapy: Two alternative schemes: 1. 1.8 Gy fractions five days per week in 28 fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy. 2. 2.0 Gy fractions five days per week in 25 fractions to a total dose of 50 Gy. Chemotherapy: Three alternative regimens: 1. Platin-Taxane Regimen: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 on day 1 weekly during the full course of radiotherapy. 2a. Platinum-Fluoropyrimidine Regimen: Cisplatin 75mg/m2 weeks 1 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion weeks 1 and 5. 2b. FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 weeks 1, 3 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 by continuous infusion weeks 1, 3 and 5.

Intervention: Cisplatin, paclitaxel

Experimental arm (B)

Definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by surveillance, and esophagectomy only in case of residual or recurrent locoregional cancer. Radiotherapy: Two alternative schemes: 1. 1.8 Gy fractions five days per week in 28 fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy. 2. 2.0 Gy fractions five days per week in 25 fractions to a total dose of 50 Gy. Chemotherapy: Three alternative regimens: 1. Platin-Taxane Regimen: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 on day 1 weekly during the full course of radiotherapy. 2a. Platinum-Fluoropyrimidine Regimen: Cisplatin 75mg/m2 weeks 1 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion weeks 1 and 5. 2b. FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 weeks 1, 3 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 by continuous infusion weeks 1, 3 and 5.

Intervention: Oxaliplatin, calcium folinate, 5-fluorouracil

Experimental arm (B)

Definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by surveillance, and esophagectomy only in case of residual or recurrent locoregional cancer. Radiotherapy: Two alternative schemes: 1. 1.8 Gy fractions five days per week in 28 fractions to a total dose of 50.4 Gy. 2. 2.0 Gy fractions five days per week in 25 fractions to a total dose of 50 Gy. Chemotherapy: Three alternative regimens: 1. Platin-Taxane Regimen: Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50mg/m2 on day 1 weekly during the full course of radiotherapy. 2a. Platinum-Fluoropyrimidine Regimen: Cisplatin 75mg/m2 weeks 1 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion weeks 1 and 5. 2b. FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 weeks 1, 3 and 5 + 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 by continuous infusion weeks 1, 3 and 5.

Intervention: Esophagectomy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Eating restrictions

Time Frame: 1 year after randomisation

EORTC QLQ-OG25 instrument. This instrument consists of 25 items covering upper gastric symptoms or problems in four categories ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much).

Overall survival

Time Frame: 3 years after randomisation

When 398 events have occurred

Global Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)

Time Frame: 1 year after randomisation

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, version 3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30). The two items assessing global health and overall quality of life are responded to in seven categories ranging from 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent).

Secondary Outcomes

  • Health related quality of life of Cancer patients(At randomisation but before start of treatment and thereafter 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months after randomisation)
  • Health related quality of life, general health(At randomisation but before start of treatment and thereafter 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months after randomisation)
  • Event-free survival(5 years after randomisation)
  • Histopathological response according to Mandard in operated patients(5 years after randomisation)
  • Treatment-related adverse events and toxicity(Up to 5 years after randomisation)
  • Nutritional outcomes - weight(Up to 5 years after randomisation)
  • Health related quality of life, oesophageal specific.(At randomisation but before start of treatment and thereafter 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months after randomisation)
  • Health economy(At baseline and 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months after randomisation)
  • Surgical complications(After surgery in operated patients, up to 5 years after randomisation)
  • Gender stratified analyses of all endpoints(Up to 5 years after randomisation)
  • Loco-regional and distant relapse rates(5 years after randomisation)
  • Nutritional outcomes - dysphagia(Up to 5 years after randomisation)

Study Sites (12)

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