Functional and Molecular Characterization of Treatment Response in Tumors in the Oral Cavity Using Optical Spectroscopy

The objective of this pilot study is to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) at detecting treatment-resistant disease when DRS and RS are used together to measure treatment-induced reoxygenation and molecular changes in tumors of the oral cavity. This study will be performed in a total of 90 patients that have Stage 3 or 4 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with primary tumors located in the larynx or one tonsil.

This study is a single-arm, single-center observational pilot study of the accuracy of DRS+RS at distinguishing early between treatment-resistant and treatment-responsive disease in study-eligible subjects undergoing first-line chemoradiation therapy for Stage 3 or 4 HNSCC of the larynx or tonsil.

Three (3) optical spectra each will be collected from the tumor, an adjacent normal site, and a normal tissue site on the buccal mucosa prior to treatment. The subject will undergo 4 repeat post-treatment measures taken after radiation therapy begins (marked as Day 1). Repeat measures will be taken on Day 2(+1), Day 4(±1), Day 7(±1), and Day 10(±1). The probe will be performed at the beginning of the radiation therapy visit, prior to the radiation dose that day.