A Phase 2 interventional study of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Proton Radiation in Recurrent Head and Neck Carcinoma, sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Suspended at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-10.
Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This phase II trial studies how well stereotactic body radiation therapy or intensity modulated radiation/proton therapy works in treating patients with head and neck cancer that has come back. Stereotactic body radiation therapy uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method can kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period and cause less damage to normal tissue. Intensity modulated radiation/proton therapy uses high energy x-rays or protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. It is not yet known whether stereotactic body radiation therapy or intensity modulated radiation/proton therapy may work better in treating patients with head and neck cancer.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare the 2-year rate of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)-4.0 grade 3 or higher toxicity at 2 years between the two treatment arms.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare the 2-year locoregional failure free survival (LFFS) in patients being treated with reirradiation with either stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SBRT) versus intensity modulated radiation therapy/intensity modulated proton therapy (IMRT/IMPT).
II. To determine if there is any difference in local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival between the two arms.
III. To compare toxicity using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)-4.0 and Performance Status Scale-HN (Head and Neck).
IV. To compare patient reported outcome (PRO) measures of symptoms using MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-HN, ACT-HN Symptom Index (FACT-HNSI), MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT), for skull base only, Anterior Skull BASE Questionnaire (ASBQ), for skull base only, Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS), Performance Status Scale For Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS-HN), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem version (V)2.0 (WPAI:SHP), and University of Michigan Xerostomia-Related Quality of Life Scale, Xerostomia and Health Questionnaire (European Quality of Life Five Dimension Three Level [EQ-5D-3L]).
V. Quality-Adjusted-Life-Years (QALY) comparison between IMPT and IMRT. VI. Compare cost-benefit economic analysis of treatment. VII. Perform dosimetric analysis and compare correlates of critical structures.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. To assess potential differences between patients on study and patients who were considered eligible for randomized, were randomized to a treatment arm, but may have dropped out of the study for other reasons after being randomized to; or were denied insurance coverage for the treatment arm she/he was randomized.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized into 1 of 2 groups.
GROUP I: Patients undergo SBRT every other day for a total of 5 treatments.
GROUP II: Patients undergo IMRT/IMPT once daily (Monday-Friday) for up to 30-35 treatments.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 2-3 months, every 3 months for 1 year, and then every 3-4 months for up to 2 years.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 2,999 studies on the registry; 581 are open to participants now.
Of its 599 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 402 (67%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Clinically significant uncontrolled major cardiac, respiratory, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal or hematologic disease but not limited to:
Patients undergo SBRT every other day for a total of 5 treatments.
Radiation: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Patients undergo IMRT/IMPT once daily (Monday-Friday) for up to 30-35 treatments.
Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy · Radiation: Proton Radiation
Undergo IMRT/IMPT
Also known as: IMRT, Intensity Modulated RT, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy
Undergo IMRT/IMPT
Also known as: Radiation, Charged Particles-Protons
Undergo SBRT
Also known as: SABR, SBRT, Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiation Therapy
Incidence of grade 3+ toxicity (Tox3+) assessed by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)
Will use the methods of Gooley et al. to estimate the cumulative incidence of Tox3+, as well as competing-risk regression to model cumulative incidence of Tox3+ while treating death not related to Tox3+ as a competing event. The student t-test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test will be used to compare continuous variables between patient groups. The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test will be applied to evaluate the association between two categorical variables. Logistic regression models will be used to evaluate the effects of the important patient clinical factors including treatment on TOX3+.
Time frame: At 2 years
Local control defined as absence of local failure
The student t-test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test will be used to compare continuous variables between patient groups. The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test will be applied to evaluate the association between two categorical variables. Logistic regression models will be used to evaluate the effects of the important patient clinical factors including treatment on TOX3+.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Local failure free survival (LFFS) defined as failure (recurrence or progression) within the prescribed radiation field, including failure within 2 cm of the radiation field
Will be estimated using the method of Kaplan and Meier. Comparison of time-to-event endpoints by important subgroups will be made using the log-rank test. Proportional hazards regression may be employed for multivariate analysis on time-to-event outcomes.
Time frame: From treatment initiation until local failure or death from any cause, assessed at 2 years
Incidence of acute grade 3 or higher toxicity assessed by CTCAE
The student t-test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test will be used to compare continuous variables between patient groups. The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test will be applied to evaluate the association between two categorical variables. Logistic regression models will be used to evaluate the effects of the important patient clinical factors including treatment on TOX3+.
Time frame: Up to 90 days after completion of radiation therapy
Incidence of late grade 3 or higher toxicity assessed by CTCAE
The student t-test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test will be used to compare continuous variables between patient groups. The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test will be applied to evaluate the association between two categorical variables. Logistic regression models will be used to evaluate the effects of the important patient clinical factors including treatment on TOX3+.
Time frame: 90 days up to 2 years
Progression free survival (PFS)
PFS event is defined as an LFFS event, or occurrence, recurrence or progression of distant metastases. Comparison of time-to-event endpoints by important subgroups will be made using the log-rank test. Proportional hazards regression may be employed for multivariate analysis on time-to-event outcomes.
Time frame: From treatment initiation until an LFFS event, or occurrence, recurrence, or progression of distant metastases, whichever occurs first, assessed up to 2 years
Overall survival
Comparison of time-to-event endpoints by important subgroups will be made using the log-rank test. Proportional hazards regression may be employed for multivariate analysis on time-to-event outcomes.
Time frame: From treatment initiation until time to death from any cause, assessed up to 2 years
Patient reported outcomes (PROs)
Generalized linear models for the repeated measures analysis will be performed to assess the change in PROs overtime with important covariates including treatment in the models.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
This study is suspended, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center