A Phase 3 interventional study of Swallowing and submandibular sparing IMRT and Standard IMRT with medical CRT/RT in Head and Neck Neoplasms and Swallowing Sparing IMRT, sponsored by All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Recruiting at 1 site in India. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-11.
Sponsored by All India Institute of Medical Sciences · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The aim of SWOAR TRIAL is to test sparing of Dysphagia/ Aspiration risk structures (DARS) and contra lateral submandibular gland by IMRT. HNSCC of the oropharynx, larynx and the hypopharynx treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy will be included in the trial. Patients will be randomized to SWOAR IMRT or standard IMRT.
Swallowing function will be evaluated the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) scoring. Difference in the mean composite score of MDADI, a patient-reported outcome, at 6 months post radiotherapy is the primary outcome of the trial.
Secondary Objectives include longitudinal assessment of aspiration prevention as evaluated by FEES by the 8 point penetration-aspiration score. Swallowing function, will be assessed by using the MDADI at baseline, at completion of CRT/RT, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.
Assessment of acute and late toxicity assessed at baseline, weekly during radiotherapy and then at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment as per RTOG and LENT SOMA score, respectively.
Treatment outcomes will be assessed in terms of loco-regional tumor recurrence and overall survival, assessed at follow-up visits 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment and then annually until 5 years post treatment.
Exclusion Criteria:
Standard IMRT with radical CRT/RT
Radiation: Standard IMRT with medical CRT/RT · Drug: Cisplatine
Standard IMRT with radical CRT/RT with additional sparing of dysphagia-aspiration related structures \& submandibular gland sparing by SWOAR-IMRT
Radiation: Swallowing and submandibular sparing IMRT · Drug: Cisplatine
Standard IMRT with radical CRT/RT with additional sparing of dysphagia-aspiration related structures \& submandibular gland sparing by SWOAR-IMRT
standard IMRT with medical CRT/RT
Cisplatin will be given during the radiation at a dose of 40 mg/m2 weekly to a cumulative dose of at least 200 mg/m2 in case of margin positive disease
Change in swallowing function post radiotherapy
Primary objective of the SWOAR trial is to determine whether sparing the DARS by SWOAR IMRT, changes swallowing function compared to S- IMRT in advanced HNSCC. The impact of sparing the DARS with SWOAR-IMRT on late swallowing function will be evaluated the MDADI. Difference in the mean composite score of MDADI, a patient-reported outcome, at 6 months post radiotherapy is the primary outcome of the trial. MDADI score ranges from 0-100 where 0 is the worst and 100 is the best score for dysphagia assessment
Time frame: 6 months
Swallowing assessment
Swallowing will be assessed by using the MDADI at baseline, at completion of CRT/RT, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Aspiration assessment
Longitudinal assessment of aspiration prevention as evaluated by FEES by the 8 point penetration-aspiration score. Patients will be subjected to 10 ml of liquid, semi solid and solid meal at baseline, at completion of CRT/RT, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.6, 12, and 24 months.
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Acute Toxicity
Assessment of acute weekly during radiotherapy as per RTOG RTOG grading is from 0 to IV where 0 represents no findings and IV being the worst Findings
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Late Toxicity assessment by RTOG
Assessment of late toxicity at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment as per RTOG score. RTOG is from 0 to IV where 0 represents no findings and IV being the worst Findings
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Late Toxicity assessment by LENT SOMA
Assessment of late toxicity at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment as LENT SOMA score. LENT SOMA score is from 0 to IV where 0 represents no findings and IV being the worst Findings
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Treatment outcome: Loco-regional tumor control
Loco-regional tumor control at 2 years At follow up of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment
Time frame: 2 years
Treatment outcome: Overall survival
Overall survival at 2 years At follow up of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment
Time frame: 2 years
Quality of life assessment: EORTC QLQ C-30
EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire At follow up of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment The QLQ-C30 is composed of both multi-item scales and single-item measures. These include five functional scales, three symptom scales, a global health status / QoL scale, and six single items. Each of the multi-item scales includes a different set of items - no item occurs in more than one scale. All of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a higher response level. High score for a functional scale represents a high / healthy level of functioning, a high score for the global health status / QoL represents a high QoL, but a high score for a symptom scale / item represents a high level of symptomatology / problems.
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Quality of life assessment: EORTC QLQ HN35
As per the EORTC QLQ HN35 questionnaire At follow up of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post treatment The head \& neck cancer module incorporates seven multi-item scales that assess pain, swallowing, senses (taste and smell), speech, social eating, social contact and sexuality. There are also eleven single items. For all items and scales, high scores indicate more problems (i.e. there are no function scales in which high scores would mean better functioning). The scoring approach for the QLQ-H\&N35 is identical in principle to that for the symptom scales / single items of the QLQ-C30.
Time frame: longitudinal assessment till 2 years
Plan to share: No
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All India Institute of Medical Sciences