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RecruitingNCT07340515Updated Jan 14, 2026

Proton vs Photon IMRT in Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Phase III Trial

A Phase 3 interventional study of Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), sponsored by Man Hu. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-14.

Sponsored by Man Hu · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
300
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This multicenter, open-label, randomized Phase III trial evaluates intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) versus intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk, locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

All patients receive induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy and are randomized 1:1 to IMPT or IMRT during the concurrent treatment phase.

The primary endpoints are the incidence of grade ≥3 acute treatment-related toxicities and the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, locoregional relapse-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, objective response rate, late toxicities, and quality of life.

Read the detailed description

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized Phase III clinical trial designed to compare the safety and efficacy of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) versus intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk, locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Eligible patients are adults aged 18 to 70 years with histologically confirmed non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (WHO type II or III) and clinical stage T4 or N3 disease without distant metastasis (M0), according to the AJCC staging system.

All enrolled patients will receive three cycles of induction chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine plus cisplatin. This will be followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy. During the concurrent treatment phase, patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either IMPT or IMRT, delivered according to protocol-defined target delineation, dose prescription, and fractionation schedules.

The first primary endpoint is the incidence of grade ≥3 acute treatment-related toxicities, defined as treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher occurring from the initiation of radiotherapy to 90 days after completion of radiotherapy. Toxicities will be graded according to CTCAE version 5.0 and RTOG criteria. Ototoxicity, including hearing loss or tinnitus, will be further evaluated using the ASHA (1994) significant change criteria for pure-tone audiometry.The second primary endpoint is the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate, defined as the proportion of patients who remain alive without documented disease progression within 3 years after randomization. Disease progression is defined as locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause; locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS), defined as the time from enrollment to the first occurrence of locoregional recurrence; distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of distant metastasis; objective response rate (ORR), defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR), assessed at 2 weeks after completion of induction chemotherapy and at 3 months after completion of radiotherapy; incidence of grade \<3 acute toxicities; and incidence and severity of late treatment-related toxicities assessed according to CTCAE version 5.0.Quality of life will be evaluated using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30, version 3.0) and the Head and Neck Cancer-specific module QLQ-H\&N35 (version 1.0), administered at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during follow-up visits.

The trial aims to determine whether IMPT can reduce treatment-related toxicities while maintaining or improving disease control and survival outcomes compared with IMRT.

02

Conditions studied

  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)

Keywords

  • Proton Therapy
  • IMPT
  • Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Chemoradiotherapy
03

In context

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

816 studies on the registry are indexed under Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; 282 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 300 is above the median of 84 across 668 interventional studies indexed under Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Browse Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma studies →

Lead sponsor

Man Hu is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 to 70 years
  • Histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (WHO type II or III)
  • High-risk locoregionally advanced disease defined as clinical stage T4 or N3, M0, according to the AJCC staging system
  • No prior anti-tumor therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1
  • Adequate organ function as defined in the study protocol
  • Eligible to receive induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy as specified in the protocol
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Evidence of distant metastasis (M1 disease)
  • Prior radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic therapy
  • Uncontrolled infection or severe comorbidities that may affect treatment tolerance
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Known allergy, hypersensitivity, or contraindication to study medications as defined in the protocol
  • Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the patient unsuitable for participation
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
300 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    IMPT Arm

    Participants assigned to this arm receive intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Radiotherapy is delivered according to the protocol-defined dose and fractionation schedule, using the same target delineation and prescription principles as IMRT, with dose converted to Gy(RBE) for proton therapy. IMPT treatment is administered concurrently with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and toripalimab as specified in the study protocol.

    Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) · Drug: Cisplatin · Biological: Toripalimab

  • Active comparator
    IMRT Arm

    Participants assigned to this arm receive intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT) according to the protocol-defined dose and fractionation schedule. Radiotherapy is delivered to the primary tumor and involved lymph nodes following the target delineation and prescription principles specified in the study protocol. IMRT is administered concurrently with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and toripalimab, consistent with the protocol.

    Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) · Drug: Cisplatin · Biological: Toripalimab

Interventions

  • RadiationIntensity-Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT)

    Participants assigned to this arm receive intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) according to the protocol-defined dose and fractionation schedule. Radiotherapy is delivered using the same target delineation and prescription principles as IMRT, with dose converted to Gy(RBE) for proton therapy. IMPT is administered concurrently with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and toripalimab as specified in the study protocol.

  • RadiationIntensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

    Participants assigned to this arm receive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) according to the protocol-defined dose and fractionation schedule. Radiotherapy is delivered to the primary tumor and involved lymph nodes following the target delineation and prescription principles specified in the study protocol. IMRT is administered concurrently with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and toripalimab, consistent with the protocol.

  • DrugCisplatin

    Cisplatin is administered during induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy as specified in the protocol: 80 mg/m² IV on Day 1 every 21 days for 3 cycles during induction (GP regimen), and 100 mg/m² IV on Day 1 and Day 22 for 2 cycles during concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

  • BiologicalToripalimab

    Toripalimab 240 mg is administered every 3 weeks during induction, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and maintenance therapy for a total of 12 cycles unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of treatment-related grade ≥3 acute toxicities

    The proportion of patients who experience treatment-related grade ≥3 acute toxicities, defined as adverse events occurring from the start of radiotherapy to 90 days after completion of radiotherapy, assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0 and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Ototoxicity (hearing loss or tinnitus), if present, will additionally be evaluated using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA, 1994) significant change criteria.

    Time frame: From the start of radiotherapy to 90 days after completion of radiotherapy

  2. 3-year Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Rate

    Defined as the proportion of participants who remain alive and progression-free at 3 years after randomization, with progression-free survival events defined as disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall Survival (OS)

    Defined as the time interval from randomization to death due to any cause.

    Time frame: 3 years

  2. Locoregional Recurrence-Free Survival (LRRFS)

    Defined as the time from randomization to the date of first locoregional relapse.

    Time frame: 3 years

  3. Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS)

    Defined as the time interval from randomization to the date of first distant metastasis.

    Time frame: 3 years

  4. Objective Response Rate (ORR)

    Defined as the proportion of participants who achieve a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). Tumor response will be evaluated 2 weeks after completion of induction chemotherapy and 3 months after completion of radiotherapy.

    Time frame: 2 weeks after induction chemotherapy and 3 months after completion of radiotherapy

  5. Incidence of Grade <3 Acute Treatment-Related Toxicities

    The proportion of participants who experience treatment-related acute adverse events of grade \<3. Acute toxicities include anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, nausea, oral mucositis, anorexia, xerostomia, dermatitis/skin inflammation, fatigue, vomiting, weight loss, and hearing loss.

    Time frame: From the start of radiotherapy to 90 days after completion of radiotherapy

  6. Incidence of treatment-related late toxicities

    The proportion of patients who experience treatment-related late toxicities occurring more than 90 days after completion of radiotherapy, assessed according to CTCAE version 5.0 and RTOG late radiation morbidity scoring criteria.

    Time frame: From 90 days after completion of radiotherapy up to 3 years

  7. Score of quality of life according to the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 (V3.0)

    Quality of life will be assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30, version 3.0). The QLQ-C30 consists of multi-item functional scales, symptom scales, and a global health status/quality of life scale. All scale scores range from 0 to 100. For functional scales and global health status, higher scores indicate better functioning or quality of life, whereas for symptom scales, higher scores indicate worse symptom burden.Assessments will be performed before treatment, during treatment, and after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Up to 3 years

  8. Score of quality of life according to the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H&N35)

    Head and neck cancer-specific quality of life will be evaluated using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H\&N35).The QLQ-H\&N35 is a disease-specific module designed to assess symptoms and functional impairments related to head and neck cancer and its treatment. All scale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse symptom severity or functional impairment.Assessments will be conducted before treatment, during treatment, and after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Up to 3 years

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences
    Jinan, Shandong 250117, China
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 14, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07340515
Lead sponsor
Man Hu
Collaborators
Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute
Responsible party
Man Hu (Chief Physician, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Jan 14, 2026
Start date
Dec 15, 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2031 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2031 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 14, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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