Optimization of Cervical Nodal CTV for Early and Medium Stage NPC (NCT05145660) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingPhase 3
Optimization of Cervical Nodal CTV for Early and Medium Stage NPC
China414 participantsStarted 2022-09-01
Plain-language summary
Current radiotherapy guidelines and consensus statements uniformly recommend elective region irradiation (ERI) as the standard strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, given the scarcity of skip-metastasis, the improved assessment accuracy of nodal involvement, and the striking advancements in chemotherapy for NPC, a one-fits-all delineation scheme for clinical target volumes for the nodal region (CTVn) may not be appropriate anymore, and modifications of the CTVn delineation strategy may be warranted. Involved site irradiation (ISI) covering merely the initially involved nodal site and potential extranodal extension has been confirmed to be as effective as ERI with decreased radiation-related toxicities in some malignancies, but has not yet been investigated in NPC. This study aims to compare the regional control, survival outcomes, radiation-related toxicities, and quality of life (QoL) of ISI with conventional ERI in NPC patients with a limited nodal burden.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
1. Age between 18 and 75 years;
2. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score ≥ 70;
3. Pathologically confirmed World Health Organization (WHO) type II-III NPC;
4. TNM stage I-III (T1-3N0-2M0) according to the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer / Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging system with a maximum diameter (MAD) of cervical involved LNs ≤ 3 cm, namely LB-LN;
5. Available baseline nasopharynx and neck computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (strongly advocated) data (including functional MRI sequences) and measurable tumor lesions;
6. All procedures for defining the tumor burden completed within 4 weeks of registration;
7. Survival expectancy of at least 6 months;
8. Normal marrow and organ function: hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L, WBCs ≥ 4 × 109 /L, platelets ≥ 100 × 109 /L; liver and kidney function-related indicators within 1.25\*the normal upper limit;
9. Patient willingness to comply with the protocol;
10. Patient willingness and ability to provide an informed consent form.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.