A Study of Significantly Reduced Radiation Therapy and Reduced Chemotherapy in People with HPV-Positive Throat Cancer

Full Title

Major Radiation Dose De-Escalation Concurrent with Chemotherapy for Human Papilloma Virus Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose

The current standard treatment for throat cancer that is positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) is 7 weeks of daily radiation therapy given together with chemotherapy, but this treatment can have severe side effects. In this study, researchers are assessing significantly lower doses of radiation (3 weeks) to achieve local and regional control of the tumor with significantly fewer side effects. Treatments will be given in combination with lower doses of chemotherapy (cisplatin, carboplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) as well in people with HPV-positive throat cancer.

Who Can Join

To be eligible for this study, patients must meet several requirements, including:

• Participants must have HPV-positive throat (oropharynx) cancer that has not metastasized.
• Patients will have a special type of imaging to see if their tumors are low in oxygen (hypoxic). Patients’ tumors must not be hypoxic in order to participate in this study.
• Prior treatment with radiation therapy or chemotherapy for throat cancer is not permitted.
• Patients must be able to walk and do routine activities for more than half of their normal waking hours.
• This study is for people age 18 and older.

Contact

For more information and to ask about eligibility for this study, please contact the office of Dr. Nancy Lee at [email protected] or call 212-639-3341.