Head and Neck Squamous Cell CancerNCT02159508
Intensive Nutrition Counselling in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
A study testing Nutritional counselling in people with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer, run by Helsinki University Central Hospital at 1 site in Finland.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a pre-planned patient-adjusted intensive nutritional counselling given by a dietitian several times during (chemo)radiotherapy vs. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Nutritional counselling
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 65 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFinland
- Study dates
- Nov 2007to Dec 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis of primary locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx or larynx
Who cannot join
- renal function impairment
- liver insufficiency
- heart failure
- pulmonal impairment
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- cognitive impairment
- previous cancer in any location
- terminal stage
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Finland1 site
Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki
Helsinki, HUS, 00029
About this study
Official title: An Intervention Study Comparing Intensive Nutrition Counselling With On-demand Counselling in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a pre-planned patient-adjusted intensive nutritional counselling given by a dietitian several times during (chemo)radiotherapy vs. individualized nutritional counselling given by a dietitian once in the beginning of (chemo)radiotherapy and thereafter on-demand in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer.
Read the detailed description
- A sample size of 102 patients was identified to achieve 30% reduction in prevalence of malnutrition at the end of treatment (50% to 20%), with a significance value of 5% (p < 0.05), 90% power. The second calculation was for a sample size of 88 patients for 30% reduction in prevalence of malnutrition at the end of treatment (50% to 20%) with the significance value 5% (p<0.05), 85% power and effect size 70%. Based on these numbers, our aim is to recruit 100 patients, with the assumption that 12% patients would be lost to follow up.
- Randomization will be performed by the minimization procedure with the Minim Program® (http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mb55/guide/randsery.htm). The allocation will be done according to the following criteria: 1) Stage I-II vs. Stage III-IV; 2) age <65 vs. >=65 year; 3) Body Mass Index <20 vs. >=20 kg/m2 and 4) tumour location (oral cavity-oropharynx-tonsils vs. hypopharynx-larynx vs. nasopharynx).
- Adverse events of chemoradiotherapy will be classified according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events-3.0 (CTCAE v3.0)
- Nutritional status will be assessed by patient-generated subjective global assessment, nutritional risk screening-2002, upper-arm anthropometry (MAC, triceps skinfold thickness, MAMA), Bio-impedance, hand grip strength and weight loss.
- Survival: overall survival, disease-specific survival and disease-free survival are calculated.
- Conditions
- Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
- Being tested
- Nutritional counselling
- Keywords
- nutritional status, nutritional intervention, handgrip strength, patient-generated subjective global assessment, chemoradiotherapy, survival
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nutritional counsellingBehavioural
In both study arms, daily estimated energy requirements were calculated from the basal energy requirements according to WHO multiplied by a 1.5 activity factor and protein requirement (g/day) was calculated multiplying ideal body weight (defined as BMI 22) by 1.2 to 1.5.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Individualised on-demand counselling | No intervention | Individualized on-demand counselling group was assigned to receive baseline nutritional counselling, that consisted of one dietetic consultation before (chemo)radiotherapy. During (chemo)radiotherapy on-demand counselling group patients received further counselling only on demand. |
| Intensive nutritional counselling | Experimental | Intensive nutritional counselling consisted of protocolled counselling given by a dietitian once at baseline and on the 2nd and 4th week of treatment and at the end of chemoradiotherapy. Receives: Behavioral: Nutritional counselling |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Nutritional status
Nutritional status was assessed by patient-generated subjective global assessment and anthropometry.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Survival
Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time interval between the date of the randomization (i.e. at diagnosis) and the date of the last visit or death by any cause.
Measured: 5 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2014 (estimated)
- Study startNov 2007
- Primary completionDec 2014 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2014 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Head and Neck Squamous Cell CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Helsinki University Central HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Helsinki University Central Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Helena Orell-Kotikangas, Helsinki University Central Hospital
- Investigators
- Antti Mäkitie, Professor, Study director, Helsinki University Central Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02159508
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 322-E9-05
- Status last verified
- May 2014
- First submitted
- 29 Apr 2014
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2014
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Isenring EA, Bauer JD, Capra S. Nutrition support using the American Dietetic Association medical nutrition therapy protocol for radiation oncology patients improves dietary intake compared with standard practice. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Mar;107(3):404-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.12.007.
PubMed 17324657Ottery FD. Definition of standardized nutritional assessment and interventional pathways in oncology. Nutrition. 1996 Jan;12(1 Suppl):S15-9. doi: 10.1016/0899-9007(96)90011-8.
PubMed 8850213White JV, Guenter P, Jensen G, Malone A, Schofield M; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Malnutrition Work Group; A.S.P.E.N. Malnutrition Task Force; A.S.P.E.N. Board of Directors. Consensus statement of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: characteristics recommended for the identification and documentation of adult malnutrition (undernutrition). J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 May;112(5):730-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.012. Epub 2012 Apr 25.
PubMed 22709779Orell H, Pohju A, Ravasco P, Schwab U, Osterlund P, Makitie AA. Get a grip! - Baseline handgrip strength and sarcopenia as predictors of survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2026 Jun;73:103312. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.103312. Epub 2026 Apr 30.
PubMed 42069057Orell H, Schwab U, Saarilahti K, Osterlund P, Ravasco P, Makitie A. Nutritional Counseling for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing (Chemo) Radiotherapy-A Prospective Randomized Trial. Front Nutr. 2019 Mar 18;6:22. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00022. eCollection 2019.
PubMed 30937304
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2014. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Intervention Study Comparing Intensive Nutrition Counselling With On-demand Counselling in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02159508
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 322-E9-05
- Conditions
- Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
- Keywords
- nutritional status, nutritional intervention, handgrip strength, patient-generated subjective global assessment, chemoradiotherapy, survival
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Helsinki University Central HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland
- Study start
- Nov 2007
- Primary completion
- Dec 2014 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2014 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a pre-planned patient-adjusted intensive nutritional counselling given by a dietitian several times during (chemo)radiotherapy vs. individualized nutritional counselling given by a dietitian once in the beginning of (chemo)radiotherapy and thereafter on-demand in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer.
Detailed description
- A sample size of 102 patients was identified to achieve 30% reduction in prevalence of malnutrition at the end of treatment (50% to 20%), with a significance value of 5% (p < 0.05), 90% power. The second calculation was for a sample size of 88 patients for 30% reduction in prevalence of malnutrition at the end of treatment (50% to 20%) with the significance value 5% (p<0.05), 85% power and effect size 70%. Based on these numbers, our aim is to recruit 100 patients, with the assumption that 12% patients would be lost to follow up.
- Randomization will be performed by the minimization procedure with the Minim Program® (http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mb55/guide/randsery.htm). The allocation will be done according to the following criteria: 1) Stage I-II vs. Stage III-IV; 2) age <65 vs. >=65 year; 3) Body Mass Index <20 vs. >=20 kg/m2 and 4) tumour location (oral cavity-oropharynx-tonsils vs. hypopharynx-larynx vs. nasopharynx).
- Adverse events of chemoradiotherapy will be classified according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events-3.0 (CTCAE v3.0)
- Nutritional status will be assessed by patient-generated subjective global assessment, nutritional risk screening-2002, upper-arm anthropometry (MAC, triceps skinfold thickness, MAMA), Bio-impedance, hand grip strength and weight loss.
- Survival: overall survival, disease-specific survival and disease-free survival are calculated.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Individualised on-demand counselling | No intervention | –Individualized on-demand counselling group was assigned to receive baseline nutritional counselling, that consisted of one dietetic consultation before (chemo)radiotherapy. During (chemo)radiotherapy on-demand counselling group patients received further counselling only on demand. |
| Intensive nutritional counselling | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutritional counsellingIntensive nutritional counselling consisted of protocolled counselling given by a dietitian once at baseline and on the 2nd and 4th week of treatment and at the end of chemoradiotherapy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of primary locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx or larynx
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- renal function impairment
- liver insufficiency
- heart failure
- pulmonal impairment
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional counsellingIn both study arms, daily estimated energy requirements were calculated from the basal energy requirements according to WHO multiplied by a 1.5 activity factor and protein requirement (g/day) was calculated multiplying ideal body weight (defined as BMI 22) by 1.2 to 1.5. | Behavioural | Intensive nutritional counselling |
Primary outcome
Nutritional status
Time frame: 6 months
Nutritional status was assessed by patient-generated subjective global assessment and anthropometry.
1 secondary outcome
Survival
Time frame: 5 year
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2014.
- Background: PubMed 17324657Isenring EA, Bauer JD, Capra S. Nutrition support using the American Dietetic Association medical nutrition therapy protocol for radiation oncology patients improves dietary intake compared with standard practice. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Mar;107(3):404-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.12.007.
- Background: PubMed 8850213Ottery FD. Definition of standardized nutritional assessment and interventional pathways in oncology. Nutrition. 1996 Jan;12(1 Suppl):S15-9. doi: 10.1016/0899-9007(96)90011-8.
- Background: PubMed 22709779White JV, Guenter P, Jensen G, Malone A, Schofield M; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Malnutrition Work Group; A.S.P.E.N. Malnutrition Task Force; A.S.P.E.N. Board of Directors. Consensus statement of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: characteristics recommended for the identification and documentation of adult malnutrition (undernutrition). J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 May;112(5):730-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.012. Epub 2012 Apr 25.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42069057Orell H, Pohju A, Ravasco P, Schwab U, Osterlund P, Makitie AA. Get a grip! - Baseline handgrip strength and sarcopenia as predictors of survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2026 Jun;73:103312. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.103312. Epub 2026 Apr 30.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 30937304Orell H, Schwab U, Saarilahti K, Osterlund P, Ravasco P, Makitie A. Nutritional Counseling for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing (Chemo) Radiotherapy-A Prospective Randomized Trial. Front Nutr. 2019 Mar 18;6:22. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00022. eCollection 2019.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Antti Mäkitie, Professor study director
Helsinki University Central Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nutritional counselling in people with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer, run by Helsinki University Central Hospital at 1 site in Finland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Nutritional status (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02159508, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2014; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.