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AzTrials

Cancer T1-N0 or T2-N0 of the Oral CavitySACONCT03545256

Sentinel. Ambulatory. Oral Cavity. Oropharynx (S.A.C.O)

A study testing outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search in people with Cancer T1-N0 or T2-N0 of the Oral Cavity, run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This is a single-center pilot study of open-label, non-randomized interventional research based on the outpatient management of 30 patients with T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Cancer T1-N0 or T2-N0 of the Oral Cavity
What is being tested?
outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
25 participants
Where
1 siteFrance
Study dates
31 May 2018to 1 Jul 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female over 18 years old with no upper age limit
  • Patient (s) affiliated to a social security system, or beneficiary of such a system
  • Patient information and informed consent signed by the patient
  • Patient no longer participating in another trial since legal time
  • Patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx documented by biopsy with histological analysis less than 1 month old
  • Tumor operable by TNM stage, location and general condition of the patient
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Systematic Oto-Rhino-Laryngology panendoscopy eliminating a second synchronous tumor and establishing precisely the T
  • Stage T1 or T2, N0 and M0
  • Proposal by a multidisciplinary meeting for tumor surgery and GS technique
  • Eligibility criteria for ambulatory surgery present
  • Anesthetic criteria for eligibility for outpatient hospitalization (ref AFAR 29 (2010) 67-72, formalized expert recommendations) including ASA I, II and III score stable
  • Patient able to understand the nature, purpose and methodology of the study

Who cannot join

  • lack of one of the inclusion criteria
  • other cancer being treated
  • non-infiltrating tumor: high grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ
  • insufficient tumor excision: invaded margins without complementary recovery in healthy zone
  • contraindication to sentinel lymph node surgery or ganglion dissection
  • contraindication to radiotherapy
Show all 19Show fewer
  • contraindications to performing a scintigraphy:
  • Known allergy or intolerance to the injected product and in particular to Technetium-99
  • Pregnancy
  • Refusal to accept the entire treatment (nodal diagnosis on GS, lymph node dissection pN + follow-up of adjuvant radiotherapy if necessary)
  • impossible to follow over 2 years
  • refusal to accept the monitoring described and / or to provide the information necessary for the study
  • patient already treated for this tumor outside of an excisional biopsy
  • patient who previously had chemotherapy or immunotherapy for another cancer outside the VADS in a period of less than 6 months
  • patient who has had cervical or VADS radiotherapy regardless of the cause or delay
  • patient who has had previous cervical surgery regardless of cause or delay
  • Patient protected by law (patient under guardianship).
  • Patient (e) deprived of liberty by administrative decision.
  • Pregnant or lactating women according to article L1121-5 of the CSP. An assay of βHCG will be performed routinely to ensure the absence of pregnancy.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

France1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Gui de Chauliac Hospital, ENT Department 80 rue Augustin Fliche

    Montpellier, Hérault, 34295

    Angelina MARTINEZ, Site Study Coordinator, +33 467-336-156, angelina-martinez@chu-montpellier.fr

    Claire LEMAIRE, Study Nurse Manager, +33 467 336 896, c-lemaire@chu-montpellier.fr

    Recruiting

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Open Non-randomized Study on the Management of Operable T1-N0 or T2-N0 Oral Cavity and Oropharynx Cancer and Sentinel Lymph Node in Outpatient Surgery

This is a single-center pilot study of open-label, non-randomized interventional research based on the outpatient management of 30 patients with T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx.

Read the detailed description

Currently, patients with oral cancer or oropharynx T1-N0 or T2-N0 are treated by surgery on the tumor and the neck, both validated techniques are either with a systematic lymph node dissection or a search for lymph sentinel node (GS). The goal on the lymph sentinel nodes is to diagnose the presence of metastasis (s). With the GS technique, the length of hospital stay can be shorter. The limited invasiveness of tumor surgery of the oral cavity and oropharynx and GS and short postoperative monitoring is compatible with outpatient management, so it should be evaluated through a study clinical.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the rate of conversion to complete hospitalization or re-hospitalization within 10 days of surgery J0. The secondary objectives are the evaluation of the acceptance rate of outpatient surgery by the eligible patient, complications related to outpatient management, the quality of life of the patient and the cost of the strategy over the first month following J0.

The surgical procedure associated with the sentinel lymph node technique is carried out in two stages:

  • Lymphoscintigraphy at Day-1 : This is the identification of the lymphatic network of the patient by a prior injection of radioactive tracer, nanocolloids labeled with technetium99, around the primary tumor. A planar or 3-minute CT image acquisition is performed 30 to 60 minutes after injection in anteroposterior and lateral view to identify the sentinel lymph nodes (GS(s)) which are then marked on the skin with an indelible marker. This routine care examination is done in an external act.
  • Surgery on D0: The patient is admitted to the hospital at 7:00 am in outpatient unit. He is reviewed by the anesthetist before the intervention and is transferred to the operating room for the intervention under General anesthesia.

The main tumor is operated by mouth. The ganglionic surgical procedure consists of the removal of the GS(s) by a limited cervical approach, following a cervical dissection line. The GS(s) are identified by a gamma detection probe, equipped with a high-resolution collimator whose tip is covered with a sterile disposable sleeve. Exeresis of the GS(s) is performed by removing the peri-ganglionic cellular tissue and avoiding any capsular intrusion. The GS lymph node (s) so taken is sent freshly by special request to the pathologist for final analysis according to the recommended procedure for GS.

The cervical dissection will be performed later if the definitive analysis finds a ganglionic invasion. In this case, the patient will be re-hospitalized in unit full hospitalization for cervical lymph node dissection: the ganglionic areas systematically concerned are the levels I, II, III and IV for tumors of the oral cavity and II, III and IV for the oropharynx. The gesture will be bilateral if the lymphoscintigraphy had found a bilateral drains. The cervical dissection parts are labeled and sent for routine final pathological analysis.

Being tested
outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search
Keywords
Outpatient, head neck cancer, Lymph node metastasis, surgery, Quality of life, economical study
Medical subject headings
Head and Neck Neoplasms, Lymphatic Metastasis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node searchProcedure or surgery

    The surgical procedure associated with the sentinel lymph node technique is carried out in two stages:

    • Lymphoscintigraphy at Day-1 : This is the identification of the lymphatic network of the patient by a prior injection of radioactive tracer, nanocolloids labeled with technetium99, around the primary tumor. A planar CT image acquisition is performed to identify the sentinel lymph nodes (Gs(s)) which are then marked on the skin with an indelible marker.

    Surgery on D0:

    The patient is admitted to the hospital at 7:00 am in outpatient unit. He is reviewed by the anesthetist before the intervention and is transferred to the operating room for the intervention under AG.

    The main tumor is operated by mouth.

Study groups in NCT03545256
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavityOtheroutpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search
Receives: Procedure: outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Conversion rate in complete hospitalization or re-hospitalization within 10 days following the surgical procedure (D0)

    the conversion into complete hospitalization on the day of the procedure (Day 0) or re-hospitalization within 10 days following the surgical procedure (Day 0) respectively will be performed in case of medical or surgical complications or according to the doctor's opinion for the release of the patient, or in case of lymph nodes dissection

    Measured: From Day 0 to 10 days post surgery

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Acceptance rate of outpatient surgery

    Acceptance rate of outpatient surgery validated by the multidisciplinary meeting and proposed to the patient who meets the eligibility criteria for the inclusion visit

    Measured: inclusion visit

  2. Description of complications attributable to outpatient care taken on Day 0, Day 10 and Month1

    All complications related to outpatient care will be recorded

    Measured: From Day 0 to Month 1 post surgery

  3. Quality of life at inclusion visit

    self-questionnaire completed by the patient at inclusion visit, Score reported by the subjects on the Quality of life questionnaire QLQ-C30. The scores of the different scales are between 0 and 100. A score of the overall health of quality of life (QoL) close to 100 indicates a QoL close to perfect health. Similarly, a score of a functional scale close to 100 represents a level close to perfect capacity.

    Measured: Inclusion visit

  4. Quality of life at Day 0 visit

    self-questionnaire completed by the patient at visit Day 0 visit, Scores reported by the subjects on the Quality of life questionnaires QLQ-H \& N35.

    The questionnaire EORTC QLQ- H \& N35 contains 35 questions that incorporate 7 multidimensional scales that assess pain, swallowing, senses (taste and smell), speech, socializing, social contacts, and sexuality during the previous week. It also includes 11 isolated items.

    The scoring approach for the QLQ-H \& N35 questionnaire is identical in principle to that of the QLQC30 questionnaire symptom scales.

    Measured: Day 0 visit

  5. Quality of life at Day 10 post surgery

    self-questionnaire completed by the patient at visit Day 10 visit, Scores reported by the subjects on the Quality of life questionnaires QLQ-H \& N35.

    The questionnaire EORTC QLQ- H \& N35 contains 35 questions that incorporate 7 multidimensional scales that assess pain, swallowing, senses (taste and smell), speech, socializing, social contacts, and sexuality during the previous week. It also includes 11 isolated items.

    The scoring approach for the QLQ-H \& N35 questionnaire is identical in principle to that of the QLQC30 questionnaire symptom scales.

    Measured: Day 10 visit post surgery

  6. Quality of life at month 1 post surgery

    self-questionnaire completed by the patient at inclusion Month 1 visit. Scores reported by the subjects on the Quality of life questionnaire SF-36.Score from the worst health condition imaginable (0) to the best state of health imaginable (100).

    Measured: Month 1 visit post surgery

  7. Evaluation of the cost of the strategy at Month 1

    Description: The cost will be evaluated on the first month of outpatient management

    Measured: Month 1

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Jun 2018
  2. Study start31 May 2018
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
The surgical procedure associated with the sentinel lymph node technique is carried out in two stages: \- Lymphoscintigraphy at Day-1 : This is the identification of the lymphatic network of the patient by a prior injection of radioactive tracer, nanocolloide labeled with technetium99, around the primary tumor. \- Surgery on D0: The patient is admitted to the hospital at 7:00 am in outpatient unit. He is reviewed by the anesthetist before the intervention and is transferred to the operating room for the intervention under AG.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
25 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03545256
Sponsor's protocol ID
RECHMPL17_0165
Acronym
SACO
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
7 May 2018
Last updated
30 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Burcia V, Costes V, Faillie JL, Gardiner Q, de Verbizier D, Cartier C, Jouzdani E, Crampette L, Guerrier B, Garrel R. Neck restaging with sentinel node biopsy in T1-T2N0 oral and oropharyngeal cancer: Why and how? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010 Apr;142(4):592-7.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2009.12.016.

    PubMed 20304284
  • Garrel R, Poissonnet G, Temam S, Dolivet G, Fakhry N, de Raucourt D. Review of sentinel node procedure in cN0 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Guidelines from the French evaluation cooperative subgroup of GETTEC. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2017 Apr;134(2):89-93. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2016.10.004. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

    PubMed 27842990
  • Schilling C, Stoeckli SJ, Haerle SK, Broglie MA, Huber GF, Sorensen JA, Bakholdt V, Krogdahl A, von Buchwald C, Bilde A, Sebbesen LR, Odell E, Gurney B, O'Doherty M, de Bree R, Bloemena E, Flach GB, Villarreal PM, Fresno Forcelledo MF, Junquera Gutierrez LM, Amezaga JA, Barbier L, Santamaria-Zuazua J, Moreira A, Jacome M, Vigili MG, Rahimi S, Tartaglione G, Lawson G, Nollevaux MC, Grandi C, Donner D, Bragantini E, Dequanter D, Lothaire P, Poli T, Silini EM, Sesenna E, Dolivet G, Mastronicola R, Leroux A, Sassoon I, Sloan P, McGurk M. Sentinel European Node Trial (SENT): 3-year results of sentinel node biopsy in oral cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2015 Dec;51(18):2777-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.08.023. Epub 2015 Nov 18.

    PubMed 26597442
  • Lee MK, Nalliah RP, Kim MK, Elangovan S, Allareddy V, Kumar-Gajendrareddy P, Allareddy V. Prevalence and impact of complications on outcomes in patients hospitalized for oral and oropharyngeal cancer treatment. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011 Nov;112(5):581-91. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2011.06.032.

    PubMed 22035652

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing outpatient surgery for T1-N0 or T2-N0 cancers of the oral cavity or oropharynx with lymph node search in people with Cancer T1-N0 or T2-N0 of the Oral Cavity, run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.

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 12 inclusion and 19 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Sep 2025. 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 France. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Renaud GARREL, ENT (+33 467-336-920, r-garrel@chu-montpellier.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Conversion rate in complete hospitalization or re-hospitalization within 10 days following the surgical procedure (D0) (time frame: From Day 0 to 10 days post surgery). 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 NCT03545256, which also lists 4 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 30 Sep 2025.

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