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Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaACP-HNNCT05143268

Acupuncture for Dysphagia in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

An observational study of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by Lorenzo Livi at 2 sites in Italy.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a randomized phase 2 study on the impact of acupuncture on acute dysphagia in patients treated with radio-chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
How many people
90 participants
Where
2 sitesItaly
Study dates
3 Jun 2021to 30 Oct 2023
Phase
Observational
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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: All patients over 18 years old who have received a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx or histologically-confirmed diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx

Who may be able to join

  • histologically-confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx or histologically-confirmed diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx
  • by judgement of the local investigator, indication for a DNST with curative intent, consisting of one of the 3 following options:
  • radiotherapy alone
  • cisplatin-based concomitant chemo-radiotherapy
  • cetuximab-based concomitant bio-radiotherapy
  • clinical stage of disease: II, III, IVA, IVB (according to TNM/AJCC 8th edition) for primary tumors of the larynx, hypopharynx and oropharynx (p16/HPV negative), provided that for stage II disease (cT2N0) the local investigator will prescribe an elective irradiation of regional lymph nodes
  • clinical stage of disease: I, II, III (according to TNM/AJCC 8th edition) for primary tumors of the oropharynx (p16/HPV positive), provided that for stage I disease (cT1N0) the local investigator will prescribe an elective irradiation of regional lymph nodes

Who cannot join

  • histologically-confirmed head and neck cancer of any other primary anatomic location in the head and neck not specified in the inclusion criteria including patients with HNSCC of unknown primary or non-squamous histologies
  • metastatic disease
  • gross total excision of both primary and nodal disease before index treatment
  • surgical manipulation including therapeutic tonsillectomy, local excision of primary site, and nodal excision that removes all clinically and radiographically evident disease
  • prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region
  • induction chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy
Show all 13Show fewer
  • prior use of acupuncture for SCCHN or for different indications
  • prior allergic reaction or history of hypersensitivity to inox austenitic steel (Cr18Ni9)
  • active or prior documented neurologic or rheumatologic disorder with a potential impact on the swallowing function (i.e: multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, scleroderma)
  • active process of severe skin infection in the neck contraindicating the execution of acupuncture in the opinion of the investigator
  • severe baseline dysphagia documented by a MDADI scale (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory) composite score below 60
  • any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would not require to encompass at least ipsilateral neck lymph nodes in the irradiation field
  • any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Lorenzo Livi, Professor contact

0557947192

lorenzo.livi@unifi.it

Italy2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • AOU Careggi Radiation Oncology Unit

    Florence, 50134

    Lorenzo Livi, Prof., +390557947264, segr-radiotp@dfc.unifi.it

    Pierluigi Bonomo, +390557947264, bonomop@aou-careggi.toscana.it

    Recruiting
  • Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi

    Florence, 50134

    Noela Gori, Study Coordinator, 0557947192, datamanager.ng.rt@sbsc.unifi.it

    Recruiting

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Impact of Acupuncture on Acute Dysphagia in Patients Treated With Radio-chemotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Randomized Phase 2 Study

This is a randomized phase 2 study on the impact of acupuncture on acute dysphagia in patients treated with radio-chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Read the detailed description

In order to attempt to reduce the impact of adverse effects produced by oncological treatments, cancer patients frequently turn to complementary integrative therapies.

Among them, acupuncture has been characterized by a growing role in cancer-related symptoms management in last 10 years.

After FDA approval for use as a medical device in 1996, the application of this technique in oncology has been on the rise in the Western countries.

By modulating brain regions involved in cognition and emotion, some degree of successful symptom management with acupuncture has been demonstrated in oncology In the context of head and neck cancer, the first application of acupuncture was related to chronic shoulder pain and dysfunction following neck dissection.

The primary objective of the study is to compare the effect of acupuncture and standard treatment on swallowing function assessed with MDADI scale (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory) 2 weeks after the end of RT (end of treatment, EoT).

Medical subject headings
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

What participants receive

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

Study groups in NCT05143268
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AIn the experimental arm (arm A), a total of 11 sessions of acupuncture will be performed on a weekly basis, spanning from 2 weeks before Radiotherapy start throughout 7 weeks of treatment, to 2 weeks after its completion. Patients randomized to the experimental arm will receive acupuncture in addition to standard of care treatment, chosen by the treating multidisciplinary team in accordance with international guidelines.
BIn the standard arm (arm B), patients will be treated with standard of care treatment.

What is being measured

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

  1. Primary objective

    Swallowing function assessed with MDADI scale (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory)

    Measured: two weeks after the end of treatment

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Secondary objective n.1

    Swallowing function assessed with MDADI scale (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory)

    Measured: 12 weeks after end of treatment

  2. Secondary objective n.2

    Swallowing function assessed with MDADI scale (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory)

    Measured: 24 weeks after end of treatment

  3. Secondary objective n.3

    Patients' quality of life assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLC-HN 43

    Measured: 12 and 24 weeks after end of treatment

  4. Secondary objective n.4

    Feasibility of acupuncture (percentage of completed acupuncture sessions out of planned per protocol)

    Measured: maximum of 11 weekly sessions

  5. Secondary objective n.5

    Incidence of moderate-severe dysphagia (>G2) assessed with CTCAE v. 5.0

    Measured: 2 weeks after end of treatment

  6. Secondary objective n.6

    Incidence of moderate-severe adverse events (G3-G4) assessed with CTCAE v.5

    Measured: 2 weeks after end of treatment

  7. Secondary objective n.7

    Relative dose intensity of systemic therapy

    Measured: 2 weeks after the end of treatment

  8. Secondary objective n.8

    Radiation interruptions

    Measured: 2 weeks after end of treatment

  9. Secondary objective n.9

    Relative weight loss (percentage of weight loss compared with baseline value at start of therapy)

    Measured: 2 weeks after end of treatment

Timeline

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

  1. First posted3 Dec 2021
  2. Study start3 Jun 2021
  3. Primary completion30 Oct 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Oct 2023 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05143268
Sponsor's protocol ID
ACP-HN
Acronym
ACP-HN
Status last verified
Nov 2022
First submitted
22 Nov 2021
Last updated
10 Nov 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, run by Lorenzo Livi at 2 sites in Italy.

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 7 inclusion and 13 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 Nov 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Italy. 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?

Contact Lorenzo Livi, Professor (0557947192, lorenzo.livi@unifi.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Primary objective (time frame: two weeks after the end of treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 Nov 2022.

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