Recruiting

Testing two gentler treatment approaches for early-stage throat cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT05894083 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated February 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing two different ways to treat early-stage throat cancer (oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma) in people whose tumors have a specific marker called p16. The goal is to see if doctors can use less intense treatments—either surgery followed by careful monitoring, or chemotherapy combined with radiation—while still giving patients the best chance at cure with fewer side effects.

Standard throat cancer treatment can cause serious long-term side effects, especially in younger patients who may live for decades after treatment. This trial exists to find out whether gentler, personalized approaches can work just as well for early-stage cancers, so patients don't have to endure more aggressive therapy than they actually need.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with stage I or II squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (throat) that is p16-positive
your tumor shows up on a PET scan with moderate to high activity (maximum SUV score of 4.0 or higher)
you are at least 18 years old and in good enough health to handle the treatments and imaging tests
you have no cancer that has spread to distant parts of your body
you have normal or near-normal blood counts and kidney function

You likely don't qualify if…

you have advanced cancer features such as very large tumors (stage T4), extensive lymph node involvement (N3), or cancer that has spread to other parts of your body (M1)
you have cancer that has broken through the outer lining of lymph nodes or matted lymph nodes visible on imaging
you have had any previous cancer treatment (except skin cancer or certain in-situ cancers) unless you have been cancer-free for at least 3 years
you have had previous radiation to the throat area that would overlap with this treatment
you have a serious allergy to paclitaxel, carboplatin, or other platinum-containing chemotherapy drugs

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you will be assigned to one of two treatment pathways based on your doctors' assessment. You may receive surgery to remove the tumor, followed by observation or additional radiation (with or without chemotherapy), depending on risk factors. Alternatively, you may receive chemotherapy combined with radiation as your main treatment. You will have regular imaging scans, physical exams, and blood tests throughout the study to monitor your progress and any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 7, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan