Recruiting

Lower-dose radiation alone for early-stage throat cancer linked to HPV

Plain-English translation of NCT06902623 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether patients with early-stage, HPV-positive throat cancer can be treated with radiation therapy alone—without chemotherapy—using a lower radiation dose than is currently standard. Researchers want to see if this approach works just as well while reducing side effects and improving quality of life. The study will follow 30 patients and measure how well the cancer responds and how participants feel after treatment.

Current standard treatment for this type of throat cancer uses both chemotherapy and full-dose radiation, which can cause serious side effects like difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and long-term problems with eating and speaking. This trial exists to find out whether patients with a good prognosis can skip chemotherapy and use a lower radiation dose instead, potentially keeping them cancer-free while reducing harm to their quality of life.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years of age or older
you have been diagnosed with stage I or II HPV-positive or p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (throat, base of tongue, or tonsils)
you are a non-smoker who has not smoked for at least 6 months and have a smoking history of 15 pack-years or less
you have adequate blood counts (hemoglobin of at least 10, and a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of 5 or lower) within 8 weeks before enrollment
you are in good enough health to tolerate radiation therapy (a Karnofsky Performance Status score of 60 or higher)
you agree to have a biopsy 3-4 months after treatment to check for any remaining cancer

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a single lymph node larger than 4 centimeters, or multiple lymph nodes that together measure more than 4 centimeters
you have lymph nodes that are fixed to or invading the muscles in your neck
you have involvement of level 4 lymph nodes (deep neck nodes)
you have a deeply embedded tumor growing into the throat tissues (endophytic T3 disease)
you have been diagnosed with another cancer within the past 2 years (except non-melanoma skin cancer or low-grade prostate cancer being monitored)
you are pregnant, nursing, or unwilling to use contraception during and for 90 days after treatment

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you will receive radiation therapy delivered at 66 Gray (a specific dose) focused on the visible tumor. You will not receive chemotherapy. You'll attend regular radiation appointments over several weeks, and researchers will monitor you closely with scans and blood tests. About 3-4 months after your treatment ends, you will have a biopsy to confirm how well the cancer has responded. Researchers will also ask you questions about your quality of life and follow you for at least 2 years to make sure the cancer does not return.

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

Lower-dose radiation alone for early-stage throat cancer linked to HPV

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations