Researchers investigate possible treatment de-escalation for tonsil cancer Monday, August 13, 2018 For immediate release. Kingston, Ontario – August 13, 2018 – The Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) has announced a project grant award of $860,628 over six years for a research project lead by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG). The HN.10 study will investigate the potential benefits of the de-escalation of treatment for patients with tonsil cancer. Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is one of the most common forms of head and neck cancer. Although this type cancer is often associated with other risk factors, OPSCC related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has seen a dramatic increase globally. Radiotherapy is frequently used to cure patients with HPV-related OPSCC and is aimed at the tumour site and lymph nodes in the neck. The side effects of this treatment can be long lasting and distressing. Researchers would like to know if radiotherapy to some of the lymph node areas can be safely omitted to decrease side effects without compromise of tumour control. “Most cases of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma are cured with radiotherapy, but side effects are the real challenge with this treatment,” says Dr. Scott Bratman, researcher at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and one of the study leads. “We want to offer patients more tolerable treatments that are still effective at curing the cancer. This award allows us to run a national study to investigate the effectiveness of reducing the regions of the lymph nodes that are treated with radiotherapy.” “Head and neck cancer is an uncommon tumour and collaborative research is needed to address important questions,” says CCTG Senior Investigator Wendy Parulekar. “This trial will involve highly qualified treatment centres across Canada who have a track record of addressing important questions about the optimal treatment of head and neck cancer. Patients enrolled in the study will be followed after treatment to assess cure rates, side effects, ability to swallow, quality of life, and impact of therapy on their use of medical and supportive resources. There will also be an evaluation of the likelihood of cancer recurrence within the lymph node regions of the neck that were left untreated. Media contact Lisa Callahan, Communications Leader, Canadian Cancer Trials Group, lcallahan@ctg.queensu.ca, 343-363-7158 About the Canadian Cancer Trials Group The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is a cancer clinical trials research cooperative that runs phase I-III trials to test anti-cancer and supportive therapies in over 80 institutions across Canada and internationally. CCTG is supported by core funding from the Canadian Cancer Society. From the operations centre at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, CCTG has supported over 500 trials in over 40 countries aimed at improving survival and quality of life for all people with cancer.
