Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

3-5 FrAction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Palliation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: the FAST Phase II Randomized Trial

3-5 FrAction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Palliation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: the FAST Phase II Randomized Trial (NCT05674396) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 108 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Age 18 or older - Willing to provide willing to sign a consent form - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) squamous cell carcinoma - Primary tumor site in the head and neck (includes oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, salivary gland, and cutaneous subsites as well as tumors of unknown primary site) - Ineligible for curative intent treatment after multidisciplinary evaluation (including evaluation by radiation oncologist and surgeon followed by presentation at multidisciplinary tumor board prior to randomization) - Prior therapy including radiation, surgery, or systemic therapy is permitted unless further radiation is deemed inappropriate by the enrolling physician - Metastatic disease is permitted Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Contraindications to radiotherapy - Pregnant or lactating women 5.0 PRE-TREATMENT EVALUATION - History and physical examination including laryngopharyngoscopy by a radiation oncologist and/or head and neck surgeon within 8 weeks prior to randomization. o Clinical examination will include a detailed description of disease target including measurement where feasible to facilitate response assessment - Documentation of smoking history - Staging imaging within 12 weeks prior to randomization: - Contrast-enhanced CT of the neck and chest or - MRI of the neck with CT of the chest or - Whole body PET/CT - Histological confirmation of squamous cell carcinoma - Pregnancy test for women of child-bearing age, within 2 weeks prior to randomization - Assessment of all baseline symptoms, using CTCAE version 5.0 within 2 weeks prior to randomization. - Assessment of baseline pain score (NRS) and analgesic use (non-opioid and opioid) - Completion of QOL scoring within 2 weeks of randomization - willing to sign a consent forms must be obtained prior to any study specific activities Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Willing to provide informed consent * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma * Primary tumor site in the head and neck (includes oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, salivary gland, and cutaneous subsites as well as tumors of unknown primary site) * Ineligible for curative intent treatment after multidisciplinary evaluation (including evaluation by radiation oncologist and surgeon followed by presentation at multidisciplinary tumor board prior to randomization) * Prior therapy including radiation, surgery, or systemic therapy is permitted unless further radiation is deemed inappropriate by the enrolling physician * Metastatic disease is permitted Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to radiotherapy * Pregnant or lactating women 5.0 PRE-TREATMENT EVALUATION * History and physical examination including laryngopharyngoscopy by a radiation oncologist and/or head and neck surgeon within 8 weeks prior to randomization. o Clinical examination will include a detailed description of disease target including measurement where feasible to facilitate response assessment * Documentation of smoking history * Staging imaging within 12 weeks prior to randomization: * Contrast-enhanced CT of the neck and chest or * MRI of the neck with CT of the chest or * Whole body PET/CT * Histological confirmation of squamous cell carcinoma * Pregnancy test for women of child-bearing age, within 2 weeks prior to randomization * Assessment of all baseline symptoms, using CTCAE version 5.0 within 2 weeks prior to randomization. * Assessment of baseline pain score (NRS) and analgesic use (non-opioid and opioid) * Completion of QOL scoring within 2 weeks of randomization * Informed consents must be obtained prior to any study specific activities

Treatments Being Tested

RADIATION

Stereotactic body radiotherapy

Participants will receive radiation as per the schedule discussed with the study doctor.

RADIATION

Traditional Palliation

Participants will receive radiation as per the schedule discussed with the study doctor.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05674396), the sponsor (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05674396 clinical trial studying?

To learn if it is effective to use advanced radiation treatment techniques (stereotactic radiation or "SBRT") to safely deliver a strong dose of radiation to your tumor in a shorter period of time than would typically be feasible with traditional methods. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05674396?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05674396?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05674396. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05674396. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.