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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Personalized Volume-deescalated Elective Nodal Irradiation in Oropharyngeal Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Personalized Volume-deescalated Elective Nodal Irradiation in Oropharyngeal Head and Neck

Personalized Volume-deescalated Elective Nodal Irradiation in Oropharyngeal Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (NCT06563362) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Oropharynx Cancer, sponsored by University of Zurich. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Multicentric prospective model-based de-escalation of the elective clinical target volumes (CTV) in radiotherapy of oropharyngeal carcinoma of all stages with the goal to reduce toxicity. The study investigates the feasibility of this approach as measured by the number of expected out-of-field recurrencies based on the individual patient's state of disease progression and risk factors

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Oropharynx Cancer 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 120 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Oropharynx Cancer 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: - Patients with a newly diagnosed (no pre-treatment) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (i.e. tonsils, base of tongue, oropharyngeal walls, oropharyngeal surface of epiglottis; ICD-10 codes C01, C09, C10), T1-4, N0-3. - Treatment with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy planned, with elective irradiation of the lymph nodes. - Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit. - ECOG performance score \< 3. - History/physical examination within 30 days prior to study inclusion by head and neck surgeon and/or radiation oncologist. - FDG-PET scan prior to study inclusion. In case of inability to perform or contra-indication, at least contrast enhanced MRI scan obligatory. - Participants need to provide willing to sign a consent form. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: Who May Qualify: - Patients with a newly diagnosed (no pre-treatment) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (i.e. tonsils, base of tongue, oropharyngeal walls, oropharyngeal surface of epiglottis; ICD-10 codes C01, C09, C10), T1-4, N0-3. - Treatment with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy planned, with elective irradiation of the lymph nodes. - Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit. - ECOG performance score \< 3. - History/physical examination within 30 days prior to study inclusion by head and neck surgeon and/or radiation oncologist. - FDG-PET scan prior to study inclusion. In case of inability to perform or contra-indication, at least contrast enhanced MRI scan obligatory. - Participants need to provide willing to sign a consent form. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Multilevel primary tumors extending unambiguously beyond the oropharynx into the oral cavity, naso- or hypopharynx - Distant metastases detected. - Previous surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for other head and neck cancers. - Previous surgery in head and neck region affecting the cervical lymphatic system. Dissection of singular lymph nodes for diagnostic purposes before treatment start is allowed. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov 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: * Patients with a newly diagnosed (no pre-treatment) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (i.e. tonsils, base of tongue, oropharyngeal walls, oropharyngeal surface of epiglottis; ICD-10 codes C01, C09, C10), T1-4, N0-3. * Treatment with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy planned, with elective irradiation of the lymph nodes. * Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit. * ECOG performance score \< 3. * History/physical examination within 30 days prior to study inclusion by head and neck surgeon and/or radiation oncologist. * FDG-PET scan prior to study inclusion. In case of inability to perform or contra-indication, at least contrast enhanced MRI scan obligatory. * Participants need to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with a newly diagnosed (no pre-treatment) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (i.e. tonsils, base of tongue, oropharyngeal walls, oropharyngeal surface of epiglottis; ICD-10 codes C01, C09, C10), T1-4, N0-3. * Treatment with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy planned, with elective irradiation of the lymph nodes. * Age ≥ 18 years, no upper age limit. * ECOG performance score \< 3. * History/physical examination within 30 days prior to study inclusion by head and neck surgeon and/or radiation oncologist. * FDG-PET scan prior to study inclusion. In case of inability to perform or contra-indication, at least contrast enhanced MRI scan obligatory. * Participants need to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Multilevel primary tumors extending unambiguously beyond the oropharynx into the oral cavity, naso- or hypopharynx * Distant metastases detected. * Previous surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for other head and neck cancers. * Previous surgery in head and neck region affecting the cervical lymphatic system. Dissection of singular lymph nodes for diagnostic purposes before treatment start is allowed. * Synchronous or previous malignancies. Exceptions are curatively treated basal cell carcinoma or SCC of the skin, or in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri, low- or intermediate- risk prostate cancer or breast with a progression-free follow-up time of at least 3 years without any remaining disease burden, or other previous malignancy with a progression-free interval of at least 5 years without any remaining active/progressive disease burden regardless whether the treatment is completed or ongoing as a maintenance treatment (e.g. androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer). * Pregnancy or breast feeding * Any severe mental or psychic disorder affecting decision making and ability to provide informed consent.

Treatments Being Tested

RADIATION

De-escalation of irradiated volume

De-escalation of elective clinical target volumes as recommended by a model-based approach

Locations (5)

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.

Zurich University Hospital
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
Cantonal Hospital Aarau
Aarau, Switzerland
Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona
Bellinzona, Switzerland
Inselspital Bern
Bern, Switzerland
Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève
Geneva, Switzerland

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06563362), the sponsor (University of Zurich), 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 NCT06563362 clinical trial studying?

Multicentric prospective model-based de-escalation of the elective clinical target volumes (CTV) in radiotherapy of oropharyngeal carcinoma of all stages with the goal to reduce toxicity. The study investigates the feasibility of this approach as measured by the number of expected out-of-field recurrencies based on the individual patient's state of disease progression and risk factors The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06563362?

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 NCT06563362?

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.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06563362. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06563362. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.