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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Personalized Neck Radiation Therapy Directed by Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for the Treatment of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, PRECEDENT Trial

PRECEDENT: Pilot Phase II Study of Personalized Radiation to the Contralateral Neck Directed by Sentinel Node Evaluation in Lateralized Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Personalized Neck Radiation Therapy Directed by Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for the Treatment of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, PRECEDENT Trial (NCT07121595) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8, sponsored by University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. 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

This phase II trial studies how well personalized neck radiation therapy directed by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) works in treating patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). SLNB can be performed as part of standard care for OCSCC. During SLNB, a radiotracer is injected around the tumor. The lymph nodes are then biopsied and tested to see if the tracer injected into the tumor traveled to and is present in the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Results of the SLNB are used to determine whether lymph nodes should be removed in both sides of the neck or just on the same side as the primary tumor. Standard treatment then involves radiation therapy to both sides of the neck, regardless of SLNB results. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Studies have shown only a small number of patients develop a return of the cancer (recurrence) in the opposite side of the neck after radiation therapy. In addition, radiation therapy can negatively impact patient outcomes like saliva production, speech and swallow function, increased risk of radiation induced cancers, and chronic pain. Standard of care SLNBs may be effective in determining whether radiation therapy only needs to be administered to one side of the neck or both sides. This may help spare tissue on the opposite side of the neck from receiving radiation if there is no indication of lymph node involvement there.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Oral Cavity 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 50 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Oral Cavity 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: - Patient must have biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity - Clinical stage cT1-4a N0-2b M0 within 42 days of study enrollment based on the following work-up: - History and physical examination within 42 days of study enrollment; must include documentation of lateralized primary tumor site - Cross-sectional imaging of the head and neck within 42 days of study enrollment - Cross-sectional imaging of the chest within 42 days of study enrollment - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0-2 within 42 days of study enrollment - Age \> 18 - Recommended treatment plan is surgical resection with ipsilateral neck dissection and SPECT-CT-guided sentinel node biopsy. Flap reconstruction is allowed - Patient is willing and able to provide willing to sign a consent form. Patient provides study-specific willing to sign a consent form prior to study entry - Women of childbearing potential and male participants must agree to use medically effect means of birth control throughout their participation in the treatment phase of the study Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Evidence of distant metastatic disease based on clinical or radiologic evaluation - Evidence of contralateral neck disease on staging imaging - Prior non-head and neck invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer, including effectively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the breast or cervix) unless disease free for ≥ 2 years - Diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx - Prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowed. Prior immunotherapy for the study cancer is allowed. - Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields ...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: * Patient must have biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity * Clinical stage cT1-4a N0-2b M0 within 42 days of study enrollment based on the following work-up: * History and physical examination within 42 days of study enrollment; must include documentation of lateralized primary tumor site * Cross-sectional imaging of the head and neck within 42 days of study enrollment * Cross-sectional imaging of the chest within 42 days of study enrollment * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0-2 within 42 days of study enrollment * Age \> 18 * Recommended treatment plan is surgical resection with ipsilateral neck dissection and SPECT-CT-guided sentinel node biopsy. Flap reconstruction is allowed * Patient is willing and able to provide informed consent. Patient provides study-specific informed consent prior to study entry * Women of childbearing potential and male participants must agree to use medically effect means of birth control throughout their participation in the treatment phase of the study Exclusion Criteria: * Evidence of distant metastatic disease based on clinical or radiologic evaluation * Evidence of contralateral neck disease on staging imaging * Prior non-head and neck invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer, including effectively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the breast or cervix) unless disease free for ≥ 2 years * Diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx * Prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowed. Prior immunotherapy for the study cancer is allowed. * Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields * Patient with severe, active co-morbidity that would preclude an elective or completion neck dissection * Pregnant and breast-feeding patients * Excisional biopsy for study cancer * Prior surgery involving the lateral neck, including neck dissection or gross injury to the neck that would preclude surgical dissection for this trial. Prior thyroid and central neck surgery is permissible; incisional biopsy is permitted * Underlying or documented history of hematologic malignancy (e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia \[CLL\]) or other active disease capable of causing lymphadenopathy (sarcoidosis or untreated mycobacterial infection) * Actively receiving systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunosuppressive, anti-monocyte or immunomodulatory therapy * Currently participating in another investigational therapeutic trial

Treatments Being Tested

PROCEDURE

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

DRUG

Carboplatin

Given IV

DRUG

Cisplatin

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Computed Tomography

Undergo CT and/or SPECT-CT

PROCEDURE

Modified Barium Swallow

Undergo video fluoroscopic swallow study

DRUG

Paclitaxel

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Positron Emission Tomography

Undergo PET-CT

OTHER

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

RADIATION

Radiation Therapy

Undergo RT

PROCEDURE

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Undergo SLNB

PROCEDURE

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Undergo SPECT-CT

RADIATION

Technetium Tc 99m-labeled Tilmanocept

Given via injection

OTHER

Technetium Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid

Given via injection

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.

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07121595), the sponsor (University of Michigan Rogel 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 NCT07121595 clinical trial studying?

This phase II trial studies how well personalized neck radiation therapy directed by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) works in treating patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). SLNB can be performed as part of standard care for OCSCC. During SLNB, a radiotracer is injected around the tumor. The lymph nodes are then biopsied and tested to see if the tracer injected into the tumor traveled to and is present in the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Results of the SLNB are used to determine whether lymph nodes should be removed in both sides of the neck or just on the same side as th… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07121595?

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 NCT07121595?

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 NCT07121595. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07121595. 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.