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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Omission of Postoperative Radiation in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Using ctHPVDNA Surveillance (OPERATION)

Omission of Immediate Postoperative Radiation in Patients With Intermediate Pathological Risk Features and Negative Two-Week Post-Operative ctHPVDNA (OPERATION Trial)

Omission of Postoperative Radiation in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Using ctHPVDNA Surveillance (OPERATION) (NCT07513389) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina. 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 single-arm Phase II trial evaluates whether omission of postoperative radiotherapy is feasible and oncologically safe in select patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC). Eligible patients undergo transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and are observed without adjuvant radiation if they demonstrate low or intermediate pathological risk features and have negative circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) two weeks post-operatively. Patients are followed with standard clinical surveillance combined with serial ctHPVDNA testing (NavDx®) to facilitate early detection of recurrence and prompt salvage therapy as needed.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against 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.

With a target enrollment of 36 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Provision of signed and dated willing to sign a consent form form. - Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study. - Male or female, ≥ 18 years of age (no upper age limit). - Biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma. - p16 positive (diffuse ≥ 70% tumor cell expression, with at least moderate (2/3+ staining intensity). - NavDx positive, HPV16 TTMV only. - AJCC 8th edition cT0-2 N1 M0. - Well lateralized tonsil (\>1 cm from midline, tonsil, base of tongue, glossotonsillar sulcus primary tumors. - ≤ 2 lymph nodes, each ≤ 3cm, -OR- 1 lymph node \>3 but \< 6 cm. - ≤10 pack-years of cigarette smoking or no cigarette smoking for ≥ 5 years (regardless of pack years). - Anatomically (e.g. adequate exposure) and physically amenable to TORS per the judgement of the operating surgeon. - Radiologic confirmation of the absence of hematogenous metastasis within 12 weeks prior to surgery; at a minimum CT imaging of the chest. PET/CT is acceptable. - You should be able to carry out daily activities with 0 level of ability (ECOG 0)-1. - CBC with differential obtained within 8 weeks prior to surgery, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows: - platelet count at least 100,000 cells/mm3 - blood count (hemoglobin) at least 9.0 g/dl (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 9.0 g/dl is acceptable. Transfusion must be completed within 2 to 4 weeks prior to enrollment.) - Adequate renal and hepatic function within 8 weeks prior to surgery, defined as follows: - Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dl. - Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x the institutional ULN. - Negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to surgery for women of childbearing potential. - Eligible for platinum chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs allowed: cisplatin, carboplatin/paclitaxel, carboplatin/abraxane, per treating physician (cisplatin preferred, 2nd preference carboplatin/paclitaxel or carboplatin/abraxane). ...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: * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form. * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study. * Male or female, ≥ 18 years of age (no upper age limit). * Biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma. * p16 positive (diffuse ≥ 70% tumor cell expression, with at least moderate (2/3+ staining intensity). * NavDx positive, HPV16 TTMV only. * AJCC 8th edition cT0-2 N1 M0. * Well lateralized tonsil (\>1 cm from midline, tonsil, base of tongue, glossotonsillar sulcus primary tumors. * ≤ 2 lymph nodes, each ≤ 3cm, -OR- 1 lymph node \>3 but \< 6 cm. * ≤10 pack-years of cigarette smoking or no cigarette smoking for ≥ 5 years (regardless of pack years). * Anatomically (e.g. adequate exposure) and physically amenable to TORS per the judgement of the operating surgeon. * Radiologic confirmation of the absence of hematogenous metastasis within 12 weeks prior to surgery; at a minimum CT imaging of the chest. PET/CT is acceptable. * ECOG Performance Status 0-1. * CBC with differential obtained within 8 weeks prior to surgery, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows: * Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dl (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 9.0 g/dl is acceptable. Transfusion must be completed within 2 to 4 weeks prior to enrollment.) * Adequate renal and hepatic function within 8 weeks prior to surgery, defined as follows: * Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dl. * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x the institutional ULN. * Negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to surgery for women of childbearing potential. * Eligible for platinum chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs allowed: cisplatin, carboplatin/paclitaxel, carboplatin/abraxane, per treating physician (cisplatin preferred, 2nd preference carboplatin/paclitaxel or carboplatin/abraxane). * For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional year after surgery per MD discretion. Acceptable forms of birth control include hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, skin patch, vaginal ring, injection, and/or implant), intrauterine devices (IUDs), and barrier devices (such as condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, and sponge). Exclusion Criteria: * Prior history of surgery to the head and neck that in the opinion of the investigators would modify prognostic significance of pathology results. * Prior history of radiation therapy to the head and neck, with the exception of skin cancer treated with a small (≤ 9cm3) field with 6 - 9 MeV electron beam or 50 - 250 kVp photon beam. * Prior history within 5 years of cancer with the exception of: * Basal cell carcinoma of the skin * Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, stage 1-2 * Prostate cancer without distant metastases (stage M0) * Thyroid cancer without distant metastases (stage M0) * Prior history of squamous cell carcinoma of a mucosal site in the head or neck treated with surgery alone. * Currently taking Disease Modifying Rheumatoid Drugs (DMRDs) or immunosuppressive medication, for example as for organ transplant or multiple sclerosis. * Current smoker or tobacco user. * Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as one or more of the following: * Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring inpatient hospitalization within the last 6 months. * Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months. * Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration. * Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration * Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects. \--- Note, however, coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol. * Evidence of active systemic lupus or scleroderma. * Psoriatic arthritis. * Known HIV positivity. HIV positive patients are known to have worse clinical outcomes especially for local, regional, and distant cancer control. This poorer prognosis is thought to be secondary to a compromised immune system. Thus, de-intensification of radiation and chemotherapy is not justifiable in this population. \-- Note: HIV testing at the time of enrollment is not required. * Subjects of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method to avoid pregnancy for the entire study period and for the immediate post-op period (1-2 weeks). Females will be determined to be not of child-bearing potential with a history of hysterectomy or with postmenopausal status of \>12 months. * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive within the projected duration of the study, starting one month prior to screening and for one year after surgery per MD discretion. * Prisoners or subjects who are involuntarily incarcerated, or subjects who are compulsorily detained for treatment of either a psychiatric or physical illness.

Treatments Being Tested

OTHER

Active Surveillance With ctHPVDNA (NavDx®)

Active surveillance without postoperative radiation using routine clinical follow-up and serial ctHPVDNA testing to detect recurrence.

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.

Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07513389), the sponsor (Medical University of South Carolina), 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 NCT07513389 clinical trial studying?

This single-arm Phase II trial evaluates whether omission of postoperative radiotherapy is feasible and oncologically safe in select patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC). Eligible patients undergo transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and are observed without adjuvant radiation if they demonstrate low or intermediate pathological risk features and have negative circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) two weeks post-operatively. Patients are followed with standard clinical surveillance combined with serial ctHPVDNA testing (NavDx®) to facilitate early detection… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07513389?

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 NCT07513389?

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 NCT07513389. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07513389. 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.