Blood test may let some throat cancer patients skip radiation after surgery

NCT ID NCT07513389

First seen Apr 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 13 times

Summary

This study is for people with HPV-related throat cancer who have surgery to remove the tumor. Normally, many would also get radiation afterward to lower the risk of cancer coming back. But radiation has side effects. This trial tests whether patients with a negative blood test two weeks after surgery can safely skip radiation and instead be monitored with regular blood tests and checkups. If the blood test shows cancer returning, they can get treatment then. The goal is to see if this approach keeps cancer under control while avoiding unnecessary radiation.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    RECRUITING

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

active surveillance with ctHPVDNA blood test (NavDx)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could allow many throat cancer patients to avoid the side effects of radiation after surgery, relying on a simple blood test to catch any return of cancer early.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 36 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. There is a risk that skipping radiation could allow cancer to return before the blood test detects it.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

human papilloma virus infection human papillomavirus-related squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.