Proton beam vs. standard radiation: which is gentler on head and neck cancer patients?

NCT ID NCT02923570

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compares proton beam radiation to standard photon radiation (IMRT) for people with head and neck cancer. The goal is to see if proton therapy causes fewer side effects, like painful mouth sores, by exposing less healthy tissue to radiation. About 108 adults with certain cancers (salivary gland, skin, melanoma, or head and neck) will be randomly assigned to one of the two radiation types.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma melanoma salivary gland cancer skin cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Baptist Alliance MCI

Miami, Florida, 33143, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States

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