Can less radiation be just as effective for tough thyroid cancers?
NCT ID NCT07777536
First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial compares two radiation strategies for people with poorly differentiated or anaplastic thyroid cancer—rare and aggressive forms. One approach treats only the high-risk areas (selective coverage), while the other treats a larger region (comprehensive coverage). The goal is to see if the more focused treatment can control the cancer just as well, with potentially fewer side effects. The study includes adults who are candidates for radiation therapy, either after surgery or for inoperable disease.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Radiation therapy (selective coverage vs comprehensive coverage)
- What this could lead to
- If selective radiation works as well as broader radiation, patients could get shorter, more targeted treatment with fewer side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study. Selective radiation might miss microscopic disease, leading to higher recurrence rates. Results may not apply to all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 72 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years old * Pathologically confirmed as ATC, thyroid cancer containing ATC components, PDTC (in accordance with Turin criteria), or other thyroid cancers with poorly differentiated components, and the MDT considers the biological behavior similar to PDTC. * Evaluated by the MDT and proposed to receive external beam radiotherapy, including postoperative R0/R1, R2 gross residual, inoperable local lesion, and local recurrence. * ECOG performance status 0-2 * expected survival ≥ 3 months * major organ functions can meet the requirements for radiotherapy and the proposed systemic treatment. * The subject voluntarily participates in the study and signs a written informed consent form, willing to follow up according to the protocol and fill in the quality of life scale. Exclusion Criteria: * Has received radiotherapy to the head and neck or upper mediastinum region in the past, and the target area of this study overlaps significantly with it, and the normal tissue limit cannot be met. * Has severe uncontrolled infections, active bleeding, unaddressed airway crises, severe dysfunction of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or other diseases that cannot be safely treated with radiotherapy. * Pregnant or lactating women; women of childbearing age who do not agree to take effective contraceptive measures. * Has other active malignant tumors within 5 years or simultaneously (excluding cured localized tumors such as skin basal cell carcinoma, skin squamous cell carcinoma, superficial bladder cancer, prostate carcinoma in situ, cervical carcinoma in situ, breast carcinoma in situ, etc.) * Cannot complete radiotherapy fixation, simulation positioning or follow-up imaging assessment. * Other situations that the researcher deems unsuitable for participation in this study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Fudan Universtiy Shanghai Cancer Center
RECRUITINGShanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200032, China
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- Hidden thyroid cancers may be more common in Graves' disease than thought
- Can math make thyroid hormone therapy more precise?