New trial tests shorter radiation for head and neck cancer that has returned
NCT ID NCT03164460
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase II trial compares two types of radiation for people whose head and neck cancer has come back and cannot be removed with surgery. One method delivers high-dose radiation in fewer sessions, while the other uses standard daily doses over several weeks. The study aims to see which approach causes fewer severe side effects and better controls the cancer. It includes 68 participants with small tumors who have already had radiation before.
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 (stereotactic body radiation therapy or intensity-modulated radiation/proton therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this trial could show that a shorter, more precise radiation treatment is safer and works as well as standard radiation for people with recurrent head and neck cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial that is currently suspended. It only includes people with small tumors who cannot have surgery, so results may not apply to everyone. Radiation to previously treated areas carries risks of severe side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New radiation technique offers hope for head and neck cancer patients with few options
- New drug combo aims to boost immunotherapy for head and neck cancer