New shorter radiation regimen aims to cut treatment time for head and neck cancer patients

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 * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage II-IVA head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AJCC 8th edition), including oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, or cervical lymph node metastasis from unknown primary * R0 resection and standard neck dissection per surgical evaluation * Negative surgical margins and no extranodal extension in metastatic lymph nodes on postoperative pathology * Presence of at least one intermediate-risk factor: close margins (\<5 mm), pT3-4, pN2, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, poor differentiation, or for oral cavity cancer T2 with depth of invasion \>5 mm * Adequate organ function (without blood transfusion or growth factors within 14 days): * White blood cell count ≥ 2.0 × 10\^9/L * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 × 10\^9/L * Platelet count ≥ 80 × 10\^9/L * Hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L * Willing and able to comply with study and follow-up procedures * Voluntary participation with written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Prior radiotherapy or surgery to the head and neck region * Primary head and neck cancer arising from other sites such as paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, glottic larynx, skin, or salivary glands * Concurrent other anti-tumor therapy * Prior neoadjuvant drug therapy * Evidence of tumor progression on imaging within 28 days before enrollment * History of severe infection within 1 month before enrollment, including but not limited to infection complications requiring hospitalization, bacteremia, severe pneumonia; any active infection, or unexplained fever \>38.5°C during screening or before first dose * Severe cardiovascular disease: grade II or higher myocardial ischemia or infarction, uncontrolled arrhythmia (including QTc interval ≥450 ms for males or ≥470 ms for females); New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV heart failure, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50% on echocardiography * History of other malignancy within 5 years (except adequately treated in situ cervical cancer or basal cell/squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) * History of psychoactive substance abuse that cannot be abstained from, or mental disorders