Optimising Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancers Using Functional Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Novel Biomarkers

Optimising Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancers Using Functional Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Novel Biomarkers

This is a non-randomised study to develop personalised treatment approaches in participants with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) of the oropharynx and base of skull by integrating the use of MR-guided Adaptive Radiotherapy (MRgRT) and functional image-guided radiotherapy (FIgRT).

The study is made up of two parts:

1. Feasibility planning study consisting of a total of 13 patients. This will include patients with either Human papilomavirus-associated (HPV-associated) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), Human papilomavirus-negative (HPV-negative) OPC or Base of Skull HNC.

2. Single centre prospective interventional phase I/II study (main study) made up of 3 independent arms (on the condition of success of the feasibility stage).

   1. Cohort 1: HPV-associated OPC consisting of 25 participants
   2. Cohort 2: HPV-negative OPC consisting of a minimum of 10 patients and a maximum of 53 participants
   3. Cohort 3: Base of Skull HNC consisting of 25 participants

This study is looking at improving radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancers by:

1. Repeating the radiotherapy planning scan at weeks 2 and 4 of treatment so that investigators can adapt the radiotherapy to changes to the shape of the cancer and the patient's body. These changes can affect the accuracy and the radiotherapy doses delivered.
2. Using a MR (magnetic resonance) scans to view and target the cancer with more precision.
3. Identifying HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer who are non-responders and increasing the radiotherapy dose.

The 3 groups of patients are:

1. Cancers of the oropharynx (middle of the throat) that test positive for HPV (human papilloma virus). If HPV is present, the cancer responds better to treatment and there is a higher chance of cure. In this group, the investigators aim is to reduce radiotherapy associated long-term side effects by sparing healthy tissue from high doses.
2. If the oropharyngeal cancers test negative for HPV, they are less likely to respond well to treatment. The investigator's department has shown that investigators can predict which patients will respond to treatment using a special type of MR scan. Investigators will increase the dose of radiotherapy to HPV negative patients who are predicted to be non-responders with the aim of improving the chance of cure.
3. Cancers that located at the base of the skull are not seen very well on CT scan. By using MR imaging, investigators can visualize the surrounding normal organs and the cancer better, target the cancer with more precision and adapt to changes to the healthy organs and tumour.

Investigators will also test if they can predict response to treatment by checking blood for fragments of the cancer and using a special MRI.

The study will be conducted at the Royal Marsden in Sutton only and will be followed up for 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

Feasibility study and Main Study:

• Participants with stage III/IV ((American Joint Committee (AJC) Tumour, Nodes, Metastasis (TMN) on Cancer Version 7)) head and neck cancer planned for primary radical chemo-radiotherapy OR induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy with concomitant platinum-based chemotherapy.
• Age between 18 and 70 years.
• Participant can provide informed consent.
• World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status 0 - 1.
• Creatinine Clearance >50ml/minute
• Absolute Neutrophil Count ≥1.5 x10^9/L
• Platelets ≥100 x10^9/L
• Haemoglobin ≥90g/L

Feasibility Study:

- Participants with either HPV associated OPC, HPV negative OPC or Base of Skull HNC.

Low Risk HPV associated OPC:

• T1-3, N0-2c (AJCC 7th Edition, stage III and above)
• Participants with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• p16 positive (defined as >70% cells staining positive)
• <10 year pack smoking history

HPV Associated OPC:

• Patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• T1-3,N0-2c (AJCC 7th Edition, stage III and above) with ≥10 pack/ year smoking history
• p16 positive
• Any T4 and/or N3 regardless of smoking history
• Primary tumour size </=5cm

HPV negative OPC, hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer:

• Patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• T1-4,N0-3 (AJCC 7th edition, stage III and above)
• p16 negative (if OPC)
• Primary tumour size </=5cm

Base of skull Head and Neck Cancer:

- Participants with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck (sinonasal and nasopharynx)

Exclusion Criteria:

• WHO performance status >=2.
• Participants with any previous malignancy except non-melanoma skin cancer.
• Participants with prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region
• Participants with contraindications to MRI scan.
• Participants with contraindications to IV contrast agents.
• Participants with renal failure