Carbon Ion Versus Photon Re-Radiotherapy for Returning Head-and-Neck Cancer
Compares carbon ion and standard photon radiotherapy in adults with returning head-and-neck cancer.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Carbon Ion Re-Radiotherapy in Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Locally Advanced Head-and-Neck Cancer
Key facts
- Where
- Heidelberg and Marburg, GermanySee the 2 sites
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults whose head-and-neck cancer has come back or is growing after earlier radiation, and who need a second course of radiation.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- Women and men can join.
- Disease stage
- Head-and-neck cancer that came back or is progressing locally after the first radiation. Tumor cells remain, seen under the microscope or by eye, after salvage surgery. The wound from surgery must have healed.
- Earlier treatment
- Must have had radiation therapy before. At least 6 months must have passed since that radiation. Must have recovered from side effects of earlier treatments. The records of the earlier radiation must be handed in.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Cancer of the larynx (voice box) needing re-irradiation
- Plasmocytoma, sarcoma or chordoma
- Earlier re-irradiation of the same area
- Distant metastases (except in the lungs)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Germany
- University Hospital of Heidelberg, Radiation OncologyHeidelberg, GermanyTaking people
- Philips University MarburgMarburg, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University Hospital Heidelberg
- Trial code
- NCT04185974
- Record updated
- 25 March 2026
- Original description
After multimodal therapy of head-and-neck tumors, patients often develop local recurrence, locally progressive disease or second primary tumors. In this highly pre-treated patient cohort, therapeutic options are limited. Patients that are not candidates for salvage surgery may benefit from re-irradiation. Despite recent technical advances, re-irradiation is associated with severe side effects. Carbon ion Re-Radiotherapy (reCIRT) has shown encouraging results in retrospective analyses with moderate toxicity.Read full original descriptionShow less
Carbon Ion Re-Radiotherapy in Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Locally Advanced Head-and-Neck Cancer: A Phase-II Study to Evaluate Toxicity and Efficacy
After multimodal therapy of head-and-neck tumors, patients often develop local recurrence, locally progressive disease or second primary tumors. In this highly pre-treated patient cohort, therapeutic options are limited. Patients that are not candidates for salvage surgery may benefit from re-irradiation. Despite recent technical advances, re-irradiation is associated with severe side effects. Carbon ion Re-Radiotherapy (reCIRT) has shown encouraging results in retrospective analyses with moderate toxicity.
In the current Phase-II CARE-trial, reCIRT and conventional photon re-irradiation in patients with recurrent or progressive locally advanced head-and-neck cancer will be assessed regarding toxicity/ safety, local progression-free survival, overall survival and quality-of-life.
Inclusion: Locally recurrent / progressive head-and-neck cancer after initial radiation therapy; Microscopic or macroscopic tumor after salvage surgery; Indication for re-irradiation; Completed wound healing after surgical intervention; Karnofsky-Performance-Score ≥ 60; Age ≥ 18 years; Written informed consent (must be available before enrolment in the trial); Ability of subject to understand character and individual consequences of the trial; For women with childbearing potential, (and men) adequate contraception; Submission of previous radiotherapy records.
Exclusion: Previous re-irradiation in-field; Time interval < 6 months after initial radiotherapy; Patients who have not recovered from acute toxicities of prior therapies; Re-irradiation of malignancy in the larynx; Known carcinoma <5 years ago (excluding Carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) requiring immediate treatment interfering with study therapy; Diagnosed plasmocytoma, sarcoma or chordoma; Distant metastases (except pulmonary metastases); Refusal of the patients to take part in the study; Pregnant or lactating women; Participation in another clinical study or observation period of competing trials, respectively.