Looks at radiation treatment for older adults with head and neck cancer
Reviews outcomes of older adults with head and neck cancer after radiation.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Special Care Patterns for Elderly HNSCC Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy
Key facts
- Where
- Berlin, Erlangen, Frankfurt, Giessen, Halle, Jena, Kiel, Leipzig, Mainz, Munich, and Würzburg, GermanySee the 11 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 people aged 65 or older who had definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy for locally advanced head-and-neck squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx.
- Age
- 65 years or older at the time of (chemo-)radiotherapy
- Sex
- All sexes
- Disease stage
- Locoregionally advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (cT3-4 and/or cN+) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx
- Earlier treatment
- Definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy as primary treatment since 2005
Main reasons for not taking part
- Adjuvant (chemo-)radiotherapy
- Earlier head-and-neck cancer or radiotherapy in the head-and-neck region
- Distant metastases when (chemo-)radiotherapy started (cM1)
- Cancer of the nasopharynx, salivary glands or skin, or unknown primary
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Germany
- Department of Radiooncology and Radiotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlin, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NürnbergErlangen, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe-University Frankfurt am MainFrankfurt, GermanyNo longer taking part
- University of GiessenGiessen, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Martin Luther Universitat Halle-WittenbergHalle, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Jena University HospitalJena, GermanyTaking people
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-HolsteinKiel, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center LeipzigLeipzig, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center MainzMainz, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU MunichMunich, GermanyNo longer taking part
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyNo longer taking part
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 Freiburg
- Trial code
- NCT05337631
- Record updated
- 25 March 2025
- Original description
The number of elderly head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is increasing; however, the evidence regarding the ideal treatment for this often vulnerable and frail patient cohort is limited. Although the benefit of concomitant chemotherapy has been reported to decrease in elderly HNSCC patients based on the MACH-NC meta-analysis, it remains unknown whether state-of-the art radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), modern supportive treatments and alternative chemotherapy fractionation (e.g., cisplatin weekly) may have altered this observation. The objective of this retrospective multinational multicenter study is to determine the oncological outcomes of elderly patients (≥65 years) with locally advanced HNSCCs undergoing definitive (chemo-)radiation and to investigate the influence of concomitant chemotherapy on overall survival and progression-free survival after adjusting for potential confounder variables such as age, performance status and comorbidity burden.Read full original descriptionShow less
Special Care Patterns for Elderly HNSCC Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy
The number of elderly head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is increasing; however, the evidence regarding the ideal treatment for this often vulnerable and frail patient cohort is limited. Although the benefit of concomitant chemotherapy has been reported to decrease in elderly HNSCC patients based on the MACH-NC meta-analysis, it remains unknown whether state-of-the art radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), modern supportive treatments and alternative chemotherapy fractionation (e.g., cisplatin weekly) may have altered this observation. The objective of this retrospective multinational multicenter study is to determine the oncological outcomes of elderly patients (≥65 years) with locally advanced HNSCCs undergoing definitive (chemo-)radiation and to investigate the influence of concomitant chemotherapy on overall survival and progression-free survival after adjusting for potential confounder variables such as age, performance status and comorbidity burden.
Inclusion: definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy of locoregionally advanced (cT3-4 and/or cN+) head-and-neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx; primary treatment since 2005; age ≥65 years at the time of (chemo-)radiotherapy.
Exclusion: adjuvant (chemo-)radiotherapy; history of previous head-and-neck cancers or radiotherapy in the head-and-neck region; distant metastases at (chemo-)radiotherapy initiation (cM1); HNSCCs of the nasopharynx, salivary glands, skin or with unknown primary.