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NCT06088381RecruitingPhase 2

Selective Adjuvant Therapy for HPV-mediated Oropharynx SCCs Based on Residual Circulating Tumor DNA Levels (SAVAL)

A Single Arm Phase II Trial Evaluating Selective Adjuvant Therapy for HPV-mediated Oropharynx SCCs Based on Residual Circulating Tumor DNA Levels (SAVAL)

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 10 Nov 2025

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer generally have favorable outcomes and how well they do depends on the specific details about the patient and their cancer. How well they do isn't as related to the kinds of treatment they get. However, there are significant side effects for the various types of treatments they may get. Because these patients generally have favorable outcomes no matter the kind of treatment, reducing side effects should be a priority when choosing their treatment. The goal of this clinical research study is to evaluate whether a new blood test called a Circulating Tumor DNA test (ctDNA test) can decrease the number of people that require radiation after surgery. This blood test is often elevated in people when they are diagnosed with head and neck cancer. There are studies that show that cancer most often returns when this blood test is positive after treatment. This study will test patients' blood before and after surgery. In cases where the test is negative after surgery, people on the study will not receive radiation unless they are considered high risk based on surgery findings. The hope is that radiation and its potential side effects can be limited to only people that need the treatment.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Phase (registry)
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
61 (estimated)
First submitted
28 Sept 2023
Start date
7 Mar 2024
Primary completion date
18 Dec 2028
Lead sponsor
University of Maryland, Baltimore
NCT number
NCT06088381

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional · Phase 2
  • Planned participants: 61
  • From 7 Mar 2024 to the primary completion date, 18 Dec 2028
  • 5 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Did the patient have prior systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer (prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable)?
  • Did the patient have prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields?
  • Does the patient have an active drug or alcohol dependency that in the opinion of the investigator would limit compliance with study requirements?
  • Is the patient pregnant or nursing (an exception will be made for nursing patients that are not receiving chemotherapy)?

Other illness

  • Does the patient have cancer considered to be from an oral cavity site (oral tongue, floor mouth, alveolar ridge, buccal or lip), nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx?
  • Does the patient have prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer and low/intermediate risk prostate cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years?
  • Did the patient have prior cancer related surgeries of the head and neck excluding superficial removal of cutaneous skin malignancies?
  • Does the patient have any co-morbid condition or concern that may interfere with follow up per experimental arm?

Other

  • Does the patient have distant metastasis?

Who the study is looking for

  • Is there pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of p16+ squamous cell carcinoma (including the histological variants papillary squamous cell carcinoma and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma) of the oropharynx or p16+ squamous cell carcinoma unknown primary? Note: specimen from cervical lymph nodes with a well-defined primary site documented clinically or radiologically is acceptable; in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary this will be sufficient for pathologic confirmation without a clinically or radiographically defined primary site.
  • Does the patient have clinical stage T0-3, N0-N1, and M0 disease (AJCC 8th edition) as defined by physical examination and appropriate imaging (PET/CT preferred, CT neck with IV contrast with CT chest without contrast as recommended alternative to PET/CT) with imaging within 60 days of enrollment?
  • Has the patient completed a ctDNA evaluation with results demonstrating positive ctDNA levels prior to surgery either in blood or on biopsy tissue?
  • Upon multi-disciplinary review, is the patient a candidate for TORS based on evaluation by ear, nose, throat (ENT) and review at multi-disciplinary tumor board?
  • Was a general history and physical examination performed by a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or head and neck surgeon within 60 days prior to registration?
  • Was the patient's Zubrod Performance Status 0-1 within 30 days prior to registration?
  • Is the patient ≥ 18 years of age?
  • If a woman of child-bearing potential or sexually active male, is the patient willing to use effective contraception throughout their participation in the treatment phase of the study and at least 180 days following the last study treatment.
  • Did the patient provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry, including consent for mandatory submission of tissue for required p16 review?

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (5)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Maryland Proton Treatment Center
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
BaltimoreUnited StatesRecruiting
University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
BaltimoreUnited StatesRecruiting
Upper Chesapeake Health
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Bel AirUnited StatesNot yet recruiting
Central Maryland Radiation Oncology
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
ColumbiaUnited StatesNot yet recruiting
Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Glen BurnieUnited StatesNot yet recruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.