Pilot Study of the Elimination of Planning Tumor Volume (PTV) in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Summary

This clinical trial studies the side effects and how well removing the planning tumor volume (PTV) from radiation therapy (RT) works in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Standard therapy for HNSCC often involves giving RT with chemotherapy; however, this approach is associated with a high level of short- and long-term side effects. RT uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. RT is planned to be delivered based on three volumes of the tumor. The first is the gross tumor volume which is the area of the tumor that can be seen, felt, or measured on imaging. The second is the clinical tumor volume which includes the gross tumor volume as well as area beyond this to account for disease that cannot be seen on imaging and may have spread. The third is the PTV which includes an area beyond both the gross tumor volume and clinical tumor volume to account for errors that may happen during RT, such as setup error or movement. As the area between the clinical tumor volume and PTV is not cancer and current advances in RT have improved RT accuracy, researchers think that removing PTV from RT may lower side effects while still being an effective treatment. Removing the PTV from RT may safe, tolerable, and/or effective in treating patients with HNSCC.

Description