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De-Intensified Disease Response Guided Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Patients with HPV-Positive Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

Trial Status: active

This phase II trial tests how well de-intensification (decrease in dosage), disease response guided radiotherapy works in treating patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Radiation is part of an effective treatment of HPV-positive oropharyngeal (head and neck) squamous cell cancer. External beam radiation therapy uses high energy protons to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The current standard of care involves radiation to both the affected tumor area and the entire area of neck lymph nodes. When treated with radiation, the chance of the cancer coming back (recurrence) is low. However, the amount (or dose) of radiation to the neck that is usually given can cause many unpleasant side effects such as pain, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and loss of taste. Lower doses of radiation may reduce the intensity of some of the unpleasant side effects previously described. Similarly, focusing standard doses of radiation to specific targets rather than the entire tissue area may also reduce the intensity of side effects with little impact to the effectiveness of the treatment in patients with HPV-positive squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.