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Quad Shot Versus Split Course Radiotherapy in Incurable Head and Neck Cancer
Sponsor: Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, Columbia
Summary
Head and neck cancer in its advanced, incurable stage causes severe symptoms such as pain, trouble swallowing, and bleeding. Palliative radiation therapy is frequently used to relieve these symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. Currently, a standard treatment approach is the "Split Course" regimen, which takes several weeks and can cause side effects that are difficult for patients to tolerate. This study aims to evaluate a shorter, alternative radiation treatment called "Quad Shot." The hypothesis of this study is that the Quad Shot regimen will be as effective as the Split Course regimen in shrinking the tumor and controlling local symptoms, but will offer a better quality of life by reducing the overall treatment time and the severity of side effects. To test this, researchers will assign participants by chance to receive either the Quad Shot or the Split Course regimen. The research team will closely monitor tumor response, treatment side effects, and patients' quality of life for up to six months.
Official title: Comparison of Two Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Regimens for the Palliative Management of Patients With Head and Neck Cancers: Quad Shot Versus Split Course
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2027-01-01
Completion Date
2028-12-31
Last Updated
2026-10-02
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Quad Shot Radiotherapy
A hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen delivering a dose of 14.8 Gy divided into 4 fractions. Each fraction is 3.7 Gy, administered twice a day (with an interval of at least 6 hours between fractions) for 2 consecutive days. This cycle can be repeated up to three times with a resting interval of 3 to 4 weeks between each cycle, provided there is no limiting toxicity or disease progression.
Split Course Radiotherapy
A fractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen administered in two phases. The total dose is 60 Gy divided into 20 daily fractions of 3 Gy each. A planned resting interval of 3 to 4 weeks is introduced between the two treatment phases to maximize symptom control while maintaining acceptable toxicity.