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Nasopharyngeal CarcinomaPhase 3NCT02633202

Concurrent Chemotherapy for the Intermediate Risk Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Era

A Phase 3 study testing IMRT and Cisplatin in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Currently, concurrent chemoradiotherapy with/without sequential chemotherapy is the standard treatment modality for intermediate risk NPC (stage II and T3N0M0) according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
What is being tested?
IMRT and Cisplatin
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
338 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
Nov 2015to 11 Oct 2021
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients with newly histologically confirmed non-keratinizing (according to WHO histologically type.
  • Tumor staged as T1-2N1/T2-3N0(according to the 7th AJCC edition).
  • No evidence of distant metastasis (M0).
  • Satisfactory performance status: Karnofsky scale (KPS) ≥ 70.
  • Adequate marrow: leucocyte count ≥ 4000/μL, hemoglobin ≥ 120g/L for male, ≥ 120g/L for female , and platelet count ≥ 100000/μL.
  • Normal liver function test: Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) < 1.5×upper limit of normal (ULN) concomitant with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5×ULN, and bilirubin ≤ ULN.
  • Adequate renal function: creatinine clearance ≥ 60 ml/min.
  • Patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and give written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Neck lymph node with extracapsular spread. Maximal axial diameter of neck lymph node ≥30mm, positive neck lymph node at level IV and/or Vb.
  • Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA level ≥4000 copy/ml.
  • WHO Type keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma or basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Age > 65 or < 18.
  • Treatment with palliative intent.
  • Prior malignancy except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Pregnancy or lactation (consider pregnancy test in women of child-bearing age and emphasize effective contraception during the treatment period).
  • History of previous RT (except for non-melanomatous skin cancers outside intended RT treatment volume).
  • Prior chemotherapy or surgery (except diagnostic) to primary tumor or nodes.
  • Any severe intercurrent disease, which may bring unacceptable risk or affect the compliance of the trial, for example, unstable cardiac disease requiring treatment, renal disease, chronic hepatitis, diabetes with poor control (fasting plasma glucose > 1.5×ULN), and emotional disturbance

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Prospective Non-inferior Clinical Trial Comparing Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy or Radiotherapy Alone in Patients With Intermediate Risk Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Era

Currently, concurrent chemoradiotherapy with/without sequential chemotherapy is the standard treatment modality for intermediate risk NPC (stage II and T3N0M0) according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline. However these recommendations were based on the evidence in the two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2DCRT) era. The introduction of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in NPC treatment has brought substantial better treatment outcomes than 2DCRT. It has been questioned whether additional concurrent chemotherapy is still necessary for intermediate risk NPC within the excellent framework of IMRT. Thus, the investigators jointly conduct the first non-inferior randomized trial to determine the value of concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin for intermediate risk NPC patients treated with IMRT. Given the results of clinical studies mentioned above,the investigators decide to adopt the concurrent regimen to be cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1, 22, 43

Read the detailed description

Currently, concurrent chemoradiotherapy with/without sequential chemotherapy is the standard treatment modality for intermediate risk NPC (stage II and T3N0M0) according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline. However these recommendations were based on the evidence in the two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2DCRT) era. The introduction of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in NPC treatment has brought substantial better treatment outcomes than 2DCRT. It has been questioned whether additional concurrent chemotherapy is still necessary for intermediate risk NPC within the excellent framework of IMRT. Thus, the investigators jointly conduct the first non-inferior randomized trial to determine the value of concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin for intermediate risk NPC patients treated with IMRT. Given the results of clinical studies mentioned above, the investigators decide to adopt the concurrent regimen to be cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1, 22, 43

Being tested
IMRT, Cisplatin
Keywords
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Concurrent chemoradiotherapy, intermediate risk, intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Medical subject headings
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • IMRTRadiation

    Also called Intensity-modulated radiation therapy

    Intensity modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT) is given as 2.0-2.20 Gy per fraction with five daily fractions per week for 6-7 weeks to a total dose of 66 Gy or greater to the primary tumor

  • CisplatinDrug

    Also called Concurrent cisplatin regimen

    concurrently with cisplatin 100 mg/m² every 3 weeks for 3 cycles during IMRT

Study groups in NCT02633202
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
RT groupExperimentalintensity modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT) alone: Patients receive intensity modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT) alone
Receives: Radiation: IMRT
CCRT groupActive comparatorIMRT and concurrent cisplatin Patients receive intensity modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT), concurrently with cisplatin 100 mg/m² every 3 weeks for 3 cycles
Receives: Radiation: IMRT; Drug: Cisplatin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Failure-free survival

    The failure-free survival rate will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method for each arm from the date of randomization to the date of treatment failure or death from any cause, whichever is first. Their differences will be compared between treatment arms using the log-rank test.

    Measured: 3 Year

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Overall survival

    The overall survival rate will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method for each arm from randomization to death from any cause. Their differences will be compared between treatment arms using the log-rank test.

    Measured: 3 Year

  2. Locoregional failure-free survival

    The locoregional failure-free survival will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method for each arm from randomization to the first locoregional failure. Their differences will be compared between treatment arms using the log-rank test.

    Measured: 3 Year

  3. Distant failure-free survival

    The distant failure-free survival will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method for each arm from randomization to the first remote failure. Their differences will be compared between treatment arms using the log-rank test.

    Measured: 3 Year

  4. Rates of participants with adverse events

    Acute and late toxicities will be documented according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 and/or the Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Rates of the toxicities will be estimated using a binomial distribution along and will be compared using Fisher's exact test between the 2 treatment arms.

    Measured: 3 Year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Dec 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study startNov 2015
  3. Primary completion4 Aug 2020
  4. Study completion11 Oct 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
338 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02633202
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRNPC15
Status last verified
Dec 2018
First submitted
3 Dec 2015
Last updated
24 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Chua DT, Sham JS, Kwong DL, Au GK. Treatment outcome after radiotherapy alone for patients with Stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. 2003 Jul 1;98(1):74-80. doi: 10.1002/cncr.11485.

    PubMed 12833458
  • Xiao WW, Han F, Lu TX, Chen CY, Huang Y, Zhao C. Treatment outcomes after radiotherapy alone for patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Jul 15;74(4):1070-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.09.008. Epub 2009 Feb 21.

    PubMed 19231110
  • Chen QY, Wen YF, Guo L, Liu H, Huang PY, Mo HY, Li NW, Xiang YQ, Luo DH, Qiu F, Sun R, Deng MQ, Chen MY, Hua YJ, Guo X, Cao KJ, Hong MH, Qian CN, Mai HQ. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy alone in stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma: phase III randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 Dec 7;103(23):1761-70. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr432. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

    PubMed 22056739
  • Song CH, Wu HG, Heo DS, Kim KH, Sung MW, Park CI. Treatment outcomes for radiotherapy alone are comparable with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2008 Apr;118(4):663-70. doi: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e3181626cfe.

    PubMed 18216741
  • Chua DT, Ma J, Sham JS, Mai HQ, Choy DT, Hong MH, Lu TX, Au GK, Min HQ. Improvement of survival after addition of induction chemotherapy to radiotherapy in patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Subgroup analysis of two Phase III trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Aug 1;65(5):1300-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.02.016. Epub 2006 Jun 5.

    PubMed 16750333
  • Xu T, Hu C, Wang X, Shen C. Role of chemoradiotherapy in intermediate prognosis nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oral Oncol. 2011 May;47(5):408-13. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.03.008. Epub 2011 Apr 2.

    PubMed 21459659
  • Lai SZ, Li WF, Chen L, Luo W, Chen YY, Liu LZ, Sun Y, Lin AH, Liu MZ, Ma J. How does intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy influence the treatment results in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2011 Jul 1;80(3):661-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.03.024. Epub 2010 Jul 17.

    PubMed 20643517
  • Peng G, Wang T, Yang KY, Zhang S, Zhang T, Li Q, Han J, Wu G. A prospective, randomized study comparing outcomes and toxicities of intensity-modulated radiotherapy vs. conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Radiother Oncol. 2012 Sep;104(3):286-93. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2012.08.013. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

    PubMed 22995588
  • Lee AW, Ng WT, Chan LL, Hung WM, Chan CC, Sze HC, Chan OS, Chang AT, Yeung RM. Evolution of treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer--success and setback in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy era. Radiother Oncol. 2014 Mar;110(3):377-84. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.02.003. Epub 2014 Mar 11.

    PubMed 24630534
  • Su SF, Han F, Zhao C, Chen CY, Xiao WW, Li JX, Lu TX. Long-term outcomes of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy alone. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Jan 1;82(1):327-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.09.011. Epub 2010 Oct 29.

    PubMed 21035959
  • Tham IW, Lin S, Pan J, Han L, Lu JJ, Wee J. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy without concurrent chemotherapy for stage IIb nasopharyngeal cancer. Am J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;33(3):294-9. doi: 10.1097/COC.0b013e3181d2edab.

    PubMed 20395788
  • Luo S, Zhao L, Wang J, Xu M, Li J, Zhou B, Xiao F, Long X, Shi M. Clinical outcomes for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma with predominantly WHO II histology treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy in nonendemic region of China. Head Neck. 2014 Jun;36(6):841-7. doi: 10.1002/hed.23386. Epub 2013 Oct 4.

    PubMed 23720240
  • Zhang F, Zhang Y, Li WF, Liu X, Guo R, Sun Y, Lin AH, Chen L, Ma J. Efficacy of Concurrent Chemotherapy for Intermediate Risk NPC in the Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Era: a Propensity-Matched Analysis. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 27;5:17378. doi: 10.1038/srep17378.

    PubMed 26611462
  • Tang LL, Guo R, Zhang N, Deng B, Chen L, Cheng ZB, Huang J, Hu WH, Huang SH, Luo WJ, Liang JH, Zheng YM, Zhang F, Mao YP, Li WF, Zhou GQ, Liu X, Chen YP, Xu C, Lin L, Liu Q, Du XJ, Zhang Y, Sun Y, Ma J. Effect of Radiotherapy Alone vs Radiotherapy With Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy on Survival Without Disease Relapse in Patients With Low-risk Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022 Aug 23;328(8):728-736. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.13997.

    PubMed 35997729

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing IMRT and Cisplatin in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Failure-free survival (time frame: 3 Year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02633202, which also lists 14 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Apr 2026.

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