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Oropharyngeal CancerPhase 3CompARENCT04116047

CompARE: Escalating Treatment of Intermediate and High-risk Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC)

A Phase 3 study testing Cisplatin, Durvalumab and Radiotherapy in people with Oropharyngeal Cancer, run by University of Birmingham at 38 sites in 2 countries.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

CompARE is a multicentre, phase III open-label randomised controlled trial using an adaptive, Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage (MAMS) design. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Oropharyngeal Cancer
What is being tested?
Cisplatin, Durvalumab and Radiotherapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
785 participants
Where
38 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
Jul 2015to Dec 2030
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in base of tongue and tonsil with a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) recommendation for treatment with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy
  • All OPC T4 or N3 (HPV+ and HPV-) OR all HPV -ve (negative) OPC T1-T4, N1-N3 or T3-4, N0 OR HPV +ve (positive) OPC T1-T4 with N2b-N3 nodes AND who are smokers ≥ 10 pack years current or previous smoking history
  • Minimum life expectancy of 3 months
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • Adequate renal function, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >50ml/min calculated using Cockcroft-Gault formula
  • Adequate bone marrow function (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 109/L, haemoglobin ≥9.0g/dL and platelets ≥100 x 109/L)
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  • Adequate liver function i.e. plasma bilirubin ≤1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤2.5 x ULN
  • Prothrombin time (PT) ≤1.5 x ULN or International Normalised Ratio (INR) ≤1. 5
  • Magnesium ≥ lower limit of normal
  • No cancers in previous 5 years, except basal cell carcinoma of skin and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN)
  • Aged 18-70
  • Written informed consent given for the trial
  • Surgically resectable disease if being randomised to all four arms
  • Females must either be of non-reproductive potential (i.e. post-menopausal by history: ≥55 years old and no menses for ≥1 year without an alternative medical cause; or history of hysterectomy, or history of bilateral tubal ligation or history of bilateral oophorectomy) or must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry
  • Willingness to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including follow up

Who cannot join

  • All T1-T2,N0 OPC (HPV +ve or HPV-ve)
  • HPV positive patients who are:
  • T1-T3, N0-N2c non-smokers T1-T3, N0-N2c smokers with ≤10 pack years or T1-T2, N0-N2a smokers with ≥10 pack years
  • Unfit for chemoradiotherapy regimens
  • Creatinine Clearance <50ml/min
  • Treatment with any of the following, prior to randomisation:
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  • Any Investigational Medicinal Products (IMP) within 30 days
  • Any other chemotherapy, immunotherapy or anticancer agents within 3 weeks
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks
  • History of allergic reactions to any of the IMPs and excipients used in this trial
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, active peptic ulcer disease or gastritis, active bleeding diatheses including any subject known to have evidence of acute or chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or compromise the ability of the subject to give written informed consent
  • Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Women of child- bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to randomisation
  • Men or women who are not prepared to practise methods of contraception of proven efficacy during treatment and for 6 months following the end of treatment
  • Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results
  • Additional Exclusion Criteria for Arm 5 only:
  • Any previous treatment with PD-L or PD-L1 inhibitor, including durvalumab
  • Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first dose of durvalumab, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses, which are not to exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone, or an equivalent corticosteroid dose
  • Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders including inflammatory bowel disease e.g. colitis or Crohn's disease, diverticulitis (with the exception of diverticulosis), celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sarcoidosis syndrome, or Wegener syndrome (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis). The following are exceptions to this criterion:
  • Patients with vitiligo or alopecia
  • Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g. following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement
  • Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy
  • Patients without active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the study physician
  • Patients with an active non-infectious pneumonitis
  • History of primary immunodeficiency
  • History of allogeneic organ transplant
  • Known history of previous clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis
  • Receipt of live attenuated vaccination within 30 days prior to study entry or within 30 days of receiving durvalumab. Inactivated viruses, such as those in the influenza vaccine, are permitted

Trial locations and contacts

38 sites in 2 countries.

38 sites in 2 countries

United Kingdom36 sites
  • Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

    Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN

  • Royal United Hospital

    Bath, BA1 3NG

  • Belfast City Hospital

    Belfast, BT9 7AB

  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital

    Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TH

  • Bradford Royal Infirmary

    Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 6RJ

  • Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre

    Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8ED

  • Addenbrooke's Hospital

    Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

  • Velindre Cancer Centre

    Cardiff, Cardiff, CF14 2TL

  • Cheltenham General Hospital

    Cheltenham, GL53 7AN

  • Colchester General Hospital

    Colchester, Essex, CO4 5JL

  • Castle Hill Hospital

    Cottingham, East Yorkshire, HU16 5JQ

  • University Hospital Coventry

    Coventry, West Midlands, CV2 2DX

  • Western General Hospital

    Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU

  • Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

    Exeter, Devon, EX2 5DW

  • Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

    Glasgow, G12 0YN

  • St James's University Hospital

    Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7TF

  • Leicester Royal Infirmary

    Leicester, East Midlands, LE1 5WW

  • Aintree University Hospital

    Liverpool, L9 7AL

  • North Middlesex Hospital

    London, London, N18 1QX

  • Christie Hospital

    Manchester, M20 4BX

  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

    Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, CH63 4JY

  • James Cook University Hospital

    Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, TS4 3BW

  • Freeman Hospital

    Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE7 7DN

  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

    Norwich, NR4 7UY

  • Nottingham City Hospital

    Nottingham, Nottingham, NG5 1PB

  • Churchill Hospital

    Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 7LE

  • Derriford Hospital

    Plymouth

  • Royal Preston Hospital

    Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9HT

  • Queen's Hospital

    Romford, Essex, RM7 0AG

  • Weston Park Hospital

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2SJ

  • Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

    Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ

  • Singleton Hospital

    Swansea, Swansea, SA2 8QA

  • Musgrove Park Hospital

    Taunton, TA1 5DA

  • Torbay Hospital

    Torquay, TQ2 7AA

  • Newcross Hospital

    Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV10 OQP

  • York Hospital

    York, North Yorkshire, YO31 8HE

Other trials in United Kingdom

Ireland2 sites
  • St Luke's Hospital

    Dublin, Dublin 6

  • St James's Hospital

    Dublin, Dublin 8

Other trials in Ireland

About this study

Official title: Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Alternative Regimens for Escalating Treatment of Intermediate and High-risk Oropharyngeal Cancer

CompARE is a multicentre, phase III open-label randomised controlled trial using an adaptive, Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage (MAMS) design.

Read the detailed description

The CompARE Trial examines alternative regimens for escalating treatment of intermediate and high-risk oropharyngeal cancer in an adult patient population. The aim is to assess whether escalated radiotherapy, adding surgery or immunotherapy will improve overall survival and quality of life in these patients.

Being tested
Cisplatin, Durvalumab, Radiotherapy
Keywords
Oropharyngeal cancer, HPV
Medical subject headings
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms

What participants receive

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

  • CisplatinDrug

    Also called CDDP, Platinol

  • DurvalumabDrug

    Also called MEDI-4736, Imfinzi

  • RadiotherapyProcedure or surgery

Study groups in NCT04116047
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm 1 (control): chemoradiotherapyActive comparatorConcomitant chemoradiotherapy, 3-weekly cisplatin 100mg/m2 or weekly 40mg/m2 with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) using 70 gray (Gy) in 35F(fractions) +/- neck dissection as indicated by clinical and radiological assessment 3-months post treatment. This is the international gold standard.
Receives: Drug: Cisplatin; Procedure: Radiotherapy
Arm 5: Durvalumab + Arm 1ExperimentalOne dose of induction durvalumab 1500mg by intravenous (IV) infusion followed by arm 1 within four weeks. Within one-two weeks after the completion of arm 1, durvalumab 1500mg every four weeks will be initiated for a total of 6 months
Receives: Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: Durvalumab; Procedure: Radiotherapy

What is being measured

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

  1. Patient Overall survival (OS)

    defined as the interval in whole days between date of randomisation and date of death from any cause

    Measured: from randomisation until date of death from any cause (follow-up until 8 years post-treatment)

  2. Patient Event Free Survival (EFS)

    defined as the interval in whole days between date of randomisation until date of progression/persistence/recurrence/death

    Measured: From randomisation until date of progression/persistence/recurrence/death (follow-up until 8 years post-treatment)

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Number of Acute (<3 months post-treatment) toxicity events experienced

    Total number of acute (<3 months post-treatment) severe (grade 3-5) toxicity events experienced. Adverse events will be collected post-treatment and graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  2. Number of late (up to 2 years post-treatment) toxicity events experienced using CTCAE

    Severe (grade 3-5) adverse events will be collected up to 2 years post randomisation, these events will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 and version 3.0 for scoring mucositis.

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  3. Number of late (up to 2 years post-treatment) toxicity events experienced using RTOG

    Late and severe toxicity events at 2 years post randomisation,will be collected and graded using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  4. Head and neck specific quality of life at 2 years post-randomisation using EORTC C30

    Patients will complete the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) C30 questionnaire at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during the follow-up period until 2 years post-treatment

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  5. Head and neck specific Quality of Life at 2 years post-randomisation

    Patients will complete the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) H\&N35 questionnaire at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during the follow-up period until 2 years post-treatment

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  6. Swallowing outcomes assessed using MDADI Questionnaire at 24 months post-chemoradiotherapy

    Patients will complete the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) Questionnaire at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during the follow-up period until 2 years post-treatment

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  7. Levels of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) use

    PEG use will be assessed at baseline, throughout treatment and during 2 year follow-up period

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  8. Cost effectiveness of treatment as assessed using EuroQol Group (EQ-5D) questionnaire

    Patients will complete the EuroQol Group (EQ-5D) questionnaire at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during the follow-up period until 2 years post-treatment

    Measured: From date of randomisation until 2 year follow-up

  9. Surgical complication rates in each arm for patients who require a neck dissection at 4 months following the 3 month post-chemoradiotherapy assessment scan.

    Surgical complication rates will be assessed at trial visits if a neck dissection is required at 4 months post-chemotherapy

    Measured: At 4 months following the 3 month post-chemoradiotherapy scan

Timeline

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

  1. First posted4 Oct 2019
  2. Study startJul 2015
  3. Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2030 (estimated)

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
785 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04116047
Sponsor's protocol ID
RG 14-093
Other IDs
2014-003389-26, ISRCTN41478539, 2014
Acronym
CompARE
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
13 Aug 2018
Last updated
7 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Cisplatin, Durvalumab and Radiotherapy in people with Oropharyngeal Cancer, run by University of Birmingham at 38 sites in 2 countries.

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 15 inclusion and 27 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 38 sites in United Kingdom, Ireland. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Patient Overall survival (OS) (time frame: from randomisation until date of death from any cause (follow-up until 8 years post-treatment)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 7 May 2026.

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