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Mouth NeoplasmsSECOND N0NCT05774483

Sentinel Node Biopsy Versus Limited Elective Neck Dissection in Early Cancers of Oral Cavity NoDe Negative

A study testing Sentinel Node Biopsy and Limited Elective Neck Dissection in people with Mouth Neoplasms and Oral Cancers, run by Tata Memorial Hospital at 3 sites in India.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the survival outcomes, morbidity and cost-effectiveness of sentinel node biopsy versus limited elective neck dissection in node-negative early oral cancers. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
What is being tested?
Sentinel Node Biopsy and Limited Elective Neck Dissection
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
508 participants
Where
3 sitesIndia
Study dates
16 Apr 2025to Apr 2034
Phase
Interventional
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 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age >18 years of age
  • Biopsy-proven invasive squamous cell carcinoma involving the site tongue and buccal mucosa
  • T1 and T2 lesions as per AJCC TNM 8 edition
  • Clinicoradiologically node negative
  • Amenable to per oral excision
  • Treatment naïve
  • No other site of malignancy

Who cannot join

  • Previous surgery in the head and neck region,
  • Upper alveolar or palatal lesions
  • Large heterogeneous leukoplakia or other premalignant lesions
  • Previous malignancy in the head and neck region
  • Patients requiring the free flap reconstruction

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Richa Vaish, MS, M.Ch contact

02224177000 ext. 7238

drvaishricha@gmail.com

India3 sites, 3 recruiting
  • Tata Memorial Hospital

    Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012

    Richa Vaish, MS, M.Ch, 022-24177000 ext. 7238, drvaishricha@gmail.com

    Recruiting
  • ACTREC

    Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

    Richa Vaish, MS, M.Ch, 022-24177000, drvaishricha@gmail.com

    Not yet recruiting
  • Mpmmcc & Hbch

    Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

    Aseem Mishra, MS, M.Ch, 0542-6917700, draseemmishra@gmail.com

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in India

About this study

Official title: Sentinel Node Biopsy Versus Limited Elective Neck Dissection in Early Cancers of Oral Cavity NoDe Negative (SECOND N0): Non-inferiority Phase III Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the survival outcomes, morbidity and cost-effectiveness of sentinel node biopsy versus limited elective neck dissection in node-negative early oral cancers.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Survival outcomes
  • Morbidity outcomes
  • Cost-effectiveness

Participants will either undergo sentinel node biopsy followed by completion neck dissection if sentinel node is reported to be metastatic (SNB) or limited elective neck dissection where level IIb will be cleared only if level IIa is metastatic (limited END). The study will compare the outcomes in the two cohorts.

Read the detailed description

Based on the current literature, we know that elective neck dissection (END) is mandatory in clinically node-negative early oral cancers. However, this leads to overtreatment and morbidity in about 55-80% of patients. The emergence of recent level I evidence makes SNB the standard of care in this setting. However, its limitation of being a two-staged procedure, steep learning curve, the burden on resources, lack of infrastructure, short-lasting decrease in morbidity and lack of cost-effectiveness data limits its wide applicability. It is our routine departmental practice of performing limited neck dissection clearing level I-III/IV sparing level IIb which is cleared only if level IIa is metastatic. It is hypothesized that limited END would limit the morbidity of shoulder dysfunction and be a more feasible and cost-effective treatment option which could be a suitable alternative to SNB in this setting without compromising the survival outcomes. With this background, we propose to embark upon a phase III RCT comparing the oncologic outcomes and morbidity of SNB versus limited END. We hypothesize that limited END would have survival outcomes non-inferior, morbidity similar to SNB with higher cost-effectiveness.

Aims and objectives:

Aim To compare the survival outcomes, morbidity and cost-effectiveness of SNB versus limited END in node-negative early oral cancers

Primary objective

  1. Overall survival

Secondary objectives

  1. Shoulder morbidity (key secondary endpoint) longitudinally up to 2 years
  2. Disease-free survival
  3. Neck nodal recurrence-free survival
  4. Other side effects (chyle leak, hematoma, lymphoedema)
  5. Longitudinal Quality of life up to 2 years
  6. Cost-effective analysis

Exploratory objectives Blood and tumour tissue will be collected and banked for biomarker studies. Exploratory analyses will be conducted at a later date. Efforts may be directed to identify the biomarkers to predict nodal metastasis.

Being tested
Sentinel Node Biopsy, Limited Elective Neck Dissection
Keywords
mouth neoplasms, neck dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy, survival, morbidity, oral cancers, oral squamous cell carcinoma
Medical subject headings
Mouth Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

What participants receive

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

  • Sentinel Node BiopsyProcedure or surgery

    The Sentinel node will be localized after injecting peritumoral nano colloid followed by dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT localization. Methylene blue or indocyanine green may be used but not mandatory as an adjunct for lymphoscintigraphy for node localization. Intraoperatively the node will be identified using a hand-held gamma probe. The sentinel node will be processed on a frozen section, histopathological processing with serial step sectioning, and immunohistochemistry. If reported as metastatic, then a single-stage or second-stage completion neck dissection will be performed.

  • Limited Elective Neck DissectionProcedure or surgery

    Patients who are allocated to the limited END arm will undergo dissection of level I, IIa and III/IV nodes sparing level IIb. Level IIa will be subjected to a frozen section and if reported as metastatic will mandate clearance of level IIb.

Study groups in NCT05774483
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sentinel node biopsyActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Procedure: Sentinel Node Biopsy
Limited elective neck dissectionExperimentalNot described
Receives: Procedure: Limited Elective Neck Dissection

What is being measured

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

  1. Overall survival

    Defined from the date of randomization to death due to any cause

    Measured: 3 years

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Shoulder morbidity

    It will be assessed using the neck dissection impairment index (NDII). The range of movement of the shoulder will also be assessed using a goniometer

    Measured: Longitudinally at preoperatively, 3 months, at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months of treatment

  2. Neck nodal recurrence

    Defined from the date of randomization to isolated neck node recurrence or death due to any cause

    Measured: 3 years

  3. Disease free survival

    Defined from the date of randomization to any recurrence (local, regional or distant metastasis) and second primary in the oral cavity

    Measured: 3 years

  4. Health related Quality of life

    Quality of life will be assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30 and QLQ HN35 instruments

    Measured: Longitudinally at preoperatively, 3 months, at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months of treatment

  5. Adverse events related to the surgical procedure and lymphedema

    Details of the intra and perioperative delay including injury to critical structures, chyle leak, haemorrhage, and head and neck lymphedema

    Measured: The lymphedema rating will be done at 3 months, at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months of treatment

  6. Cost effectiveness

    Based on direct cost comparison

    Measured: 3 years

Timeline

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

  1. First posted17 Mar 2023
  2. Study start16 Apr 2025
  3. Primary completionApr 2032 (estimated)
  4. Study completionApr 2034 (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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
508 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05774483
Sponsor's protocol ID
4081
Acronym
SECOND N0
Status last verified
Oct 2024
First submitted
7 Mar 2023
Last updated
17 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Garrel R, Poissonnet G, Moya Plana A, Fakhry N, Dolivet G, Lallemant B, Sarini J, Vergez S, Guelfucci B, Choussy O, Bastit V, Richard F, Costes V, Landais P, Perriard F, Daures JP, de Verbizier D, Favier V, de Boutray M. Equivalence Randomized Trial to Compare Treatment on the Basis of Sentinel Node Biopsy Versus Neck Node Dissection in Operable T1-T2N0 Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Dec 1;38(34):4010-4018. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.01661. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

    PubMed 33052754
  • D'Cruz AK, Vaish R, Kapre N, Dandekar M, Gupta S, Hawaldar R, Agarwal JP, Pantvaidya G, Chaukar D, Deshmukh A, Kane S, Arya S, Ghosh-Laskar S, Chaturvedi P, Pai P, Nair S, Nair D, Badwe R; Head and Neck Disease Management Group. Elective versus Therapeutic Neck Dissection in Node-Negative Oral Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2015 Aug 6;373(6):521-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1506007. Epub 2015 May 31.

    PubMed 26027881
  • Hutchison IL, Ridout F, Cheung SMY, Shah N, Hardee P, Surwald C, Thiruchelvam J, Cheng L, Mellor TK, Brennan PA, Baldwin AJ, Shaw RJ, Halfpenny W, Danford M, Whitley S, Smith G, Bailey MW, Woodwards B, Patel M, McManners J, Chan CH, Burns A, Praveen P, Camilleri AC, Avery C, Putnam G, Jones K, Webster K, Smith WP, Edge C, McVicar I, Grew N, Hislop S, Kalavrezos N, Martin IC, Hackshaw A. Nationwide randomised trial evaluating elective neck dissection for early stage oral cancer (SEND study) with meta-analysis and concurrent real-world cohort. Br J Cancer. 2019 Nov;121(10):827-836. doi: 10.1038/s41416-019-0587-2. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

    PubMed 31611612
  • Dhar H, Vaish R, D'Cruz AK. Comment on "Nationwide randomised trial evaluating elective neck dissection for early-stage oral cancer (SEND study) with meta-analysis and concurrent real-world cohort.". Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep;123(7):1198-1199. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0981-9. Epub 2020 Jul 16. No abstract available.

    PubMed 32669674
  • Vaish R, Hawaldar R, Gupta S, Dandekar M, Shah S, Chaukar D, Pantvaidya G, Deshmukh A, Chaturvedi P, Pai P, Nair D, Nair S, Thakur M, Ghosh-Laskar S, Agarwal JP, D'Cruz AK. N0 neck trial: Does intensification of follow-up (Ultrasound + Physical Examination) influence outcomes in early-stage oral cancer? Eur J Cancer. 2024 Jun;204:114064. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114064. Epub 2024 Apr 16.

    PubMed 38705028

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Sentinel Node Biopsy and Limited Elective Neck Dissection in people with Mouth Neoplasms and Oral Cancers, run by Tata Memorial Hospital at 3 sites in India.

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 7 inclusion and 5 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in India. 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.

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?

Contact Richa Vaish, MS, M.Ch (02224177000 ext. 7238, drvaishricha@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Overall survival (time frame: 3 years). 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 NCT05774483, which also lists 5 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 17 Jul 2025.

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