Actively Recruiting
Tongue-out Radiation Therapy (TORT) for the Mitigation of Radiotherapy-related Toxicities in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Led by Yvonne Mowery · Updated on 2025-12-17
35
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
166 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
Y
Yvonne Mowery
Lead Sponsor
R
Radiological Society of North America
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Our institution recently began incorporating a novel "tongue-out" radiation therapy (TORT) technique for patients with head and neck tumors at particular subsites (oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx). Protruding the tongue, i.e. "tongue-out" position, induces anatomical changes that facilitate decreased radiation dose to the oral tongue and PCM. The long-term goal is to determine whether TORT results in reduced severity and faster recovery from acute treatment-related toxicities (particularly mucositis, dysphagia, and dysgeusia) and improved long-term swallowing function and taste compared to traditional "tongue-in" RT for patients with HNC.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Tongue-out Radiation Therapy (TORT) for the Mitigation of Radiotherapy-related Toxicities in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx (cT0-4, N0-3, M0-1)
- If metastatic disease is present, definitive radiotherapy is planned for the primary site
- Number of metastatic lesions is 5 or fewer, all confined to a single organ
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2 or less
- Female participants of childbearing potential are not pregnant or breastfeeding at screening
- Female participants of childbearing potential use appropriate birth control methods
- Ability to comfortably protrude the tongue in the treatment position for at least 1 minute
- Ability to understand and willingness to sign informed consent
- Willingness to comply with all study procedures
- Ability to complete patient-reported outcome questionnaires in English
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients with T1-T2 N0 glottic cancer planned for radiotherapy to the larynx only
- Primary tumor on the posterior pharyngeal wall
- Widely metastatic disease
- Surgical removal of the primary tumor prior to study
- Induction chemotherapy or immunotherapy before planned radiotherapy
- Prior head and neck radiotherapy
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Samantha Demko, RN
CONTACT
B
Brieanna Marino, MS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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