VoiceS: Voice Quality After Transoral CO2-Laser Surgery Versus Single Vocal Cord Irradiation for Larynx Cancer

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Glottis Tumor, Larynx Cancer

In brief

Laser surgery and radiotherapy are well-established standards of care for unilateral stage 0 \& I carcinoma in situ (Cais) and squamous cell carcinoma of glottic larynx (SCCGL). Based on meta-analyses, functional and oncological outcome after both treatment modalities are comparable1-5. However, no properly conducted randomized trials comparing these treatments exist. The only such trial with the endpoint of voice quality had to be prematurely closed due to low accrual6. The traditional radiotherapy involves the treatment of the whole larynx. Recently, a new radiotherapy technique was introduced by a team of researchers from Netherlands, where the treated target volume consists of involved vocal cord and therefore 8 to 10-fold smaller than the target volumes used for traditional whole larynx irradiation. The treatment is reduced to 16 fractions which corresponds to 3 weeks and a day7-12. The results of a prospective cohort (n=30) with single vocal cord irradiation (SVCI) were compared with the results of a historical prospective cohort previously treated with whole larynx radiotherapy (n=131) in the same institute. The median follow-up was 30 months. The voice handicap index (VHI) at all time points beginning from the 6th week after SVCI was significantly superior to the same time points with conventional radiotherapy. Moreover, a comparable local control with SVCI (100%) vs. conventional radiotherapy (92%) was reported at two years, p=0.2412. Based on this information, the investigators' main aim is to compare SVCI to Transoral CO2-Laser Microsurgical Cordectomy (TLM) with the main focus of patient-reported voice quality.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT04057209
Run by: Olgun Elicin
People needed: 34
Starts: 2019-11-20
Expected to finish: 2030-11-30
Last updated by the study team: 2025-10-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

ECOG performance status 0-1 at the time of registration
≥18 years of age
Baseline assessments and documentation of voice quality by means of VHI, JS, RBH, GNE, SPR
Histopathologically confirmed, previously untreated unilateral (cT1a or unilateral cTis) stage 0 or I glottic larynx cancer based on the UICC staging system (8th edition)
History and physical examination by treating physician (head and neck surgeon and radiation oncologist) within 28 days prior registration
The patient must be expected to withstand both study interventions
The patient must have undergone panendoscopy with assessment for the feasibility of transoral exposure for resection. Patients without feasible exposure are not eligible
Localization of the tumor should allow resection with a minimum of 2 mm macroscopical margin without extension to the contralateral vocal fold, without partial resection of the arytenoid cartilage and without resection of parts of thyroid cartilage (Cordectomy Type I-IV according the classification of the European Laryngological Society)13
Hemoglobin ≥10 g/dL or 6.2 mmol/L (Note: The use of transfusion to achieve Hgb ≥10 g/dL is acceptable) within the 28 days prior to accrual
Women with child-bearing potential and using effective contraception, and not pregnant and agree not to become pregnant (see section 8.6) during participation in the trial and 30 days after radiotherapy. A negative pregnancy test before inclusion (within 28 days) into the trial is required for all women with child-bearing potential. Men agree not to father a child during participation in the trial and 30 days after radiotherapy.
Written informed consent, signed by the patient and the investigator.

You may not qualify if…

Infection hampering the voice quality at the time of voice assessment
Involvement of the anterior commissure by the tumor
Previous oncologic surgery with curative intent (exception: excisional biopsies resulting in unacceptable close R0 or R1/R2 margins may be included) or radiotherapy to larynx
Synchronous or previous malignancies. Exceptions are adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or SCC of the skin, or in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri, low-risk prostate cancer or breast with a cancer-free follow-up time of at least 3 years, or other previous malignancy with a progression-free interval of at least 5 years
Co-existing disease prejudicing survival (expected survival less than 6 months)
Active bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
History of any voice disorders (not related to the SCCGL) lasting longer than 3 weeks
Illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within 28 days before registration
Presence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial

Where it is running

Institut Gustave Roussy — Paris, France (enrolling)
Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (enrolling)
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital — Bern, Canton of Bern, Switzerland (enrolling)
University Hospital Zurich — Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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