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

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Glottis Tumor
• Larynx Cancer

Interventions

RADIATION

Single Vocal Cord Irradiation (SVCI)

The following planning aim will be pursued: full coverage of the PTV with at least 95% of the prescribed dose and a maximum (0.03 cc) PTV dose of \<107%: 16 x 3.63 = 58.08 Gy in 5 fractions per week using 5 to 9 static IMRT or VMAT.

PROCEDURE

Arm A: Transoral CO2-Laser Microsurgical Cordectomy (TLM)

The TLM has to be performed using a CO2 laser, coupled to an operative microscope, at 4-8W in ultrapulse mode. The type of cordectomy performed must be mentioned using the following classification according the classification of the European Laryngological Society. The type of resection chosen should provide complete removal of the primary lesion with negative margins. Surgery will generally be performed within 3 weeks after randomization and not more than 6 weeks after panendoscopy. The extent of the cordectomy must include a complete anterior, posterior, inferior and supero-lateral mucosal and deep soft tissue margin.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Bern

  collaborator OTHER

• The Netherlands Cancer Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Lausanne Hospitals

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital, Geneva

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Zurich

  collaborator OTHER

• Olgun Elicin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Olgun Elicin, M.D. · Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-11-20

Primary Completion

2027-11-30

Completion

2030-11-30

Countries

• France
• India
• Switzerland

Study Locations