Overview

The study involves head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx with positive nodes on only one side of the neck and no distant metastasis treated by primary (chemo)radiotherapy.

The elective node irradiation on the contralateral side is not always mandatory and the dose may be too high. In this study, we evaluate two strategies: the impact of sentinel lymph node mapping to tailor the volumes to irradiate and the dose reduction.

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria

1. Written informed consent given according to ICH/GCP and national/local regulations must be obtained prior to any screening procedures.
2. World Health Organization (WHO) performance status 0-1.
3. Age ≥ 18 years.
4. Patients with a pathologically proven invasive HNSCC, including oral cavity, oropharynx (independently of HPV status), larynx or hypopharynx.
5. Decision by Multidisciplinary Tumor Board of primary treatment with radical radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy (according to the local guidelines).
6. Baseline imaging of the neck:
   1. ≤ 2.5 mm slices CT with iodine injection (independently or during the FDG-PET/CT examination IF acquired in normal diagnostic conditions, i.e. arms along the thorax with diagnostic quality);
   2. MRI not mandatory but allowed, performed according to centres guidelines;
   3. FDG-PET/CT.
7. Tumor characteristics:
   1. cT-classification (8th TNM staging): T1(except T1 of glottis)-T4a (or, for p16+ oropharyngeal tumors classified cT4, if criteria are compatible with cT4a-stage of p16- tumors).
   2. cN-classification (8th TNM staging), as assessed by iodine contrasted CT (or MRI) and FDG-PET:
      • i. mandatorily cN0 contralaterally to the primary tumor (or on one side of the neck for midline primary tumors):
        • 1. smallest diameter < 5 mm in retropharyngeal level (VIIa);
        • 2. smallest diameter of Küttner node (level IIa) < 12 mm;
        • 3. smallest diameter < 10 mm or sum of smallest and largest diameters < 17 mm in any other level;
        • 4. no central necrosis ;
        • 5. maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) ≤ 2.2;
        • 6. in dubious cases (typically 2.2 < SUVmax < 4.5 and inconclusive CT or MRI), US-guided FNAC may be required to exclude positive node contralaterally.
      • ii. ipsilaterally positive (if any of the above mentioned criteria is met),

        i.e. cN1, cN2a, cN2b, ipsilateral cN3b; or cN1 for oropharyngeal p16+ tumors.

   3. No distant metastasis.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patient has history of:
   1. radiotherapy or surgery in the neck with potential impact on lymphatic drainage ("violated neck");
   2. cancer in the last five years (excluding skin basal cell carcinoma, in situ cervix carcinoma and T1 of glottis or lip, completely chirurgically resected (R0) without intervention disturbing cervical lymph drainage);
   3. Absolute contra-indication to iodine contrast injection, even after proper cortisone and cetirizine pre-medication.
2. HNSCC from nose, sinuses, oesophagus, salivary glands or nasopharynx.
3. Non-HNSCC histology.
4. Positive contralateral neck by node size or positive US-FNAC in dubious nodes.
5. Synchronous second malignancy.
6. Distant metastasis.
7. Tumor crossing the midline without contralateral mapping after 99mTc-nanocolloïd injection.
8. Tumor too large to be safely injected, as deemed by the surgeon. In case of doubt, contact may always be taken with the national coordinating investigator to discuss the situation and take a final decision.
9. Any psychological disorder or familial, sociological or geographical condition which, in the investigator's opinion, might jeopardise participant's safety or compliance with the protocol.
10. Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential and not using an adequate contraceptive method.

        Highly effective methods of birth control are defined as those, alone or in combination,
        that result in a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and
        correctly; such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, true
        sexual abstinence (i.e. refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period
        of risk associated with the Trial treatments) or vasectomised partner.