Low-Dose Weekly vs High-Dose Cisplatin
Recruiting now NCT03649048
Run by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · for 18 and older · All sexes
What this study is about
This study is a prospective open-label randomized clinical trial. Following informed consent eligible LASCCHN patients (n=100) planned for CRT will be stratified by tumor p16 status and then randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either concurrent HD cisplatin or concurrent weekly LD cisplatin.
Who can join (things the study team will check)
✅ You may be able to join if…
- Age 18 or older
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma
- Primary tumor site includes oral cavity, oropharynx, nasal cavity, salivary glands (excluding parotid), hypopharynx, or larynx and primary unknown
- Patients must be deemed suitable for HD cisplatin therapy based on tumor characteristics, clinical condition and comorbidities in the judgement of the treating medical oncologist.
- Patients must be planned to receive radical intent radiation treatment based on clinical condition, comorbidities and tumor characteristics in the judgment of the treating radiation oncologist
- Adequate organ and marrow function independent of transfusion for at least 7 days prior to randomization defined as: Males: Creatinine Clearance = Weight (kg) x (140 - Age) (mL/min) 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL) Females: Creatinine Clearance = Weight (kg) x (140 - Age) x 0.85 (mL/min) 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL)
- Hemoglobin > 80 g/L; Absolute neutrophil count >1.5x10⁹ /L, platelets >100x10⁹/L; Bilirubin < 35 umol/L; AST or ALT < 3 x the upper limit of normal; Calculated creatinine clearance (as determined by Cockcroft- Gault) > 50 ml/min
- Patient must be assessed at head and neck cancer multidisciplinary clinic (with assessment by radiation oncologist and surgeon) and presented at multidisciplinary tumor board prior to randomization.
🚫 You may not be able to join if…
- Serious medical comorbidities or other contraindications to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
- Prior history of head and neck cancer within 5 years.
- Nasopharyngeal primary confirmed or suspected.
- Severe hearing loss as determined clinically Pre-existing use of hearing aids.
- Peripheral neuropathy .grade 2 (CTCAE v4.02).
- Prior or planned neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to CRT.
- Prior head and neck radiation at any time.
- Distant metastatic disease.
- Inability to attend full course of radiotherapy or follow-up visits.
- Prior invasive malignant disease unless disease-free for at least 5 years or more, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer or in-situ carcinoma.
- Unable or unwilling to complete QOL questionnaires.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Unable to use dual method of contraception.
Where this trial is running
- Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Who to contact
Sara Kuruvilla, MD · (519)685-8500 · sara@kuruvilla@lhsc.on.ca
It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT03649048.
Verify everything on the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Page updated July 2026.
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