@woodsy1
Hi. I’m currently in this study as well. This study is designed for a very specific subset of head and neck cancer patients. Not everyone with throat cancer qualifies.

Patients typically must have:

1. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer
-Usually tonsil or base-of-tongue cancer
-Confirmed p16 / HPV-positive
-This is important because HPV-positive cancers respond differently (and often better) to treatment

2. Non-metastatic disease
-Cancer confined to the head and neck region
-No distant spread (lungs, liver, bone, etc.)

3. Imaging that allows accurate staging
-MRI / CT and PET scans suitable for planning
-The trial relies on high-quality imaging to assess risk

4. No prior radiation to the head and neck
-Previous radiation would change tissue tolerance and risk

5. Medically fit for standard treatment
-Able to receive radiation (and chemotherapy if indicated)
-Adequate kidney function, hearing, and overall performance status

Trial-Specific Eligibility (Key Part)

After initial screening, eligibility hinges on tumor biology, not just stage.
-Patients undergo a special FMISO PET scan
-This scan measures tumor hypoxia (low oxygen levels)

Based on that scan:
-Low-hypoxia (“good-risk”) tumors → eligible for possible radiation de-escalation
-Higher-hypoxia tumors → treated with standard-of-care radiation

Importantly: Patients are not excluded from treatment if they don’t qualify for de-escalation—they simply receive standard therapy.

Who Is Usually Not Eligible

Patients are generally not eligible if they have:
-Distant metastatic disease
-Prior head & neck radiation
-Very advanced local disease where de-escalation would be unsafe
-Medical conditions that prevent safe radiation or chemotherapy

The trial is intentionally selective because:
-The goal is not to “do less treatment”
-The goal is to identify who can safely do less without lowering cure rates
-Tight eligibility protects patient safety and study integrity

Hope that helps!