Canadian researchers will conduct a study to compare robotic surgery to radiation therapy for the treatment of oropharyngeal (OP) cancer.
Researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute will examine the impact of both treatments on patients' speech and swallowing function and quality of life as a first step toward identifying the best treatment option, according to a press release.
In Canada, radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy, is the accepted standard of care for patients with throat cancer. While radiation therapy provides good disease control and advances such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy help reduce side effects, some patients still experience long-term side effects that can be difficult to manage, the institute noted. Patients often complain of dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, hearing loss, skin discoloration, and taste changes.
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a new method for treating throat cancer that overcomes some of the side effects and complications associated with previous surgical techniques for this cancer. Many centers in the U.S. promote its use; however, to date, no head-to-head comparison of TORS and radiation therapy has been conducted to determine which treatment provides the best outcomes for patients.
For this study, patients with early-stage OP cancer will be randomly assigned to receive standard care (radiation therapy) or TORS. To identify which treatment is better, the researchers will gather information on quality of life, side effects, and survival. In addition, lab experiments and comprehensive tumor profiling (sequencing the DNA of the tumors) will be performed to help identify which patients will benefit the most from either treatment option.
