Assessing Impact of Early Physiotherapy on Lymphatic Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status and phase: Invitation-only; Phase 1

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer; Lymphedema of Face

Treatments: Combination Product: Near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging; Device: advanced pneumatic compression therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05937269

HSC-MS-23-0268

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if treating the lymphatics in head and neck cancer survivors before clinical diagnosis of lymphedema will prevent its development or progression. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does early lymphatic treatment, before onset of clinical symptoms, prevent the development of head and neck lymphedema?
• Does dermal lymphatic backflow provide an early indication of lymphedema and its response to treatment?

Over the course of one year, participants will undergo several sessions near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging to assess whether they have abnormal dermal lymphatic backflow following head and neck cancer treatment. Subjects will be divided into two groups, a treated and a control group. The treated group will be asked to complete daily sessions of pneumatic compression therapy at home, while the control group will receive standard-of-card treatment after clinical diagnosis of lymphedema. Researchers will compare the incidence of lymphedema between the two groups to see if treatment before diagnosis prevents the development and progression of head and neck lymphedema.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must be 18 years of age or older
• Participants must have previously been diagnosed with head and neck cancer and undergone surgery and radiation as part of their standard-of-care treatment plan
• Participants must be ≥ 4 weeks but less than 3 months post-radiation therapy at enrollment
• Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test ≤ 36 hours prior to study drug administration
• Female participants of childbearing potential must agree to use a medically accepted method of contraception for a period of one month after each imaging session
• Male participants must agree to shave facial hair on imaging days
• Participants must be willing and able to independently use the pneumatic compression device at home daily for up to 12 months as directed by study personnel.

Exclusion criteria

• Persons who are pregnant or breast-feeding
• Females of child-bearing potential, who do not agree to use an approved contraceptive for one month after each imaging session
• Persons who do not meet inclusion criteria
• Iodine allergy
• Persons with a chest circumference of 150 cm or more
• Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism or parathyroidism (for which an endocrinologist recommends against neck compression)
• Carotid sinus hypersensitivity syndrome
• Symptomatic carotid artery disease, as manifested by a recent transient ischemic attack (within 30 days), ischemic stroke or amaurosis fugax (monocular visual ischemic symptoms or blindness)
• Symptomatic bradycardia in the absence of a pacemaker or internal jugular venous thrombosis (within 3 months)
• Increased intracranial pressure or other contraindication to internal or external jugular venous compression
• Acute radiation dermatitis, unhealed surgical scar, unhealed or open wound(s), surgical flap less than 6 to 8-weeks post-operative
• Facial or head and neck dermal metastasis
• Acute facial infection (e.g., facial, or parotid gland abscess)
• Heart failure (acute pulmonary edema, decompensated acute heart failure)
• Acute venous disease (acute thrombophlebitis, acute deep venous thrombosis, acute pulmonary embolism)
• Severe peripheral artery disease (critical limb ischemia including ischemic rest pain, arterial wounds, or gangrene)
• Active skin or limb infection/inflammatory disease (acute cellulitis, other uncontrolled skin, or untreated inflammatory skin disease)
• Any condition where increased venous and lymphatic return is undesirable

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 3 patient groups

Advanced Pneumatic Compression

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects who present with dermal lymphatic backflow will be asked to complete a session of advanced pneumatic compression therapy each day at home.

Treatment:

Device: advanced pneumatic compression therapy

Combination Product: Near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging

Standard-of-Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects who present with dermal lymphatic backflow will continue under standard-of-care surveillance of lymphedema and will only receive treatment if they are diagnosed with head and neck cancer-acquired lymphedema.

Treatment:

Combination Product: Near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging

No Dermal Backflow

Other group

Description:

Subjects who do not present with dermal lymphatic backflow at enrollment will be monitored at subsequent visits and if/when dermal lymphatic backflow is observed will be randomized into either Advanced Pneumatic Compression or Standard-of-Care arm.

Treatment:

Combination Product: Near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging