Inclusion criteria for all patients |
1. |
Histologically confirmed diagnosis of OPSCC |
2. |
HPV-positive on central testing |
3. |
Stage T1-T3, N0-N2b tumours (based on cross-sectional imaging investigations carried out within 6 weeks of study entry) |
4. |
Local MDT decision to treat with primary transoral resection and neck dissection |
5. |
Fit for surgery and adjuvant treatment as assessed by the local MDT |
6. |
Aged 18 or over |
7. |
Able to provide written informed consent |
Exclusion criteria for all patients |
1. |
HPV-negative tumours |
2. |
Stage T4 tumours and/or T1–T3 tumours where transoral surgery is considered not feasible |
3. |
N2c–N3 nodal disease |
4. |
Unresectable retropharyngeal node involvement |
5. |
Current smokers with N2b disease including smokers up to 2 years before diagnosis |
6. |
Any pre-existing medical condition likely to impair swallowing function and/or a history of pre-existing swallowing dysfunction prior to index oropharyngeal cancer |
7. |
Patients with distant metastatic disease (stage IVc) |
8. |
Patients with a history of malignancy in the last 5 years, except basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in-situ of the cervix |
9. |
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and fertile women who will not be using contraception during the trial |