NOC-Rad
Research type
Research Study
Full title
NOC-Rad: Neurocognition in Oropharyngeal Cancer following Radiotherapy
IRAS ID
320755
Contact name
Louise Murray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) a type of head and neck cancer. Patients treated with radiotherapy for OPC receive a low dose of radiotherapy to the base of the brain. This could lead to side effects including fatigue and neurocognitive problems ( e.g., problems with memory, language, processing speed and attention). Traditional testing for neurocognitive problems involves a trained individual carrying out assessments in a controlled, face-to-face setting which may last between one to several hours.This is the standard of care. The Amsterdam Cognition Scan (ACS) is a new online neurocognitive test platform where participants complete a series of game like tasks, such as memorising a list of words and completing some simple tasks. The ACS can be completed on a computer from home.
The phase III TORPEdO trial (TOxicity Reduction using Proton bEam therapy for Oropharyngeal cancer) compares proton beam therapy, a new type of radiotherapy that delivers reduced doses to normal tissue (including the brain in OPC patients) with traditional photon radiotherapy.
We want to conduct a study within the TORPEdO trial, to find out if the ACS is a useful tool for remote neurocognitive assessment in a trial setting.
We will invite TORPEdO trial participants who live outside of Leeds/ Manchester to complete the ACS.
We will invite TORPEdO trial participants who live in the Leeds/ Manchester region to be randomised between i) completing the ACS and, 6 months later completing face to face traditional neurocognitive testing and ii) completing traditional neurocognitive testing and, 6 months later completing the ACS.
We will ask all participants to complete a questionnaire about using the ACS and interview a proportion.
Based on the results, we will assess if the ACS is useful. We will also see how the neurocognitive outcomes relate to the dose received by the base of the brain during radiotherapy.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0083
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion