Pre-treatment gastrostomy tube versus oral feeding plus as-needed nasogastric tube feeding in patients undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck cancer

ISRCTN	ISRCTN48569216
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN48569216
Protocol serial number	16822
Sponsor	Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Funder	Health Technology Assessment Programme

Submission date: 12/06/2014
Registration date: 12/06/2014
Last edited: 28/04/2020

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Cancer

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/trials/A-trial-looking-two-different-ways-feeding-during-treatment-head-and-neck-cancer-tube

Contact information

Miss Ann Marie Hynes
Scientific

Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Newcastle University
1 – 4 Claremont Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4AE
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)191 208 7647
Email	Ann.hynes@newcastle.ac.uk

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Process of Care, Treatment
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	A feasibility randomised controlled trial of pre-treatment gastrostomy tube versus oral feeding plus as-needed nasogastric tube feeding in patients undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck cancer
Study acronym	TUBE
Study objectives	A multicentre randomised controlled feasibility trial comparing oral feeding plus pre-treatment gastrostomy versus oral plus as-required nasogastric tube feeding in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). The principal aim is to determine whether a definitive RCT in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation comparing oral feeding plus prophylactic gastrostomy tube feeding versus oral feeding plus as-needed nasogastric tube feeding is feasible. Second, we seek further clarity as to how a definitive trial should best be designed from the perspectives of patients, clinicians and NHS resources. The TUBE study feasibility trial is a necessary prelude to a full trial of these complex interventions, to assess whether an adequate proportion of eligible patients can be recruited and retained in the study as assessed, both quantitatively and qualitatively. More details can be found at: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/123532 Protocol can be found at: https://njl-admin.nihr.ac.uk/document/download/2007246
Ethics approval(s)	14/NE/0045; First MREC approval date 26/02/2014
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Topic: Cancer, Ear, nose and throat, Gastroenterology; Subtopic: Head and Neck Cancer, Ear (all Subtopics), Gastroenterology; Disease: Head and Neck, Ear, nose & throat, All Gastroenterology
Intervention	Study participants will be randomised to one of two treatment arms in a 1:1 ratio: 1. Pre-CRT (chemo-radiation treatment) gastrostomy arm G-tube insertion will take place before CRT commences, ideally in weeks two and three after most patients are randomised. Where patients are receiving induction chemotherapy G-tube (gastrostomy tube) insertion may take place on either the week before cycle 2 of induction or the week pre CRT. G-tubes are inserted into the stomach through an abdominal incision, by either endoscopic or radiologic guidance, both being functionally equivalent. The choice of method of insertion will be left to the treating clinician/centre. Patients will continue with oral feeding throughout CRT unless or until they are unable to maintain an adequate oral intake to meet their nutritional requirements or are unable to swallow. At this stage the use of liquid nutrition through the G-tube will commence. 2. No pre-CRT gastrostomy arm This group of patients will continue oral feeding throughout CRT, unless or until they are unable to maintain an adequate oral intake or inability to swallow, when a naso-gastric (NG) tube will be placed under local anaesthesia and liquid nutrition via an NGT will commence. The decision to place a nasogastric tube will be based on clinical assessment, patient request and published guidelines. In both arms, patients will be given information about the treatment and the intervention involved. This will be delivered by the PI at the centre and reinforced by the research nurse. Follow-up will occur weekly during CRT (for up to 8 weeks) and then a post CRT follow-up will be performed, as well as follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months. These will all coincide with routine clinical appointments
Intervention type	Procedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measure(s)	1. Assess willingness to randomise (by qualitative interviews with clinicians) and be randomised (by review of patient screening logs) 2. Assess retention and drop-out rates
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	1. Assess compliance and refine interventions and study processes 2. Estimate parameters to inform definitive trial design 3. Assess value of information based on modelling exercise 4. Assess incidence of reported adverse events
Completion date	14/06/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	60
Key inclusion criteria	Patients with stage III and IV HNSCC who are suitable for primary CRT with curative intent. This can include patients having induction chemotherapy prior to CRT. All patients would have been investigated and diagnosed as above by the respective cancer MDT. Main inclusion criteria are as follows: 1. Grade 1 pre-treatment dysphagia, as defined by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 (defined as: asymptomatic/symptomatic/able to eat regular diet) 2. Consent to be randomised 3. Adult patients
Key exclusion criteria	Patients who: 1. Decline to participate 2. Are unable to give informed consent 3. Cannot receive a gastrostomy for medical reasons 4. Do not receive treatment with curative intent 5. Have malnutrition requiring immediate initiation of enteral feeding
Date of first enrolment	10/07/2014
Date of final enrolment	30/06/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Please contact the Trial Manager for more information on individual participating sites

-
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Other
IPD sharing plan	All available data will be included as an appendix to the report to be published on 14/02/2018.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/04/2018		Yes	No
Protocol article	protocol	16/06/2016		Yes	No
HRA research summary			28/06/2023	No	No
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes
Plain English results			28/04/2020	No	Yes
Study website	Study website	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

28/04/2020: Publication reference added to Results (plain English) field.
16/04/2018: Publication reference added.
24/01/2018: The participant level data sharing statement has been added.
18/01/2018: The intention to publish date has been updated from 01/07/2017 to 14/02/2018.
20/06/2016: Publication reference added.
13/03/2015: The overall trial end date was changed from 31/12/2014 to 14/06/2016.