RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial

Abstract Background Mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe late radiation toxicity affecting 5–10% of patients who receive radiotherapy as part of treatment for head and neck malignancy. ORN can cause permanent disfigurement, dysfunction, pain and infection. There remains little robust evid...

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Main Authors: Richard Shaw, Ruth Knight, Ayten Basoglu, Mandeep Bajwa, Julie Perry, Anastasios Kanatas, Stefano Fedele, Vincent Killen, Rebecca Tangney, Chris Butterworth, James McCaul, Jagtar Dhanda, Vinod Patel, Mererid Evans, Richard Jackson
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Trials
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08966-9
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author Richard Shaw
Ruth Knight
Ayten Basoglu
Mandeep Bajwa
Julie Perry
Anastasios Kanatas
Stefano Fedele
Vincent Killen
Rebecca Tangney
Chris Butterworth
James McCaul
Jagtar Dhanda
Vinod Patel
Mererid Evans
Richard Jackson
author_facet Richard Shaw
Ruth Knight
Ayten Basoglu
Mandeep Bajwa
Julie Perry
Anastasios Kanatas
Stefano Fedele
Vincent Killen
Rebecca Tangney
Chris Butterworth
James McCaul
Jagtar Dhanda
Vinod Patel
Mererid Evans
Richard Jackson
author_sort Richard Shaw
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe late radiation toxicity affecting 5–10% of patients who receive radiotherapy as part of treatment for head and neck malignancy. ORN can cause permanent disfigurement, dysfunction, pain and infection. There remains little robust evidence supporting the efficacy of medical or surgical management currently offered in clinical practice. Retrospective case series and meta-analyses of observational studies suggest that a repurposed triple drug combination pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate (‘PENTOCLO’) may be effective in preventing deterioration, promoting healing and ultimately reducing the need for major reconstructive surgery. Methods The RAPTOR trial is a phase II, open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial with a superiority design. Eligible subjects with mandibular ORN are randomised 1:1 to receive standard of care (Arm A) or PENTOCLO plus standard of care (Arm B) for 12 months. The primary outcome measure is time from randomisation to healing of ORN (without the need for surgery), as measured by clinical examination (confirming completely healed oral mucosa), intra-oral clinical photographs and imaging. RAPTOR has an embedded translational sample collection and a methodological component exploring the use of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROM). Discussion The RAPTOR trial is the first randomised controlled clinical trial of PENTOCLO in this clinical setting. The results of this phase II trial will provide robust preliminary evidence on its efficacy and inform the feasibility and appropriateness of a subsequent definitive trial. Trial registration RAPTOR is registered with the ISRCTN registry effective date 11th November 2022: Clinical trial of the non-surgical management of radiotherapy damage to the lower jaw ISRCTN34217298, and also registered with the European Clinical Trials Database (Eudra-CT 2022–000728-39).
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spelling doaj-art-e39343c111c84b54ad093f517cde8a002025-08-20T03:46:20ZengBMCTrials1745-62152025-07-0126111310.1186/s13063-025-08966-9RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trialRichard Shaw0Ruth Knight1Ayten Basoglu2Mandeep Bajwa3Julie Perry4Anastasios Kanatas5Stefano Fedele6Vincent Killen7Rebecca Tangney8Chris Butterworth9James McCaul10Jagtar Dhanda11Vinod Patel12Mererid Evans13Richard Jackson14Liverpool Head & Neck Centre, University of Liverpool and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of LiverpoolLiverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of LiverpoolSection of Oncology, School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of SurreyLiverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of LiverpoolSt James Institute of Oncology, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds General Infirmary and University of LeedsUCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, and NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research CentreHaNC PPI Research Forum, Liverpool Head & Neck Centre, University of LiverpoolLiverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool Head & Neck Centre, University of Liverpool and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustQueen Elizabeth University HospitalBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolGuy’s & St Thomas’ HospitalCardiff University and Velindre University NHS TrustDepartment of Health Data Science, University of LiverpoolAbstract Background Mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe late radiation toxicity affecting 5–10% of patients who receive radiotherapy as part of treatment for head and neck malignancy. ORN can cause permanent disfigurement, dysfunction, pain and infection. There remains little robust evidence supporting the efficacy of medical or surgical management currently offered in clinical practice. Retrospective case series and meta-analyses of observational studies suggest that a repurposed triple drug combination pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate (‘PENTOCLO’) may be effective in preventing deterioration, promoting healing and ultimately reducing the need for major reconstructive surgery. Methods The RAPTOR trial is a phase II, open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial with a superiority design. Eligible subjects with mandibular ORN are randomised 1:1 to receive standard of care (Arm A) or PENTOCLO plus standard of care (Arm B) for 12 months. The primary outcome measure is time from randomisation to healing of ORN (without the need for surgery), as measured by clinical examination (confirming completely healed oral mucosa), intra-oral clinical photographs and imaging. RAPTOR has an embedded translational sample collection and a methodological component exploring the use of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROM). Discussion The RAPTOR trial is the first randomised controlled clinical trial of PENTOCLO in this clinical setting. The results of this phase II trial will provide robust preliminary evidence on its efficacy and inform the feasibility and appropriateness of a subsequent definitive trial. Trial registration RAPTOR is registered with the ISRCTN registry effective date 11th November 2022: Clinical trial of the non-surgical management of radiotherapy damage to the lower jaw ISRCTN34217298, and also registered with the European Clinical Trials Database (Eudra-CT 2022–000728-39).https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08966-9MandibleOsteoradionecrosisRadiotherapyHead and neckCancerPENTOCLO
spellingShingle Richard Shaw
Ruth Knight
Ayten Basoglu
Mandeep Bajwa
Julie Perry
Anastasios Kanatas
Stefano Fedele
Vincent Killen
Rebecca Tangney
Chris Butterworth
James McCaul
Jagtar Dhanda
Vinod Patel
Mererid Evans
Richard Jackson
RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
Trials
Mandible
Osteoradionecrosis
Radiotherapy
Head and neck
Cancer
PENTOCLO
title RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
title_full RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
title_fullStr RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
title_full_unstemmed RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
title_short RAPTOR: Randomised Controlled Trial of PENTOCLO (pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate) in Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis—study protocol for an open-label phase II randomised controlled superiority trial
title_sort raptor randomised controlled trial of pentoclo pentoxifylline tocopherol clodronate in mandibular osteoradionecrosis study protocol for an open label phase ii randomised controlled superiority trial
topic Mandible
Osteoradionecrosis
Radiotherapy
Head and neck
Cancer
PENTOCLO
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08966-9
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