Ask to take part

Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Jeane Guevara
jeane.guevara@rmh.nhs.uk


Prof Vinidh Paleri
Vinidh.Paleri@rmh.nhs.uk


Reyhaneh SadeghZadeh
reyhaneh.sadeghzadeh@rmh.nhs.uk


Study Location:

Skip to Main Content
English | Cymraeg
Be Part of Research - Trial Details - (MOSES)

(MOSES)

Recruiting

Open to: Female / Male

Age: 18 Years - N/A

Medical Conditions

Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx


This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a cancer that originates from the cells lining the body and can spread into the lymph glands and beyond. Some patients first present with an SCC which has moved to the lymph glands of the neck.

Clinical examination and imaging investigations are performed to try and identify the site where the cancer has originated. However, if no original site can be identified, then we call these ‘cancers of an unknown primary’ (CUP) of the head and neck.

One region where these cancers could have originated from is the oropharynx. There are two areas in the oropharynx were cancers commonly arise. One area is the palatine tonsils, which can be removed for analysis with an operation called tonsillectomy. The other area is the tissue lining the back of the tongue, known as the tongue base. A relatively new surgical technique called ‘tongue base mucosectomy’ (TBM) allows removal of this tissue to see if the primary cancer is contained within it. This study will then use a histological method called ‘step serial sectioning’ (SSS) to look in more detail at the tonsils and tongue base, hoping to increase the detection rate of the primary cancer.

Centres performing TBM will be asked to participate. Patients will be asked to consent to their tissue being used for SSS after it has undergone conventional histology. Anonymised samples will be sent to a central laboratory in Newcastle for processing. Other anonymised data regarding the patients' diagnosis and care will be collated. Patients will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding pain and swallowing recovery following surgery. A smaller cohort of patients will also be interviewed as part of a qualitative research process to establish their views on CUP and the acceptability of the above treatment.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

13 Dec 2019 01 Dec 2027

Observational

Observational type: Qualitative;



You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


• Primary site identified by any means prior to being indicated for TBM • Patients undergoing targeted biopsies or resections


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Guy's Hospital
    Great Maze Pond
    London
    Greater London
    SE1 9RT
  • Churchill Hospital
    Churchill Hospital
    old Road
    headington
    Oxford
    Oxfordshire
    OX3 7LE
  • St George's Hospital (tooting)
    Blackshaw Road
    London
    Greater London
    SW17 0QT
  • University Hospital (coventry)
    Clifford Bridge Road
    Coventry
    West Midlands
    CV2 2DX
  • Charing Cross Hospital
    Fulham Palace Road
    London
    Greater London
    W6 8RF
  • Heartlands Hospital
    Bordesley Green East
    bordesley Green
    Birmingham
    West Midlands
    B9 5SS
  • Poole Hospital
    Longfleet Road
    Poole
    BH15 2JB
  • The James Cook University Hospital
    Marton Road
    Middlesbrough
    Cleveland
    TS4 3BW
  • Sunderland Royal Hospital
    Kayll Road
    Sunderland
    SR4 7TP
  • Leeds General Infirmary
    Great George Street
    Leeds
    West Yorkshire
    LS1 3EX
  • ROYAL SUSSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL
    RXH01@2.16.840.1.113883.2.1.3.2.4.18.48

Prof Vinidh Paleri
Vinidh.Paleri@rmh.nhs.uk


Reyhaneh SadeghZadeh
reyhaneh.sadeghzadeh@rmh.nhs.uk


Jeane Guevara
jeane.guevara@rmh.nhs.uk



The study is sponsored by THE ROYAL MARSDEN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST and funded by ORACLE HEAD AND NECK CANCER UK LIMITED .




We'd like your feedback

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.


Is this study information helpful?

What will you do next?

Read full details

for Trial ID: CPMS 44086

Last updated 25 April 2025

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.