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:

Ms Ann White
+44 (0)2920687465
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk


Prof Catherine Harwood
+44 (0)20 7882 2332
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk


Prof Agata Rembielak
+44 (0)161 446 8583
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk


More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.

Study Location:

Find another location


Questions to ask
Skip to Main Content
English | Cymraeg
Be Part of Research - Trial Details - The SCC-AFTER research study aims to find out whether it is better to use radiotherapy or not to prevent high-risk skin cancer from coming back after it has been removed by surgery
Back

The SCC-AFTER research study aims to find out whether it is better to use radiotherapy or not to prevent high-risk skin cancer from coming back after it has been removed by surgery

Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

Sheffield Oxford Cambridge Wirral Blackburn Cardiff Middlesbrough Manchester Nottingham Romford London Maidstone Dundee Sutton-in-Ashfield

Medical Conditions

Adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with high-risk primary cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AFTER surgery

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.


Some squamous cell cancers are called ‘high-risk’, meaning that there is a higher chance that they could come back after surgery compared to other skin cancers. Around 3 out of 10 people with high-risk skin cancer may experience their cancer coming back within 3 years of the surgery. Radiotherapy (x-ray treatment) is sometimes given to people with high-risk skin cancer after surgery to try and reduce the chances of the cancer coming back. This is called ‘post-operative’ or ‘adjuvant radiotherapy’. It is given to the area of the skin where the cancer was removed. It works by using X-rays to destroy any cancer cells that might be left behind in that area. However, there is no certainty that radiotherapy does stop high-risk skin cancers from coming back. The alternative to radiotherapy is to start a close clinical follow-up to monitor if the skin cancer shows signs of coming back and to treat it if it does. This study aims to find out whether using radiotherapy in people who have had high-risk squamous cell cancer removed by surgery reduces the chances of their skin cancer coming back, or whether radiotherapy is not necessary and only close clinical follow-up is required. The study will also find out what impact it has on quality of life.

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:

31 Jul 2024 14 Jun 2027

The study will have two groups of patients:
Radiotherapy and close clinical follow-up:
• Will receive treatment with radiotherapy every weekday for 2-6 weeks, starting within 4 months of the surgery that removed the cancer.
• Will be followed up closely for 3 years to see if the skin cancer shows signs of returning.
• Will be unlikely to have radiotherapy again in the future if the skin cancer does return to the same place.

Close clinical follow-up:
• Will be followed up closely for 3 years to see if the skin cancer shows signs of returning.
• May be able to have radiotherapy in the future if the skin cancer does return to the same place.

There is a linked study that wants to find out more about how patients feel about taking part in the trial. It will involve somebody asking patients questions about their experience and these will be recorded.


People aged 18 years old and over who have had this type of high-risk skin cancer removed with surgery

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Any current clinicopathological evidence of loco-regional recurrence of the index tumour2. Previous (within 3 years) or current non-index primary cSCC in skin drained by the same lymph node basin3. cSCC on anatomical sites which interfere with suitability for ART (such as vermilion lip, eyelids, breast, anogenital area)4. Patients with evidence of regional or distant disease at time of primary cSCC diagnosis5. Previous radiotherapy in the same area6. Patients with reproductive potential who are not willing to use contraception for the duration from trial consent until the last dose of radiotherapy if they are randomised to the ART arm7. Unable to lie still unattended for the duration of ART (estimated to be around 5 minutes)8. Participation in another interventional clinical study that may affect the recurrence of cSCC (primary endpoint)9. History of another malignancy where metastasis could cause diagnostic uncertainty or patients receiving active systemic anti-cancer treatment (excluding hormonal treatment for prostate or breast cancer) or radiotherapy


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

  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    Northern General Hospital Herries Road
    Sheffield
    S5 7AU
  • Churchill Hospital
    Churchill Hospital Old Road Headington
    Oxford
    OX3 7LE
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    Cambridge Biomedical Campus Hills Road
    Cambridge
    CB2 0QQ
  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
    Clatterbridge Hospital Clatterbridge Road
    Wirral
    CH63 4JY
  • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
    Royal Blackburn Hospital Haslingden Road
    Blackburn
    BB2 3HH
  • Velindre Cancer Centre
    Velindre Road
    Cardiff
    CF14 2TL
  • James Cook University Hospital
    Marton Road
    Middlesbrough
    TS4 3BW
  • The Christie
    550 Wilmslow Road Withington
    Manchester
    M20 4BX
  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - City Campus
    Nottingham City Hospital Hucknall Road
    Nottingham
    NG5 1PB
  • Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
    Queens Hospital Rom Valley Way
    Romford
    RM7 0AG
  • Barts and the London NHS Trust
    Alexandra House The Royal London Hospital Whitechapel
    London
    E1 1BB
  • Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Hq
    Maidstone Hospital Hermitage Lane
    Maidstone
    ME16 9QQ
  • Tayside
    Ninewells Hospital
    Dundee
    DD1 9SY
  • Kings Mill Hospital
    Sherwood Forest NHS Trust Mansfield Rd
    Sutton-in-Ashfield
    NG17 4JL

Possible benefits of Radiotherapy followed by close clinical follow-up:
• Radiotherapy may lower the risk of a patient's cancer coming back.
• Patients will not need to attend for daily radiotherapy or experience the side effects that may come with radiotherapy.
• Radiotherapy has not been proven to lower the risk of a patient's cancer coming back.
• Patients may be able to have radiotherapy at a later date if their cancer does come back.
• Radiotherapy has not been proven to lower the risk of a patient's cancer coming back.
• Patients would not be able to have further radiotherapy in the same area if the cancer comes back in the same place and would therefore need different treatment.
• Radiotherapy is generally very well tolerated, however, there are possible short-term and long-term side effects from radiotherapy:
Short term: Skin redness, irritation, itching, flaking, peeling, scaling and dryness in the treatment area. The skin may scab over or break down in the treatment area. General tiredness during the treatment period. Some side effects can be specific, such as potential interactions with other medicines a patient may take or with a pacemaker. This may affect the radiotherapy. These will be discussed with the medical team.
Long-term: Permanent skin texture changes in the treatment area are possible and include thicker or thinner skin, skin colour change and rarely a more long-term non-healing ulcer that may require further treatment such as dressings or surgery. If radiotherapy is given to an area on the body where hair grows such as the scalp, it can sometimes cause permanent hair loss.
• The cancer may come back even though a patient has had surgery and may require further treatment, such as surgery or radiotherapy.

Prof Agata Rembielak
+44 (0)161 446 8583
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk


Ms Ann White
+44 (0)2920687465
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk


Prof Catherine Harwood
+44 (0)20 7882 2332
SCCAFTER@cardiff.ac.uk



More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.


The study is sponsored by Cardiff University and funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research.



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: ISRCTN54806122

Or CPMS 62841

Last updated 23 May 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.   

Back to the top