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A phase III trial of intensity-modulated proton beam therapy versus intensity-modulated radiotherapy for multi-toxicity reduction in oropharyngeal cancer

Cancer HTA and economic evaluations

TORPEdO is a UK‑wide, multi‑centre randomised clinical trial assessing whether intensity‑modulated proton therapy (IMPT), compared with intensity‑modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), reduces toxicity in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

A within‑trial economic evaluation is integrated into the study to estimate the cost‑effectiveness of IMPT compared with IMRT from the perspective of the UK NHS, patients and society.

Funder: Cancer Research UK

Our Team

Jane Wolstenholme

Associate Professor of Health Economics

Liz Stokes

Senior Researcher

Chief Investigator (clinical)

David Thomson, Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Christie Hospital

Professor Emma Hall, Director of ICR-CTSU: ICR-CTSU Radiotherapy, Urology and Head and Neck Cancers Trials

Professor Emma Hall

Institute of Cancer Research (ICRF)

Selected publications

TORPEdO: A phase III trial of intensity-modulated proton beam therapy versus intensity-modulated radiotherapy for multi-toxicity reduction in oropharyngeal cancer.

Thomson DJ. et al, (2023), Clin Transl Radiat Oncol, 38, 147 - 154

Proton beam therapy for oropharyngeal cancer (TORPEdO): a phase 3, randomised controlled trial.

Thomson DJ. et al, (2026), Lancet, 407, 1259 - 1275