View clinical trials related to Head and Neck Neoplasms.
Filter by:RATIONALE: Zinc supplements may lower cadmium levels in smokers and may help prevent DNA damage. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well zinc supplements work in lowering cadmium levels in smokers.
Changes to taste and smell have been reported in head and neck cancer patients who undergo radiation and chemotherapy. This may cause food to be unappealing and can lead to a reduced food intake. Thsi study will increase our understanding of taste and smell changes and how it relates to food and taste preferences.
In this study, an oral nutrition supplement has been developed that take into consideration: the nutritional requirements, treatment side-effects and taste preferences of head and neck cancer patients; the acceptance of a supplement when experiencing radiation therapy side-effects; and the taste preferences of head and neck cancer patients which may affect the supplement intake. We hope to increase dietary intake during the last 2 weeks of radiation therapy.
Peristomal infections are the commonest complications of PEG despite prophylactic antibiotics which may result in emergence of resistant micro-organisms like Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Introducer PEG technique avoids the sojourn of PEG catheter through the oropharynx so chances of infectious complications are negligible. It was not popular because of associated risks and complications. However the new introducer PEG gastropexy has been recently proved to be safe. To determine the incidence of peristomal wound infections during the immediate 7 day post procedure follow up period after the new introducer PEG gastropexy
The investigators hope to learn more about how side-effects of RT or RTchemo affect food intake and nutrition status.
This study will examine whether the experimental drug AdhAQP1 can increase salivary flow in patients whose parotid glands have been exposed to therapeutic radiation for treatment of head and neck cancer. Radiation may damage the parotid glands (salivary glands located under the skin in front of the ear), leading to dry mouth, infections, excessive tooth decay, mouth sores, difficulty swallowing and pain. AdhAQP1 contains the human aquaporin-1 gene, which codes for a protein that works to transport water across cells, and a virus that normally can cause colds in humans, but is modified to render it ineffective. In animal experiments, AdhAQP1 has increased saliva production for a short time. Patients between 18 years of age or older who received radiation treatment for head and neck cancer at least 5 years before enrolling in this study, who have no evidence of recurrent tumor, who have dry mouth and who secrete abnormally low levels of saliva from the parotid glands may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood, urine and saliva tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x-ray, MRI exam, gallium scan (a nuclear medicine test to look for inflammation in the salivary glands), technetium pertechnetate scan (a nuclear medicine test to examine salivary gland function), parotid sialogram (x-ray of parotid gland), PET and CT scans to look for signs of tumor and a skin biopsy to collect skin cells for use in immunological tests. Participants have a salt and sugar solution infused through a catheter (plastic tube) into both parotid glands. After 10 minutes, the solution drains into the mouth and is swallowed. Saliva is collected from the parotid glands at 6 and 24 hours after administration of the salt and sugar solution. Ten to 14 days later, patients are admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for up to 4 days for the following tests and procedures: - On the first day, administration, through a catheter, of the study drug AdhAQP1 into one parotid gland. - Monitoring over the next 3 days for changes in patients' ability to produce saliva. This includes medical examinations and several blood, urine and saliva collections. - Technetium scan on day 2. - Gallium scan on day 2. Patients return to NIH for follow-up visits at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the AdhAQP1 infusion and then 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 months for a medical examination and blood, urine and saliva collections. Gallium, technetium and MRI scans are repeated at several of the follow-up visits, and sialograms are done at 6 and 12 months. Chest x-ray and EKG are repeated at 4 and 6 months.
This is a study comparing the activity of lapatinib versus placebo followed by chemoradiation. This study is designed to explore the effects of lapatinib monotherapy on apoptosis/necrosis, in pre-treatment and post-treatment tumour tissue samples in subjects with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.
RATIONALE: Stop-smoking plans, including counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, may help smokers quit smoking. It is not yet known whether counseling and the nicotine lozenge is more effective than counseling and the nicotine patch in helping adult smokers quit smoking. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying counseling and the nicotine lozenge to see how well they work compared to counseling and the nicotine patch in helping smokers quit smoking.
This is a randomized study of conventional 3d radiation versus intensity-modulated radiation in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
RATIONALE: Growth factors, such as palifermin, may lessen the severity of mucositis, or mouth sores, in patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. It is not yet known whether palifermin is more effective than a placebo in lessening mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying palifermin to see how well it works compared to a placebo in lessening oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer.