View clinical trials related to Head and Neck Cancer.
Filter by:The aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity and immune response of therapy with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as adjuvant treatment for head and neck cancer after primary operation and radiotherapy. Patient will receive a single treatment consisting of conditioning chemotherapy for seven days (cyclophosphamide for two days and fludarabine for five days), intravenous infusion of high number of in vitro expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocytes followed by two weeks with daily low-dose interleukine-2. Patients will be evaluated for toxicity and immune response.
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if radiation-induced xerostomia [RIX] (dry mouth) causes, or worsens the effects of, acid reflux (heartburn and heartburn-like symptoms) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving radiation therapy. Objectives: Primary Objective: Determine if radiation induced xerostomia (RIX) increases the frequency or duration of acid-reflux when re-measured approximately 6-12 weeks after RT (measured by # episodes, their duration, and Reflux Area Index (RAI). Reflux Area (RA) is the sum of the area under the curve for all episodes of pH<4 recorded during the study in units of Ph*minutes. The Reflux area index (RAI) is the RA corrected for the duration of the study (RA x 100/study duration). Secondary Objectives: 1. To demonstrate that patients undergoing RT for OPC have reflux into the irradiated field that is anticipated to exacerbate mucositis symptoms 2. Correlate RAI and # episodes of acid reflux with salivary flow before and after RT to determine if radiation induced hyposalivation is associated with more reflux events and symptoms. 3. For patients with no pre-RT pathologic acid reflux, determine if RIX leads to conversion to acid-positive reflux measured approximately 6-12 weeks after RT. 4. Correlate office indirect laryngoscopy findings (posterior commissure thickening, cobble-stoning, granulomas, and arytenoids erythema or edema) suggestive of acid reflux in OPC patients with pH-probe findings as was done in larynx cancer (Lewin et al) 5. Compare findings from the patient reported outcome (PRO) instruments used
RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is looking at tissue samples in predicting oral cancer in patients who have undergone neck dissection for oral cancer.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical value of serial quantitative [F-18] FLT as a PET imaging tool in head and neck cancer patients clinically scheduled with radiation or radiation-chemotherapy combination in terms of safety and efficacy. Standard [F-18] FDG PET will be the active comparator.
This is a study for patients with head and neck cancer who will be receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy for their disease. The purpose of this study is to see if the investigators can use genetic differences between patients to select the right drug to use with radiation therapy. This type of genetic testing is called pharmacogenetics. Currently there are two drugs used to treat head and neck cancer that have provided a benefit when given with radiation compared to radiation alone in previous studies. These two drugs are cisplatin and cetuximab (Erbitux). In this trial, the investigators will test whether genetic differences between patients can be used to pick which drug they should receive. A recent study that looked back to see how well patients with head and neck cancer responded to treatment with cisplatin showed that genetic differences in a few genes were associated with who did and who did not survive their cancer. The investigators are taking that finding and using it to test patients for these genetic differences to determine whether they should receive cisplatin or cetuximab. In other words, the investigators are trying to take what is essentially a flip of the coin choice between these two drugs, and instead use individual patient's genetic differences to make-and hopefully improve- this choice.
Generally, patients who have undergone treatments for Head Neck Cancer have a decreased quality of life and experience depression and fatigue. Regular physical activity improves emotional well-being, increases immunological response, improves wound healing, lessens fatigue and improves general functionality and quality of life. This study will determine effectiveness of the 12-week exercise intervention program, determine if physically active patients differ in quality of life, depression and fatigue during the course of the study, and determine if the change in physical activity levels is related to changes in immune responses.
RATIONALE: Learning about insomnia and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer may help doctors learn about the effects of treatment and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying insomnia in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of palifermin on the incidence of oral mucositis in subjects with locally advanced head and neck cancer receiving postoperative radiotherapy.
RATIONALE: The Epstein-Barr virus can cause cancer and lymphoproliferative disorders. Valganciclovir is an antiviral drug that acts against the Epstein-Barr virus. Phenylbutyrate may make cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus more sensitive to valganciclovir. Giving phenylbutyrate together with valganciclovir may block the growth of Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells and kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving phenylbutyrate together with valganciclovir works in treating patients with relapsed or refractory Epstein-Barr virus-positive cancer.
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.