Glisson BS, Murphy BA, Frenette G, Khuri FR, Forastiere AA Phase II Trial of docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Mar 15;20(6):1593-9. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2002.20.6.1593.
Hah, J H. (2012). Personalized Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers and the Role of Head and Neck Surgeons. Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 55(8), 471-475
Leemans CR, Braakhuis BJ, Brakenhoff RH The molecular biology of head and neck cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 2011 Jan;11(1):9-22. doi: 10.1038/nrc2982. Epub 2010 Dec 16.
Seiwert TY, Salama JK, Vokes EE The chemoradiation paradigm in head and neck cancer. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2007 Mar;4(3):156-71. doi: 10.1038/ncponc0750.
Seiwert TY, Salama JK, Vokes EE The concurrent chemoradiation paradigm--general principles. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2007 Feb;4(2):86-100. doi: 10.1038/ncponc0714.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
