View clinical trials related to Head Cancer.
Filter by:Up to 90% of the radiotherapy patients will develop a certain degree of skin reaction at the treated area, also known as radiodermatitis (RD). Currently, there is a wide variety of strategies to manage RD, including creams, gels, ointments, wound dressings. However, up to now, there is still no comprehensive, evidence-based consensus for the treatment of RD. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a promising, non-invasive technique for treating RD. In a recent study conducted in our research group, LLLT prevented the aggravation of RD and provided symptomatic relief in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer after breast-sparing surgery. This was the first prospective study investigating the potential of LLLT for RD. In the current study, we want to investigate the efficacy of LLLT as a tool for the prevention of radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients.
Squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most frequent form of head and neck cancer. The therapeutic choice depends on the stage of the disease and the habits of the medical teams. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be used, alone or combined. However, none of the existing strategies has proven its superiority. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy induce DNA damages in the tumor cells. However, cells have the ability to induce DNA reparation, capable of causing treatment resistance. DNA reparation in non-tumor tissues can also explain the toxicity of cancer treatments. Investigation of DNA repair pathways involved in chemo- or radiation resistance could offer a good strategy for identifying biomarkers or indicators of treatment response. This study will explore the capacity of a comprehensive functional approach that addresses several pathways, based on the use of three innovative patented technologies, to classify the tumor response of HNSCC patients to treatments according to their DNA Repair Enzyme Signature. Our hypothesis is that taking into account various clinical parameters (e.g. patient and tumor characteristics), treatment strategy and measuring the DNA Repair Enzyme Signature would create patients' profiles and optimize their management.
The overall goal of this study is to examine the effect of a single dose of TENS on mucositis pain and function secondary to head and neck radiation therapies. Oral mucositis is an extremely debilitating, unpreventable condition (inflammation, ulcers, bleeding in the mouth, nose, and throat) that causes significant pain, functional impairment, and diminished quality of life. Head and neck cancers pose specific challenges to effective pain management and past studies suggest the use of effective non-pharmacologic strategies such as TENS may be particularly beneficial for avoiding sources of acute and chronic pain, thereby improving quality of life. The investigators hypothesize that a single dose of TENS will decrease pain and improve function and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. This project is particularly innovative because it is the first known study to examine the efficacy of TENS, an established safe, inexpensive and easy-to-use non-pharmacologic pain management intervention, for treating acute oral mucositis pain. The investigators research translates bench (animal model) science to human subjects using an interdisciplinary approach to pain management. Establishing whether TENS is effective for reducing mucositis pain is a critical first step toward establishing an effective, non-pharmacologic pain relief intervention for mucositis.
The objectives for this study is as follows: - Primary: - To evaluate the progression-free survival of locoregionally advanced (stages III/IV) SCCHN patients undergoing postoperative chemoradiotherapy with panitumumab. - Secondary: - To evaluate the overall survival, event-free survival, and toxicities. - To correlate efficacy parameters with 1) EGFR and downstream pathway activation, 2) FcyR polymorphisms, and 3) serum cytokine profiles. More specifically, the aim is to demonstrate the usefulness of biomarkers (downstream signaling molecules, FcyR polymorphisms, or tumor and serum cytokine(s) in predicting progression-free survival in patients with SCCHN treated with the above treatment. Specific biomarkers that relate to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and angiogenesis, including EGFR, pEGFR, Src, pMAPK, pSTAT3, pSTAT5, pSTAT1, pAKT, p38, p21, p27, PARP, E-cadherin, p-ErbB3, Ki67, VEGF, and IL-8, using reverse phase protein microarrays (RPPA) will be tested in baseline archival paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. To collect tumor tissue from pretreatment biopsies for cytokine/chemokine and immune biomarker studies on tumor tissue. We plan to investigate the expression of pAKT, pMAPK, and other EGFR pathway-related markers as well angiogenesis biomarkers. In addition, EGFR polymorphisms will be studied in tumor tissue samples and serum. Additional studies may be performed in the future. Some of these studies may be performed by Amgen.
This trial seeks to accomplish both local and regional control of head and neck cancer and reduce systemic metastatic disease. To do this, patients will received chemotherapy followed by chemotherapy and radiation (given together) with an escalating dose of docetaxel.