Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

Background: Oral nutrition appears to be a challenge for patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy. Many patients desire to (their) 'normal food intake' and return to oral nutrition with normal consistency without modifications and diet formulas. Due to the dysphagia experienced post treatment this seems tremendously difficult. Referral to a speech-language therapist for swallowing therapy is no standard procedure. Study design: A prospective randomized study in patients with a tumor in Oral cavity, Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Hypopharynx or Larynx with stage II-IV (UICC TNM-tumor classification), ≥ 18 years, eligible for primary treatment with (chemo)radiation or adjuvant radiotherapy with curative intent. Intervention: Individually tailored swallowing therapy by an experienced speech-language therapist in cooperation with individual dietary counselling (by an experienced dietician, 'usual care') pre-, per- and post treatment (until 6 months after treatment). This might improve 'normalcy of food intake', quality (no food modifications) and quantity of food intake and besides decrease the use of tube feeding and/or nutritional supplements. Also patients quality of life and nutritional status may be influenced positively. Study hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to determine whether combined individual swallowing therapy and individual dietary counselling in patients with head and neck cancer receiving (chemo)radiotherapy can improve 'normal food intake'. Food intake without modifications and tube feeding and/or nutritional supplements.

This research trial studies deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in blood samples from Caucasian and African-American cancer patients who received docetaxel on clinical trial CLB-9871. Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors learn more about how docetaxel is used by the body.

RATIONALE: Developing a questionnaire that patients can use to assess their quality of life related to the appearance of their face after surgery may help doctors plan the best treatment for patients undergoing surgery and reconstruction for head and neck cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is developing a questionnaire for assessing quality of life related to facial appearance in patients who have undergone or are planning to undergo surgery and reconstruction for head and neck cancer; and after dermatologic surgery for patients with cutaneous skin cancers.

RATIONALE: Developing a questionnaire that can be used to assess the quality of life among people who have a family member with cancer may help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying quality of life among families with a member who is a cancer patient.

RATIONALE: Gathering information about how often problems with neurocognitive functioning occur in patients with newly diagnosed upper aerodigestive tract cancers may help doctors learn more about the disease. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying neurocognitive functioning in patients with newly diagnosed upper aerodigestive tract cancers receiving treatment at Henry-Joyce Cancer Clinic.

The goal of this study is to better understand the changes in symptoms and overall quality of life after head and neck surgery and reconstruction. "Quality of Life" means how you feel about your life as a result of your disease and its treatment. Learning about changes in patients' quality of life will help doctors and future patients make more informed treatment decisions.

RATIONALE: Tests that measure how much saliva is made, hearing, swallowing, voice function, and quality of life may improve the ability to plan treatment for patients with advanced head and neck cancer and may help doctors find better ways to treat the cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the side effects of high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy in treating patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Imaging procedures, such as PET scan and CT scan, may help doctors predict a patient's response to treatment and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well PET scans and CT scans show response to treatment in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The purpose of this study is to look at several genes that might determine how the body processes the drugs used to treat lung, colorectal and head and neck cancers. The goal of this examination is to help investigators determine the proper dosage to give future cancer patients or to better predict which future patients will respond to particular drug therapies.

RATIONALE: Measuring levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the blood of patients with epithelial cancers (head and neck, lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate) may help doctors predict how patients will respond to treatment with radiation therapy. PURPOSE: This research study is measuring levels of TGF-beta in patients with epithelial cancers who are undergoing radiation therapy.