Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell"

This study utilizes two cycles of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin chemotherapies followed by four small doses of radiation, prior to other treatment (surgery or radiation). This study is evaluating if radiation as a chemoenhancer increases the response rate of initial therapy.

This study is examining the effects of increasing the dose of radiation given to treat head and neck cancer. Radiation doses to the primary cancer are higher than usually given; lymph glands of the neck will also be treated at a lower dose. Surgery on the lymph glands my be necessary in the future. Radiation treatments given in small fractions twice a day allows a higher dose to be delivered than if the treatment was given once a day. This study will enroll patients at three sequential increasing dose levels. Approximately 40 patients will be enrolled at each dose level.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving capecitabine after surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well capecitabine works in treating patients who have undergone previous surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Study Objectives: To determine the MTD (maximal tolerated dose) and recommended dose of a weekly docetaxel and cisplatin combination regimen for locoregional recurrent/metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) To determine the response rate of the recommended dose To determine the safety and tolerability of the recommended dose

Recent progress in treatment of recurrent/metastatic SCCHN has been made with the introduction of the taxanes. Docetaxel as a single agent has a response rate of 22-42% and 17% in patients with recurrent disease. Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine prodrug that is converted into 5-FU. Previous studies have shown that the capecitabine/docetaxel combination has a synergistic inhibition of tumor growth, resulting in significantly superior efficacy in time to disease progression (TTP), overall survival, median survival and objective tumor response rate compared to docetaxel alone. This trial will investigate the efficacy the combination of docetaxel and capecitabine in treating patients with recurrent/metastatic SCCHN.

This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of erlotinib and to see how well it works in treating patients with metastatic or unresectable non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, or squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) of the head and neck. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth

The purpose of this study is to further test a combination chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and to see if the addition of supportive medicine can help reduce the side effects of these drugs.

The purpose of this study is to determine the appropriate dose, that dose which is found to give maximum effect with limited toxicity, of cisplatin in combination with docetaxel and 5-fluorouracil and then to further define the safety and effectiveness of this combination of medications.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if giving Iressa (Gefitinib or ZD1839) with surgery and/or radiation will help to control squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The safety of this treatment will also be studied

This phase II trial studies how well lapatinib ditosylate works in treating patients with metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer. Lapatinib ditosylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.