Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell"

This trial was originally designed and powered to compare biomarker modulation in the neo-adjuvant setting (erlotinib versus erlotinib plus sulindac versus placebo) with clinical response to erlotinib in the adjuvant setting. Since implementing the trial in late 2005, The investigators have encountered significant obstacles to implementing the adjuvant therapy phase of the trial. Barriers included: disease recurrence patient refusal to take the agent patient refusal to travel to Pittsburgh for clinical evaluations. Given the institutional challenges to implement and complete the adjuvant portion, the investigators have decided to change the primary endpoint to a biomarker modulation endpoint. To achieve this goal, the investigators determined that they needed 39 paired tissue specimens (see statistical justification below). The central hypothesis to be tested in this study is that persistent activation of parallel and/or downstream pathways contributes to tumor progression in the setting of EGFR blockade. While not all head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients will respond to EGFR targeting, the optimal strategy to identify those subjects whose tumors are sensitive to EGFR inhibition remains unknown. The primary objective is centered around the concept of tumor biomarkers which may be modulated by EGFR and Cox-2 inhibitors and may serve as future therapeutic targets for therapy. To this end patients on this trial will be randomly assigned to one of three arms to receive either Tarceva, Tarceva plus sulindac, or a placebo in the 2 week pre-operative period. A panel of biomarkers will be obtained by biopsy prior to pre-operative therapy and again at surgery. Biomarkers will be examined for modulation in the 2-week pre-operative period, for group differences, for treatment effects and for further understanding of protein signaling pathways. Sample size for the primary objective Modification of Statistical Design: The primary endpoint is the difference between pre (biopsy) and post (surgery). There are 3 hypotheses of interest: (1) placebo vs erlotinib alone, (2) placebo versus erlotinib plus sulindac, and (3) erlotinib vs erlotinib + sulindac. With a randomization in a 3:5:5 ratio, we have 88% power, alpha = .01 for an omnibus test to show between-group differences of 1 log exist. This requires 39 patients. Basically, 39 patients will provide the ability to detect a one log difference between any 2 of the 3 groups in pre-post change.

The primary objective of this trial is to study whether paclitaxel plus 5-fluorouracil has better overall survival than cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil in chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. 436 patients will be recruited into this study.

The purpose of this study is to find out whether Nivolumab will significantly improve overall survival as compared to therapy of investigator's choice in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck carcinoma.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and the best dose of lenalidomide when given together with cetuximab in treating patients with colorectal cancer or head and neck cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment. Biological therapies, such as lenalidomide, use substances made from living organisms that may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, may block tumor growth in different ways by targeting certain cells. Giving lenalidomide together with cetuximab may be a better treatment for colorectal cancer or head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether LI administered in combination with cyclophosphamide, indomethacin and zinc in a multivitamin (CIZ) combination prior to standard of care therapy (surgery followed by radiotherapy or concurrent radiochemotherapy) is safe and will increase the overall survival of subjects with previously untreated locally advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or soft palate at a median of 3 to 5 years

The IMRT-HIT-SNT trial is a prospective, mono-centric, phase II trial evaluating toxicity and efficacy in the combined treatment with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and carbon ion (C12) boost. Primary endpoint is mucositis ≥ CTC°3, secondary endpoints are local control, disease-free survival, overall survival, and toxicity. Planned accrual of the trial includes 36 patients with histologically proven (≥R1-resected or inoperable) sinonasal malignancies.

To assess whether or not a perioperative therapy with surgery can improve the outcomes among patients with potentially curable squamous carcinoma of esophagus as compared to a preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery

This study is being done to test whether panitumumab, in combination with chemotherapy and radiation is safe in people with head and neck cancer. Another goal of this study is to find the highest dose of the study drugs that can be given safely without causing serious sife effects. Panitumumab is a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody that has been studied in other types of cancers, such as kidney and colon. This monoclonal antibody is directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR has been found on the majority of head and neck cancer cells. By blocking EGFR, this monoclonal antibody may inhibit the growth of head and neck cancer cells.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving bevacizumab together with cisplatin, radiation therapy, and fluorouracil works in treating patients with stage IIB, stage III, stage IVA, or stage IVB nasopharyngeal cancer. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of nasopharyngeal cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving bevacizumab together with chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well pazopanib hydrochloride works in treating patients with stage IV or recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer. Pazopanib hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor.