Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as specialized types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may help in planning radiation therapy that does less damage to normal tissues. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying using functional MRI to see how well it works in planning radiation therapy in patients undergoing radiation therapy to the base of the skull and/or brain for nonmetastatic head and neck cancer.

Cancer survivorship has dramatically improved within the last four decades and a greater number of Americans are living after cancer diagnosis. An increase in the number of survivors has highlighted the need to investigate the quality of life experienced by these survivors. While Survivorship research has improved our understanding of the challenges faced by some cancer survivors, there is a paucity of research on the functional and cognitive health status of head and neck cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional and cognitive changes that occur in head and neck cancer patients as a result of cancer treatment, in an attempt to increase our understanding of the complex interactions between cancer treatment, comorbid health ailments and quality of life.

RATIONALE: Collecting information by questionnaire about the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer may help doctors learn more about the disease. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is testing a questionnaire for assessing pain control, head and neck symptoms, and general symptoms of illness, demographics, moods, alcohol and tobacco history, and quality of life related to cancer in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.

Goal: The primary goal of this study is to longitudinally investigate, in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, the potential fibrosis-lymphedema continuum. Specifically, we will examine the development, patterns, progression, and prevalence of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema, explore potential biological correlatives including pro-inflammatory cytokines and genetic polymorphisms, and evaluate the relationship among late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema and select psychosocial stressors that potentially interact with cytokine pathways. H: A minimum of 20 percent of HNC patients will experience late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate characteristics patterns of the development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate patterns of symptoms associated with late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate patterns of inflammatory response and the development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: Select polymorphisms will increase the likelihood of development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: Incidence and severity of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema will correlate with total dose of radiation to involved anatomical site. H: HNC patients with fibrosis and/or lymphedema experience greater levels of depression and social withdrawal than those without these conditions.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at DNA in tissue samples from patients with head and neck cancer.

After consultation with the Korean Health Authorities, the two Post-Authorization Safety Studies EMR 62202-509 (NCT01082315) and EMR 62241-508 (NCT01075828) were combined within one study protocol EMR 062202-551. This Post-Marketing Surveillance Study (PMS) EMR 062202-551 is requested by the Korean Health Authorities to continue monitoring of Erbitux and provide further information about safety and toxicity in clinical practice in at least 900 patients during 6 years. All data points from the EMR 62202-509 (NCT01082315) and EMR 62241-508 (NCT01075828) remain unchanged in protocol EMR 062202-551. Therefore, the Sponsor has decided not to separately disclose the EMR 062202-551 study titled "A Korean Post-Marketing Surveillance Study On Erbitux® (Cetuximab) in Patients With Locally Advanced or Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck (originally EMR 62241-508) and in Patients With EGFR-expressing, KRAS wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (originally EMR 62202-509)" on clinicaltrials.gov.

The investigators hope to learn more about how side-effects of RT or RTchemo affect food intake and nutrition status.

This study is part of a larger grant, for which the overall goal is to collect measurements of liquid flow through the oropharynx (i.e., mouth and throat) during swallowing. The focus of this study is to evaluate the flow of liquids of varying consistency in the head and neck cancer population.

This study aims to develop and evaluate a low-cost, portable, flexible nasopharyngeal scope (FNS) used to assess head and neck cancers (HNC) in low resource settings. The FNS will be compared to an endoscope that is used as standard of care (SOC) in terms of ease of use, image quality, and perceived pain. The ultimate goal is to compare the ease of use between the FNS to what is used in SOC.

The purpose of the present research protocol is to investigate and identify translocator protein 18kDa, MRI DTI, and EEG/ERPs, markers of Chronic Systemic Symptoms (CSS).