Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the toxicity and local tumor control of proton therapy for patients with head and neck cancer in a previously irradiated field. Standard of care for recurrent or secondary malignancies in a previously irradiated field is surgery. For inoperable patients or residual tumor after surgery, standard of care would be palliative chemotherapy. For a small subset of patients (good performance status, small radiation fields) re-irradiation can be performed. In this study the established concept of re-irradiation with photons will be transferred to proton radiotherapy. Proton therapy has the advantage of a steeper dose gradient to normal tissues, thus-theoretical advantages for lower toxicity.

The investigators want to have a collection of fresh primary or recurrent tumor tissue for establishment of patients-derived xenografts in order to: generate a biobank of in vivo patient xenografts representing the different subgroups of tumors for head and neck cancer perform genetic and transcriptional profiling of the primary, metastatic tumors and xenograft tumors evaluate the efficacy of new targeted agents, whether or not in combination with standard treatment options evaluate biomarkers of drug sensitivity study primary and secondary (acquired) resistance in these models

Head and neck cancers account for the sixth leading cause of cancers worldwide. The annual incidence of Head and neck cancers is more than 650,000 the patients each year. Head and neck cancers are associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, human papilloma virus (type 16 and 18) and previous exposure to radiation. So far, most of clinical and research data about head and neck cancers, such as the etiology, pathogenesis, prognosis factors and associated factors, treatment outcomes, are from Western countries. However, due to various environmental factors, for example race, genetics, geographical factors, general hygiene and health care system differences, the possibility of differences of disease characteristics between Western and Asian people should be considered. For several decades, there have been many studies about treatment modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy), complications and side effects for head and neck cancers in the West. Many institutions tried to improve the survival rate and resolve the toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for head and neck cancer patients. However there has been little information about the characteristics of head and neck cancers, effectiveness of treatment (survival rate, recurrence, and complication rate), and prognosis, particularly in Korean as well as in Asian patients. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate and analyze the features of head and neck cancers such as etiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, prognostic factors, treatment outcomes in a site specific cohort (South Korea) separately. It could be helpful to improve the treatment outcomes of head and neck cancers overall, to design race or site specific treatments for head and neck cancers, and to develop management strategy common in Asia as well as the West. The purpose of this study is To establish the prospective tumor registry about patient's information, treatment-related morbidities, treatment outcomes and quality of life, in addition to the prospective collection of patient samples (blood and tumor tissues). To establish the predictive model for treatment outcomes and treatment-related morbidities. To develop the biomarkers as predictive and/or prognostic factors.

There is no evidence available about which molecular profiling methods are currently used for cancer patients in Austrian clinical practice. The construction of the registry proposed as a completely independent research endeavor, will be helpful for scientific evaluation and the establishment of highly credible data.

It is still unclear if Lymph Node Yield (LNY) and Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) may have a prognostic role in patients affected by carcinoma of the oral cavity and the oropharynx. Only retrospective studies are available. For this reason, this prospective, multi center, observational study should provide indications in this regard. Proper stratification by patients characteristics will allow to understand if LNY and LNR may enter in the future TNM staging system

RATIONALE: Studying samples of sputum and tissue in the laboratory from patients with dysplasia or cancer may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at biomarkers in patients with respiratory tract dysplasia or lung cancer, head and neck cancer, or aerodigestive tract cancer.

Metallic taste in head and neck cancer is widely under-estimated in the literature. Its causes are multiple and poorly defined. Though it has a strong impact on the nutritional status. The main objective of the TORCAD project is to test the hypothesis that intraoral lipoperoxidation is associated to metallic taste onset before, during and after treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). The secondary goals are to evaluate the involvement of others physiopathological factors in metallic taste: (i) additional chemical modification in the saliva; (ii) release of inhibition of the facial nerve on the glossopharyngeal nerve; presence of an intraoral electric current; food pleasantness and acceptability; quality of life.

This study will assess if the CARES (Cancer Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support) intervention improves time to start of treatment after diagnosis and time to treatment completion for Lung Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer patients.

The purpose of this research study is to initiate a pharmacotherapy protocol for at-risk patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer in order to decrease the incidence of anxiety, depression, and uncontrolled pain during cancer treatment.

In this study, PA imaging will be used to examine the physiological and physical changes in lymph node involvements of head and neck cancer during radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Our objective in this pilot study will be to evaluate if PA parameters change within the lymph node involvements during chemoradiation therapy over time. Our hope is to use this information to correlate the changes in measured PA parameters with radiological response.