Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as fludeoxyglucose F 18-PET/CT scan, may help doctors find head and neck cancer and find out how far the disease has spread. It may also help doctors plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying fludeoxyglucose F 18-PET/CT imaging to see how well it works in assessing the tumor and planning neck surgery in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.

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.

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.

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

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 Engagement of Patients with Advanced Cancer is an intervention that utilizes well-trained lay health coaches to engage patients and their families in goals of care and shared decision-making after a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Although lay health workers have never been tested in this role, we hypothesize that lay health workers can feasibly improve goals of care documentation and help to reduce unwanted healthcare utilization at the end of life for Veterans diagnosed with new advanced stages of cancer and those diagnosed with recurrent disease.

The Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients has been developed and used largely within the confines of a single clinic setting and has not been used routinely with patients in the first year following treatment. Research so far suggests it is popular with patients, they would like to continue to use it in clinic and it is feasible. Benefits of its routine repeated use is untested, notably its impact on improving QOL and in reducing emotional distress, especially within the first year after treatment when patients are more likely to benefit from repeated use of the PCI. The overarching aim of the proposed research is to explore whether the routine use of the PCI in review clinics during the first year following head and neck cancer treatment can improve patients quality of life. The primary outcome is an improvement in QOL. Secondary outcomes are: social-emotional scale, distress thermometer and health economics. This will be a pragmatic cluster randomised control trial with consultants randomised to either 'using or 'not using' the PCI at clinic. It will involve two centres. 416 patients from at least 10 consultant clusters are required to show a clinically meaningful difference in the primary outcome. Intervention; Patient completion of the PCI and its inclusion into the regular review clinic consultation is the 'intervention' and is compared to standard out-patient follow-up. The pre-consultation questionnaires and PCI will be used from the first post-treatment clinic (i.e. baseline) onwards for one year. Completion of all pre-consultation questionnaires and the PCI is by computer (IPAD).

This is a prospective observational study evaluating wound complications following head and neck surgery. Patients undergoing major head and neck surgery will be included in the study. Patients meeting eligibility criteria will be identified by members of the University of Michigan Head and Neck Oncology Division of the Department of Otolaryngology. The primary aim of this study is to identify risk factors for poor wound healing as well as biologic markers associated with wound related complications in head and neck surgery. Most specifically, this study evaluates the effects of thyroid hormone on wound healing. This study will also evaluate pre-operative labs and comorbidities as well as reconstructive factors, post-operative labs, and other variables associated with wound healing. All interventions regarding wound healing fall under current standards of care and standard practice. Data regarding post-operative wound complications will be collected in a prospective fashion on the variables under study using study-specific datasheets. Data sheet will be entered into a secure database for analysis.