Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemcitabine together with docetaxel works in treating patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic head and neck cancer.

This study is to examine the effects on tumors of AZD2171, in the treatment of NSCLC or HNC. The safety and tolerability of AZD2171 will also be studied.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin and capecitabine, 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 chemotherapy together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of capecitabine when given together with carboplatin followed by radiation therapy in treating patients with stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest safe dose of the drugs OSI-774 and docetaxel that can be given together along with radiation treatment for advanced head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and side effects of a new combination and schedule of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Patients with advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer, which is untreatable by surgery or radiation therapy are eligible for this study. Standard treatment for advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer involves the use of chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known if radiation therapy plus chemotherapy is more effective than radiation therapy alone in treating patients with head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of high-dose radiation therapy alone with high-dose radiation therapy plus cisplatin in treating patients with head and neck cancer who have undergone surgery to remove the cancer.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy plus cisplatin is more effective than radiation therapy alone in treating patients with head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of radiation therapy plus cisplatin with radiation therapy alone in treating patients with head and neck cancer that has been removed during surgery.

RATIONALE: Celecoxib may stop the growth of thyroid cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor and by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of celecoxib in treating patients who have progressive metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer.

Patient at increased risk for developing a new head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are invited to take part in this study. The investigators of this trial will attempt to study the effectiveness of Celecoxib in preventing cancer in patients who have oral leukoplakia and/or head and neck dysplasia.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine if Allovectin-7®, an experimental gene-based immunotherapy, can shrink head and neck tumors. The trial will also examine if treatment can boost the immune system and if this treatment can improve the time to disease progression.