Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Immunotoxins can locate tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. Immunotoxin therapy may be effective in treating advanced solid tumors. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of immunotoxin therapy in treating patients with recurrent unresectable advanced solid tumors.

To determine the safety and tolerability of gefitinib in combination with cisplatin and radiation (3D-CRT or IMRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

To Study whether infusion of Tranexamic Acid (a synthetic antifibrinolytic agent) reduces blood loss during head and neck surgery.

This is a Phase I, multi-center study of GM-CT-01, which has been shown to increase the anti-tumor activity of 5-fluorouracil in mice. The primary reason for doing the study is to determine the safety of GM-CT-01 given alone and in combination with therapeutical dosage of 5-Fluorouracil, in patients who have advanced cancer that can be measured by CT scan.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies such as cetuximab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining monoclonal antibody therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of cetuximab plus cisplatin in treating patients who have metastatic or recurrent cancer of the head and neck that has not responded to previous cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

This multi-center photodynamic therapy study plans to treat patients with large tumors in any superficial location, sarcoma, tumors of oral/oro-pharyngeal cavity, tumors with extensive pelvic involvement, or liver metastasis. The treatment is limited to patients that have failed to respond to currently approved methods of treatment. The study involves a single, intravenous administration of an investigational drug, LS11 (previously studied in approximately 80 cancer patients) and the placement of a novel, flexible light delivery catheter inside the tumor by a minor surgical procedure. The activation of LS11 by the light delivery catheter over a period of 1-24 hrs may result in destruction of tumor tissue.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of liposomal lurtotecan in treating patients who have metastatic or locally recurrent head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of flavopiridol in treating patients who have recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combining epirubicin, carboplatin, and capecitabine in treating patients who have unresectable locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent solid tumor.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. It is not yet known which regimen of radiation therapy is more effective for head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of different regimens of radiation therapy in treating patients who have head and neck cancer.