Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Gene therapy may kill cancer cells by inhibiting a gene that promotes the development and growth of cancer. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of gene therapy in treating patients who have advanced head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from certain human papillomaviruses may be able to help the body to kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine therapy in treating patients who have advanced or recurrent cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, esophagus, or head and neck.

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: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of fenretinide may be an effective way to prevent the development of cancer in patients with neoplasia of the mouth. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of fenretinide in preventing cancer in patients who have neoplasia of the mouth.

RATIONALE: Giving fluconazole may be effective in preventing or controlling mucositis caused by radiation therapy to the head and neck. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II/III trial to study the effectiveness of fluconazole in preventing mucositis in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck 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 if radiation therapy plus chemotherapy is more effective than radiation therapy alone in treating patients with advanced 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 advanced head and neck cancer.

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 paclitaxel in treating patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck 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. Chemoprotective drugs, such as amifostine, may protect normal cells from the side effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy plus combination chemotherapy and amifostine in treating patients who have stage II, stage III, or stage IV head and neck cancer that cannot be surgically removed.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether cisplatin plus monoclonal antibody therapy is more effective than cisplatin alone for metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized double-blinded phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of cisplatin with or without monoclonal antibody in treating patients who have metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer.