Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if radiation-induced xerostomia [RIX] (dry mouth) causes, or worsens the effects of, acid reflux (heartburn and heartburn-like symptoms) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving radiation therapy. Objectives: Primary Objective: Determine if radiation induced xerostomia (RIX) increases the frequency or duration of acid-reflux when re-measured approximately 6-12 weeks after RT (measured by # episodes, their duration, and Reflux Area Index (RAI). Reflux Area (RA) is the sum of the area under the curve for all episodes of pH<4 recorded during the study in units of Ph*minutes. The Reflux area index (RAI) is the RA corrected for the duration of the study (RA x 100/study duration). Secondary Objectives: To demonstrate that patients undergoing RT for OPC have reflux into the irradiated field that is anticipated to exacerbate mucositis symptoms Correlate RAI and # episodes of acid reflux with salivary flow before and after RT to determine if radiation induced hyposalivation is associated with more reflux events and symptoms. For patients with no pre-RT pathologic acid reflux, determine if RIX leads to conversion to acid-positive reflux measured approximately 6-12 weeks after RT. Correlate office indirect laryngoscopy findings (posterior commissure thickening, cobble-stoning, granulomas, and arytenoids erythema or edema) suggestive of acid reflux in OPC patients with pH-probe findings as was done in larynx cancer (Lewin et al) Compare findings from the patient reported outcome (PRO) instruments used

To demonstrate safety and efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for treatment of previously irradiated recurrent head and neck cancer. Specific Aims: Identify acute and late toxicities, response rates, locoregional control, disease free survival, and overall survival with IMRT. Also, tumor response, the amount of tumor shrinkage or reduction, will be analyzed. Rationale: Recurrent head and neck cancer is regarded as having limited treatment modalities since salvage surgery can only be accomplished on limited subgroups of patients. Chemotherapy has not shown clear clinical benefits and has significant toxicity. Re-irradiation has been used as a treatment modality. However, the re-irradiation dose is limited by significant toxicity that occurs with the cumulative dose of radiation. The use of IMRT can give a high dose to the recurrent tumor while limiting the dose to critical structures in the vicinity of the reirradiated volume thereby limiting toxicity and treating the recurrence to an adequate dose. The number of subjects was determined from 2 stage design with a historical control group as comparison, and these numbers of subjects were found to be 40. It is assumed that this treatment regimen will not be of further interest if the true response rate is less than 32.6% (Po0.326). It is also assumed that a true response rate of 53% or more (P10.53) would be of considerable interest in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer. The type I error (the probability of rejecting the hypothesis that the proportion responding to the treatment is less than or equal to Po when this hypothesis is actually true) is 0.05.

This phase II trial studies how well pioglitazone hydrochloride works in preventing head and neck cancer in patients who have oral leukoplakia. Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of pioglitazone hydrochloride may be effective in preventing head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Chemoprevention is the use of certain drugs to keep cancer from forming, growing, or coming back. The use of celecoxib may prevent or treat head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying celecoxib to see how well it works compared to placebo in preventing head and neck cancer in patients with oral leukoplakia.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Cisplatin and docetaxel may make the tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving chemoradiotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin and docetaxel works in treating patients with completely resected stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

This is a study to see whether the drug Salagen or salivary gland transfer is better for the prevention of dryness of the mouth in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation treatment.

RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain substances to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. Fruit and vegetable extracts may be effective in preventing the recurrence or further development of head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well fruit and vegetable extracts work in preventing the recurrence of stage I, stage II, stage III, stage IVA, or stage IVB head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. St. John's wort may interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy. It is not yet known if chemotherapy is more effective with or without St. John's Wort in treating solid tumors. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of docetaxel with or without St. John's wort in treating patients who have solid tumors that cannot be removed by surgery.

This is a retrospective study with long term follow up to evaluate the incidence, timing and risk factors of radiotherapy induced hypothyroidism in non-thyroid head and neck cancer patients who were treated with RT alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients being treated for head and neck cancer with primary tumor resection and bilateral neck dissections. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either pre-operative pregabalin (Lyrica) or a placebo. Patients and investigators will be blinded to which medication patients receive, and all patients will receive the same postoperative pain medication regimen with appropriate pain treatment as needed. Patients will be asked to fill out surveys prior to surgery, while in the hospital after surgery, and at each follow-up appointment for up to 24 months.