Active clinical trials for "Mouth Neoplasms"

This is an imaging protocol only, not a therapeutic study. The primary goal of the proposed study is to examine the utility of a new imaging study, Positron Emission Tomography with F-18 Fluorothymidine (FLT PET), in the early treatment evaluation of head and neck cancer. FLT uptake in the tumor correlates with the rate of cell proliferation. It is therefore hoped that changes in tumor FLT uptake after therapy will reflect change in the number of actively dividing tumor cells and will provide early assessment of treatment response. Research subjects will undergo one PET scan with FLT. The scan is done prior to any therapeutic intervention (radiation or chemotherapy) can be obtained up to 30 days prior to the start of therapy. The uptake of FLT in the tumor will be analyzed to see if it can be used as a predictor of treatment efficacy and/or outcome. There is an optional biopsy component to this study. Should the attending physicians (primarily the otolaryngologists) believe that the subject can safely undergo an outpatient biopsy, and the subject agrees, a biopsy is performed. The biopsy will be done within 30 days prior to treatment, similar to FLT PET scans. Tissue from the biopsy will be analyzed for markers of cellular proliferation and these markers will be correlated with the findings of FLT PET scan. There will be a 2-year clinical follow-up to assess for treatment outcomes, local control, and overall survival.

Objectives: Specific Aim 1: Estimate the prevalence of head and neck lymphedema in patients who have been treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy (± chemotherapy) for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Compare functional outcomes in patients with and without lymphedema using cross-sectional survey methods. Specific Aim 2: Evaluate the effect of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) provided in an outpatient setting or a home-based program in reducing lymphedema in patients previously treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy (± chemotherapy) for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer at 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up. Patient characteristics, treatment variables, and the health care environment will be analyzed as possible explanatory variables that influence the effect of lymphedema treatment. Specific Aim 3: Evaluate the effect of lymphedema treatment on symptom burden, self-image, and functional performance status in patients previously treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy (± chemotherapy) for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.

The trial will compare exercises using Therabite® versus wooden spatulas to prevent or relieve trismus in patients with stage 3 and 4 oral/oropharyngeal cancer.

This is a multicenter placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effects of a topically applied gel on precancerous oral epithelial lesions. A total of 41 participants will be enrolled in this trial, and 22 of them will be enrolled at Ohio State. [The remaining 19 participants will be enrolled at the University of North Carolina (9 participants) and the University of Louisville (8 participants)]. At all three institutions, half of the participants will randomly be assigned to the 10% FBR gel (0.5 gm four times daily for 3 months), while half will enter the placebo control arm. All trial participants will have a pretreatment (including lesional and perilesional tissue) biopsy taken before and an excisional biopsy after 3 months of treatment. As pretreatment indices are compared to post treatment effects on each patient, patients serve as their own internal control. Pretreatment lesional biopsies are obtained to establish a pretreatment diagnosis and provide a pretreatment baseline for the experimental parameters.

This randomized phase II trial is studying how well Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate works in preventing cancer in patients with oral leukoplakia. Chemoprevention is the use of certain substances to keep cancer from forming, growing, or coming back. The use of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate, a substance made from soy, may keep cancer from forming in patients with oral leukoplakia

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the model of delivering CHW-driven home-based comprehensive NCD control services aimed to prevent premature deaths from cardio-vascular diseases, stroke and breast, cervix and oral cancers in the hard-to-reach women.

The aim of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, on oral cells with mutant p53. The p53 protein's normal (wild-type) function within cells is to act as a tumor suppressor, or anti-cancer protein. When mutated, the p53 protein not only no longer executes the functions of a tumor suppressor, and it can gain functions as a pro-cancer protein.22 The proposed clinical trial will utilize oral cells collected from subjects who are heavy smokers. Since the subjects are regularly exposed to mutagenic chemicals it is the thought that their oral cells will contain measurable levels of mutant p53. The participants will consume watercress juice, which is rich in PEITC (See Figure 1). Previous studies in the laboratory showed PEITC selectively depletes mutant p53, and not wild type p53, in cell culture. Our hypothesis is that the ITC in the watercress juice will lead to the depletion of mutant p53 within the oral cells. This depletion could lead to a possible clinical application of this compound, such as chemopreventives or oncologic treatments of individuals with oral cancers.

Following surgery to remove tumours of the head and neck, patients undergo reconstruction with free flaps - tissue that is taken from elsewhere in the body and given a new blood supply by attaching it to vessels in the neck. Following this type of surgery, patients often need medication to maintain their blood pressure in the intensive care unit. The effect of these drugs on the transplanted tissues is unknown. This study investigates the effects of four commonly used drugs on free flap perfusion.

This pilot clinical trial studies freeze-dried black raspberries (BRB) in preventing oral cancer recurrence in high at-risk Appalachian patients previously treated with surgery for oral cancer. Chemoprevention is the use of drugs natural products to keep cancer from developing, progressing, or recurring. Giving freeze-dried black raspberries may prevent oral cancer from forming or returning in oral cancer survivors.

This randomized phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best way to give lyophilized black raspberries in preventing oral cancer in high-risk patients previously diagnosed with stage I-IV or in situ head and neck cancer. Chemoprevention is the use of certain drugs to keep cancer from forming. The use of lyophilized black raspberries may prevent oral cancer. Studying samples of oral cavity scrapings, blood, urine, and saliva in the laboratory from patients receiving lyophilized black raspberries may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and the effect of lyophilized back raspberries on biomarkers.