Active clinical trials for "Oropharyngeal Neoplasms"

The purpose of this research is to determine whether it is feasible to treat patients with Human Papilloma Virus positive (HPV-positive) oropharyngeal tumors on a specialized treatment machine (MRIdian linear accelerator [Linac]), which utilizes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for radiation planning and delivery.

SURVEILLE-HPV - A new post therapeutic surveillance strategy for HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer based on HPV Circulating DNA measures. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients have a much better prognosis that their HPV-negative counterparts. Despite this, Post Treatment Surveillance (PTS) strategy does not take into account HPV status. HPV Circulating DNA (HPV Ct DNA) has emerged as a promising tool to assess the risk of cancer recurrence following treatment. We assume that this biomarker could be helpful to guide PTS. The number of systematic PTS visits could be significantly reduced in patients with undetectable HPV Ct DNA whereas a closer clinical and radiological follow up could be performed in case of detectable HPV Ct DNA. If confirmed, this new strategy could have several benefits including: reduction of PTS visits for most HPV-positive patients which implies a potential cost decrease and Identification of relapse at early stages (before the occurrence of symptoms)

Background: Gene therapy is closely followed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA requires researchers to conduct long-term follow-up of people who have had the treatment. This study collects data on people who have had gene therapy and sends it to the FDA. The data does not include participants names. Objective: To contact current or past participants of gene therapy protocols at least once a year for up to 15 years to ensure they have not had any harmful side effects. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older who have had gene therapy in a National Cancer Institute study Design: Participants will give their address and telephone number. They will also give and the address and phone number of 1 or 2 other people who will know where they are. For the first year after gene therapy, participants will give blood samples 3 times (at 3, 6, and 12 months). For the next 4 years, they may have a physical exam and laboratory tests with a home physician. They will get a kit to mail in blood samples. Or they can visit the NIH Clinical Center. They will be asked if they have had any signs of neurological, autoimmune, or blood disorders, or any new cancers. For years 6 to 15, participants will be contacted yearly via phone or email and asked questions about their health. They may give blood samples. When the participant dies, if researchers think the death was caused by gene therapy, they will ask the participant s family to allow an autopsy. ...

This phase II trial studies the good and bad effects of the combination of drugs called cabozantinib and nivolumab in treating patients with melanoma or squamous cell head and neck cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial may help doctors determine how quickly patients can be divided into groups based on biomarkers in their tumors. A biomarker is a biological molecule found in the blood, other body fluids, or in tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process or a sign of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. The two biomarkers that this trial is studying are "tumor mutational burden" and "tumor inflammation signature." Another purpose of this trial is to help doctors learn if cabozantinib and nivolumab shrink or stabilize the cancer, and whether patients respond differently to the combination depending on the status of the biomarkers.

This is a pilot prospective observational cohort study, comprising patients with head and neck cancer (HNSCC) treated with standard of care definitive (chemo)radiation either with photons or protons. Patients will be assigned for protons or photons based on the guidelines of the National Indication Protocol for Proton therapy of the Netherlands. Immunological function will be evaluated by the collection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Blood samples will be collected at baseline, during (chemo)radiation (end of week 3 and/or before week 4 of treatment) and after completion of (chemo)radiation (week 9, week 12, week 20, week 34 and week 60, respectively 1 week, 5 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after completion of (chemo)radiation). To quantify immunological function, PBMCs collected during (chemo)radiation and after (chemo)radiation will be compared with that before (chemo)radiation (week 0), using IFN-γ-ELISPOT to screen for the presence of antigen-specific T-cell responses. Furthermore, flow cytometry panels will be used to determine global changes in immune cell proficiency. Histological evaluation will take place at baseline and week 3 to examine changes in immune infiltration within tumour tissue during proton versus photon (chemo)radiation. This biopsy part of the study is optional for the patient. Archival tissue from the biopsy that was taken at diagnosis will be used for the baseline assessments. Biopsy at week 3 week will be taken for all patients who agree to participate in this optional part of the study.

A prospective, observational study evaluating the durability of local/regional control of previously published de-escalated radiotherapy protocols for patients with P16 positive oropharynx cancers who have minimal nicotine exposure who are not current uses (< 10 pack year smoking history; < 10 year history of any nicotine product [electronic cigarette, chewing tobacco]). Quality of Life measures will also be collected.

To use novel methods for quantitative analysis of VFSS (videofluoroscopic swallow study, also known as modified barium swallow) to study and compare dysphagia in patients treated for head and neck carcinoma with concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy (cisplatin) or targeted therapy (cetuximab) vs. immunotherapy (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or durvalumab). Our hypothesis is that pharyngeal constriction will be greater (lower ratio) with concurrent immunotherapy compared to chemotherapy, as measured by the pharyngeal constriction ratio (PCR).

Head and neck cancers (HNSCC) are primarily squamous cell cancers represented by tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Locally advanced stages (stages III and IV) account for 50 to 70% of all presentations. The three main risk factors are smoking, alcohol and oropharyngeal infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). Apart from HPV status, there is no biomarker for the prognosis in HSNCC patients. Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) can provide "real-time" information on tumor behavior and are already used in various cancers (colon, lung). Their detection has limited sensitivity and biomarkers cannot be used for early diagnosis, but may be useful during follow-up to assess local, regional or metastatic early tumor recurrence. By using blood samples at different times (at diagnosis, after initial treatment and during follow-up), we will be able to measure the variation in quantification and establish a predictive role of these CTCs for the response to treatment. Our hypothesis is that CTCs may have a key role, in addition to clinical and radiological examination, in detecting early tumor relapse. We believe that the joint consideration of clinical parameters, treatment strategy and quantification of CTCs could optimize patient follow-up and management. The CTC extraction system, ClearCell® FX from Biolidics, is an automated microfluidic enrichment system. It has the advantage of recovering fully intact and viable CTCs from a standard blood sample. The gentle sorting principle allows to preserve cell integrity and thus the expression of surface antigens. The CTCs thus isolated can then be re-cultured or analyzed by immunostaining. This high-performance technique, in operation since December 2017 in the Biochemistry Department of Pr Claire Rodriguez-Lafrasse (HCL), has demonstrated its usefulness in lung cancer. Transcriptomic analysis of CTCs can be performed at the scale of a cell after isolation of the CTCs. CTCs can then be sequenced in RNAseq either in bulk (pool of cells) or cell by cell on our Illumina (Nextseq) sequencer, in order to define the heterogeneity of the tumor. Transcriptome analysis then provides information on the state of the cell as to its position in the epithelio-mesenchymal transition thanks to a molecular signature by phenotype. A priori-free characterization is therefore possible thanks to the RNAseq single-cell. This highly sensitive and innovative technique will allow the study of the gene expression profile of CTCs.

The researchers think that a blood test (NavDx®) may be able to identify cancer early by looking for circulating DNA from Human Papillomavirus/HPV. Circulating DNA are small pieces of genes that are released into the bloodstream. The purpose of this study is to find out whether using this blood test to test for HPV DNA will help detect HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer/OPC.

The iCaRe2 is a multi-institutional resource created and maintained by the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to collect and manage standardized, multi-dimensional, longitudinal data and biospecimens on consented adult cancer patients, high-risk individuals, and normal controls. The distinct characteristic of the iCaRe2 is its geographical coverage, with a significant percentage of small and rural hospitals and cancer centers. The iCaRe2 advances comprehensive studies of risk factors of cancer development and progression and enables the design of novel strategies for prevention, screening, early detection and personalized treatment of cancer. Centers with expertise in cancer epidemiology, genetics, biology, early detection, and patient care can collaborate by using the iCaRe2 as a platform for cohort and population studies.