Active clinical trials for "Oropharyngeal Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a less invasive type of surgery for head and neck cancer and may have fewer side effects and improve recovery. PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies how transoral robotic surgery works in treating patients with benign or stage I-IV head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. CT and PET scans and treatment-planning systems may help in planning radiation therapy. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving radiation therapy together with cisplatin may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of intensity-modulated image guided adaptive radiation therapy when given together with cisplatin in treating patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer

Primary Objectives: Develop and pilot test an innovative intervention to determine its feasibility and acceptability to patients. Recruitment rate, patient satisfaction, attendance, questionnaire completion rates and the reliability and validity of the questionnaires will be assessed. Conduct preliminary analyses on the efficacy of the intervention in improving patients' depression. Evaluate whether depression levels in patients receiving the intervention decreases, and whether the decrease is greater among those who complete more sessions. Test the relationship between patients' depression levels and adherence to swallowing rehabilitation and to dental preventive maintenance regimens.

This trial studies how well digital PET scan works in predicting outcomes in patients with oropharyngeal cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced). The development of digital detectors for PET is a technological improvement in medical imaging that could potentially impact many areas of clinical oncology, including staging, radiation planning accuracy, and the assessment of treatment response. Digital technology may improve PET imaging performance by providing better timing, energy and spatial resolution, higher count rate capabilities and linearity, increased contrast, and reduced noise. Utilizing digital PET scan, may work better in predicting outcomes and treatment response in patients with oropharyngeal cancer compared to conventional PET.

This phase II trial studies how well radiation therapy and cisplatin with or without cetuximab works in treating patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) positive, KRAS-variant stage III-IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, may help the body?s immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving radiation therapy, cisplatin, and cetuximab may work better in treating patients with HPV positive, KRAS-variant oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma compared to radiation therapy and cisplatin alone.

This pilot research trial studies circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in predicting outcomes in patients with stage IV head and neck cancer or stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer. Studying circulating tumor DNA from patients with head and neck or lung cancer in the laboratory may help doctors predict how well patients will respond to treatment.

Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of intratumoral (in the tumor) PV701 in treating patients who have advanced or recurrent unresectable squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) of the head and neck. Vaccines made from a specially-modified virus such as PV701 may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells while leaving normal cells undamaged. Injecting PV701 directly into the tumor may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells

This study will screen people for oncogenic oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and antibodies to form a cohort of people who may be at increased risk of HPV-oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). The investigators will follow these individuals prospectively to evaluate oncogenic oral HPV persistence, risk factors, and biomarkers for persistence.

This phase I clinical trial is studying the side effects and the best dose of vorinostat when given together with paclitaxel and carboplatin in treating patients with metastatic or recurrent solid tumors and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Vorinostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving vorinostat together with paclitaxel and carboplatin may kill more tumor cells. NOTE: An administrative decision was made by NCI to halt further study of vorinostat in this specific patient population as of February 1, 2013. No patients remain on vorinostat. Going forward this study will determine the safety and tolerability of the paclitaxel and carboplatin combination in this patient population.

Primary Objectives: To assess the ratio in sensitivities of OraTest® in combination with visual examination versus visual examination alone in the detection of serious pathology defined as severe dysplasia, CIS, or cancer of the O/OP cavity in patients who are at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, or severe dysplasia of the oral/oropharyngeal (O/OP) cavity due to their age and lifestyle risk factors. To estimate the adjusted specificity of OraTest® in combination with visual examination in the detection of severe dysplasia, CIS, or cancer of the O/OP cavity. Secondary Objectives: To assess the ratio of sensitivity of OraTest® in combination with visual examination versus visual examination alone in the detection of certain chromosomal abnormalities (17p chromosomal deletions, or both 3p and 9p chromosomal deletions), severe dysplasia, CIS, or cancer of the O/OP cavity in patients who are at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, or severe dysplasia of the oral/oropharyngeal (O/OP) cavity due to their age and lifestyle risk factors. To obtain the adjusted specificity of OraTest® in combination with visual examination in the detection of certain chromosomal abnormalities (17p chromosomal deletions, or both 3p and 9p chromosomal deletions), severe dysplasia, CIS or cancer of the O/OP cavity. To evaluate the chromosomal status of the positively staining lesions with respect to 3p, 9p, or 17p deletions. To carry out gene expression studies on biopsies and map these onto an analysis of the widespread chromosomal imbalances in stain-positive and stain-negative lesions. To evaluate the quantitative and qualitative toxicities, as well as other safety parameters, of tolonium chloride 5 mg/mL (OraTest®).