Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell"

RATIONALE: Vorinostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. 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. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells. Giving vorinostat together with chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vorinostat when given together with cisplatin and radiation therapy in treating patients with stage III or stage IVa squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx which is either unresectable or borderline resectable.

This trial examines survival and toxicity in previously irradiated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) treated with radiosurgery and cetuximab and to evaluate the acute and late toxicities associated with the above therapy.

The purpose of this study is To compare the effects of the two types of thoracic esophageal cancer lymphadenectomy on the staging and prognosis of resectable esophageal cancer, which defined by the International Association of esophageal disease(ISDE) - standard mediastinal lymphadenectomy,total mediastinal lymphadenectomy and three field lymphadenectomy,and to find out reasonable range of lymphadenectomy. To compare the effects of Chemotherapy Group (Docetaxel + Nedaplatin) with Control Group on the prognosis of resectable thoracic esophageal cancer,and to explore the indications of adjuvant chemotherapy.

The purpose of the study is to estimate the rate of response for patients with ovarian, non-small cell lung, prostate, colorectal, gastroesophageal, and head and neck cancers who are administered LY2523355.

This phase 2 trial is studying whether giving a combination of docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil chemotherapy followed by the combination of cisplatin with radiation therapy works in treating patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. 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. Giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of pharmaceutical compound 31510 in a topical cream when applied to in situ cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and to obtain preliminary efficacy data for the treatment of in situ cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by Compound 31510 topical cream.

RATIONALE: Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving erlotinib together with docetaxel and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well erlotinib given together with docetaxel and radiation therapy works in treating patients with stage III or stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The purpose of this open-label, randomized, controlled, Phase 1/2 study of the integrin inhibitor cilengitide is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of different regimens of cilengitide added to cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The Phase 1 part was conducted in dedicated study centers. In the Phase 2 part of this trial, cilengitide is administered at two different doses to two experimental groups. The third group will only receive cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab. In the Phase 1 part of this trial, the dose of cilengitide in combination with cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab was determined. Cilengitide is an experimental anti-cancer substance interacting with so-called integrins. Integrins are protein molecules that are known to be present on the surface of certain cancer cells. Integrins are also found on certain cells that belong to growing blood vessels (endothelial cells). Integrins potentially facilitate the blood vessels' support of the tumor (angiogenesis) as well as the tumor's growth and further spread throughout the body (metastasis). By inhibiting integrins on the tumor cell surface, cilengitide potentially kills cancer cells, and potentially sensitizes cancer cells to other co-administered therapeutics. By inhibiting integrins on the endothelial cell surface, it potentially inhibits the ingrowth of additional blood vessels towards the tumor. Cilengitide is given as an intravenous infusion (given by a drip in one vein of your arm). If any unacceptable side effect occurs, treatment with the study drug will be stopped.

The purpose of this study is to better understand how to use celecoxib, a popular drug widely used for arthritis, for head and neck cancer patients. Some doctors believe that celecoxib may have helpful effects when used for head and neck cancer. Celecoxib has been shown to prevent some cancers in animals. It has also been used to make standard chemotherapy and radiation work better in both animals and humans. However, all of the previous studies focused on tumors outside the head and neck region. To better understand how to use celecoxib for head and neck cancer patients, doctors at MSKCC are studying the effects of the drug on certain chemicals in the body that are thought to be important for cancer treatment. This study aims to measure how celecoxib affects those chemicals, which can be found in the tumor, blood, and urine of patients with head and neck cancer. Although celecoxib is already used to treat arthritis, this study will be the first to test the drug in head and neck cancer patients.

The purpose of this research study is to determine the safest and most effective dose of 5-FU that can be given with docetaxel (Taxotere), Cisplatin and cetuximab to patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We will also be studying the toxicity of this regimen of 4 drugs and the tumor response.