Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell"

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies dexamethasone in reducing oral pain and dry mouth after surgery in patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Dexamethasone may help lower pain and dry mouth caused by surgery.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of metformin in tumor metabolism in patients with head and neck cancer by evaluating metformin's ability to decrease TOMM20 expression in squamous carcinoma cells and decrease MCT4 expression in fibroblasts.

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies whether acetylcysteine oral rinse will lessen saliva thickness and painful mouth sores in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck, such as thickened saliva and mouth sores, may interfere with activities of daily living such as eating and drinking, and may also cause treatment to be stopped or delayed. Acetylcysteine rinse may reduce saliva thickness and mouth sores, and improve quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Phase: Exploratory Study Objectives: To collect drug bio-distribution data, begin collection of baseline and tumor/background imaging data, acquire experience to improve study design and the conduct of future studies Design: Exploratory, open label, nonrandomized, multi-center study Duration: Three visits - one screening, one imaging, and one follow-up visit at 24 hours post-dose Procedures: Informed consent, collection of demographic information and medical history, physical examinations, vital signs, 12-lead ECGs, routine blood tests to assess major organ functions, complete blood counts and clinical chemistries for safety, blood sample for CA-IX assay, pre-dose and post-dose blood samples for metabolite analysis, dosing with [F-18]VM4-037, PET imaging scan, dosimetry estimation (normals), urine collections (normals), tumor immunohistochemistry with CA-IX biomarker, follow up to imaging to collect adverse events Subjects: Approximately sixteen (16) adult subjects including four (4) healthy volunteers and twelve (12) cancer subjects who have confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of head & neck, lung, large solitary hepatic and renal cell cancer, as defined by protocol criteria

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biological effect of Tarceva (OSI-774) from an inhibition of EGF tumor receptor tyrosine kinase activity's point of view, for patients who are carriers of head and neck epidermoid carcinoma.

This phase II trial investigates how well sodium thiosulfate works in preventing ototoxicity (hearing loss/damage) in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) who are undergoing a chemoradiation. Sodium thiosulfate is a type of medication used to treat cyanide poisoning and to help lessen the side effects from cisplatin. Chemotherapy drugs, 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. Giving chemotherapy with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. The purpose of this trial is to find out whether it is feasible to give sodium thiosulfate 4 hours after each cisplatin infusion along with standard of care radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Giving sodium thiosulfate after cisplatin may help decrease the risk of hearing loss.

Randomized comparison between standard radiotherapy and hypofractionated split course schedule. Compared to standard radiotherapy, the investigators expect that hypofractionated split course (interruption of 2 weeks) radiotherapy will improve compliance to treatment, acute tolerance of treatment, preservation of autonomy, prevention of malnutrition, with the same efficacy, measured by the locoregional control rate.

This trial studies how well gabapentin, methadone, and oxycodone with or without venlafaxine hydrochloride work in managing pain in participants with stage II-IV squamous cell head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation therapy. Gabapentin may reduce the need for these pain medications if given at the start of radiation therapy. Methadone and oxycodone may help relieve pain caused by cancer. Venlafaxine hydrochloride may prevent or improve pain caused by cancer. It is now yet known whether giving gabapentin, methadone, and oxycodone with venlafaxine hydrochloride will work better in managing pain in participants with squamous cell head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation therapy.

The study evaluates the effects of the drug Metformin on the oxygen content in cancer tissue. Low oxygen concentration in cancer tissue accelerates cancer growth. Moreover, the response to radiation therapy is worse when tissue oxygen is low, because radiation therapy depends on oxygen to unfold therapeutic effects. Metformin has been used to treat type II diabetes for over 50 years and features additional properties that could slow down cancer growth. One of these properties is the improved oxygen concentration in cancer tissue. This effect has been proven for various cancers. This study was planned to verify this effect in head and neck cancer. Patients who suffer from cancer of the mouth and are planned for surgical removal of the cancer will be given Metformin for 9 to 14 days. The tissue removed in the subsequent surgery will be compared to a tissue sample that had been taken from the same patient prior to Metformin intake. To evaluate the oxygen content in the tissue samples, the expression of genes that react to oxygen levels will be measured and compared between the samples taken before and after treatment with Metformin. A secondary aim is to evaluate whether changes in the oxygen content within the tumor can be visualized by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, participants undergo an MRI scan, before and after Treatment with Metformin. The changes in the MRI will be correlated to the changes measured in gene expression.

Recent studies estimated that 15 to 20% of all cancers in humans are associated with viruses. Among oral cancer about 90% are oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Alcohol and tobacco consumption have been recognized for years as the main risk factors for development of OSCCs. However, 10 to 20% of patients suffering from OSCCs are non-smokers and/ or non-drinkers. Consequently, the hypothesis of another agent responsible has risen. Indeed, several studies have suggested the possibility that a virus could be associated with or be a causal agent of OSCC. The first objective is to detect and characterize the presence of infectious agent (mostly virus) transcripts in pre-malignant or malignant tumours from patients with OSCCs.The secondary objectives are (i) to associate and (ii) if possible define a causality link between these agents and a subset of potentially malignant disorders and/or OSCCs.