Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

BACKGROUND: Concomitant radiotherapy and cisplatin (CDDP) based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for LA-NHSCC. This combined modality treatment is linked with considerable acute local and systemic toxicity.EGFR is overexpressed in 90-100% of the HNSCC cases and is considered an unfavourable prognostic marker. EGFR costitutive activation is linked with HNSCC pathogenesis. Cetuximab is a monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody blocking the activation of the receptor and signal transduction. Cetuximab combined with radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy only in the treatment of LA-HNSCC and is characterized by an acceptable toxicity profile. RATIONALE: A direct comparison between concomitant chemoradiotherapy with Cisplatin and the concomitant treatment with radiotherapy associated to cetuximab does not exist. STUDY DESIGN: Arm A: Radical radiotherapy (doses and volumes) concomitant with chemotherapy with Cisplatin (40 mg/mq/week) Arm B: Radical radiotherapy (doses and volumes) concomitant with therapy with the monoclonal antibody Cetuximab (400 mg/m2 ["loading dose"] and subsequently 250 mg /m2/week)

Patients with head and neck cancer and are schedule to receive standard radiation therapy known as IMRT to treat cancer

The objective of this pilot study is to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) at detecting treatment-resistant disease when DRS and RS are used together to measure treatment-induced reoxygenation and molecular changes in tumors of the oral cavity. This study will be performed in a total of 90 patients that have Stage 3 or 4 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with primary tumors located in the larynx or one tonsil.

It is currently estimated that above 50% of new cancer cases are diagnosed in the elderly population[1]. With the increased life expectancy in the industrialised countries, the incidence of head and neck cancers has significantly increased in the last decade with rates estimated between 24-40% in patients over 70 years old [2-4]. It is estimated that with the improvement in quality of life and treatment modulation, the incidence will continue to rise in the coming years. Because the current available prospective studies often exclude patients above 65 or 70 years old, the data and guidelines on head and neck treatment for these patients population remain limited. Treatment of elderly patients with advanced stage III-IV oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using RapidArc® or Helical Tomotherapy® at a dose of 70 Gy in 33 fractions to the PTV (GTV) and 59.4 Gy in 33 fractions to the first disease-free lymphatic relay bilaterally as well as a combination Cisplatin chemotherapy at a reduced dose.

This trials examines the feasibility of GRID-therapy combined with biologically imaging based IMRT (BG-IMRT). Within this trial, the strict toxicity parameters of primary treatment of head and neck tumors are used. The GRID and BG-IMRT technique might be possible to reduce the total radiation dose 2 to 3 times.

Adult patients undergoing a radial forearm free flap or ulnar forearm free flap will be randomized to the use of the Restrata graft in combination with split-thickness skin graft for reconstruction. Photos will document whether the Restata graft aids in the healing.

RCT to compare two radiation schemes for palliative HeadNeck cancer

This study examines if certain imaging techniques and devices can aid the surgeon in detecting cancer during the surgical procedure.

The purpose of this study is to assess the optimal tube feeding method (bolus, gravity or pump) by analyzing percent weight loss, tolerance of enteral feeds, and percent of estimated calorie and protein needs in 60 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck undergoing chemoradiation therapy.

This trial will be an open multicentric randomized phase II study comparing post-operative radiotherapy + cisplatin associated or not with Iressa in upper aerodigestive tract carcinomas.