Clinical Research Directory

4DryField PH and Head and Neck Operations.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether 4DryField can reduce postoperative blood loss and drain duration following head and neck surgery. This is a prospective, single-blinded, randomized study that will recruit 60 patients without coagulopathy, not on anticoagulant therapy, and with no known allergy to 4DryField.

A Phase 1 Study of EPI-326 in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and HNSCC

A phase 1 study to determine the safety, tolerability, PK, PD, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of ascending doses of EPI-326 administered to patients with locally advanced or metastatic HNSCC and to patients with any documented EGFR-mutant locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC.

SPECT-CT Guided ELEctive Contralateral Neck Treatment in Lateralized Oropharyngeal Cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer. The current standard treatment for this cancer is radiotherapy (RT) of the tumour and lymph nodes of both sides of the neck, combined with concurrent chemotherapy for advanced stages. Even though a small proportion of patients with this cancer have involvement of the lymph nodes of the neck on the opposite side of the tumour (contralateral involvement) or involvement of the lymph nodes on both sides of the neck (bilateral involvement), bilateral radiotherapy is performed due to the risk of contralateral microscopic involvement, which is invisible on imaging and clinical examination. Bilateral radiotherapy causes more adverse events, leading to a decrease in quality of life. Lymphatic mapping using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT) imaging is a technique that visualises the lymphatic drainage of the tumour and thus determines whether radiotherapy should be delivered unilaterally or bilaterally to the lymph nodes. This technique would therefore reduce adverse events and improve quality of life, while maintaining the efficacy of radiotherapy. The goal of the clinical trial SELECT-FR is to investigate if the efficacy of a lymphatic drainage mapping with a SPECT-CT-guided approach is acceptable in terms of two-year Disease Free Survival (DFS) rate in patients with lateralized OPC.

Safety and Feasibility of Nivolumab-IRDye800CW in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

This is a phase 1, open-label, single-center study that plans to enroll 40 participants who will undergo surgical resection as SOC for HNSCC. This trial is designed to evaluate the safety of the safety of fluorescently labeled nivolumab (nivo800) as a molecular imaging agent. The study employs a dose-escalation design across four cohorts of 10 participants each. Participants in Cohorts 1-3 will receive an infusion of nivo followed by an infusion of nivo800 prior to standard-of-care surgical resection. The administration of unlabeled nivo will be administered approximately 2-3 weeks before surgery, followed by an administration of nivo800 administered 1-2 days prior to surgery.

Identification of Nerves Using Fluorescein Sodium

The purpose of this study is to see if there is benefit in using an IV contrast (sodium fluorescein) to identify nerves during head and neck surgery.

Value of Geriatric Screening to Predict Postoperative Morbidity for Head and Neck Cancer

Background Approximately half of head and neck cancer patients are 65 years or older at diagnosis. Treatment decisions in this older HNCA population are challenging, because of the lack of evidence-based guidelines. Surgery is often the treatment of choice in a HNCA setting where curative treatment is intended. Though chronological age per se has not been reported as a contraindication for surgery, data are limited and often the result of retrospective studies. Measurement of functional age, through a comprehensive geriatric assessment, has been suggested by several international cancer organizations to be a better prognostic indicator. At the divisions of maxillofacial surgery and otorhinolaryngology, a geriatric assessment is part of routine preoperative staging for patients of 70 years old or older. Objectives The investigators aim to determine the value of G8 to predict 30-day postoperative comorbidity in an older HNCA population undergoing elective curative surgery. Moreover, they aim to examine the vulnerability profile of patients undergoing elective head and neck surgery for an oncology diagnosis. Study design All patients of 70 years and older, presenting at the divisions of maxillofacial surgery and otorhinolaryngology for curative surgery of a solid head and neck tumour undergo a geriatric consult as part of routine preoperative staging. The presence of postoperative morbidity and mortality within the first 30 days after surgery will be collected as a primary endpoint. At 30±10 days postoperative, all patients will be re-evaluated with the G8 and the CGA. Patient' quality of life will also be re-examined within 30 days postoperative and again at 6 and 12 months postoperative. Conclusion There is still no consensus whether older HNCA patients should receive a different treatment compared to younger patients. Data related to the vulnerability profile of older patients requiring HN surgery, and the predictive value of geriatric screening for postoperative morbidity could enable better patient selection in the future.