Clinical Research Directory

Testing the Addition of Chemotherapy or Chemo-Immunotherapy to the Usual Surgery for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

This phase II trial tests the addition of chemotherapy, with carboplatin and paclitaxel, or chemo-immunotherapy, with carboplatin, paclitaxel and cemiplimab to standard salvage surgery followed by post operative radiation therapy and cisplatin for high risk patients, for the treatment of patients with PD-L1 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back and spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes after a period of improvement (locally recurrent) or is persistent. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Salvage surgery is surgery that takes place to remove tumor tissue after a failure of other treatment. High risk patients also receive radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Adding chemotherapy or chemo-immunotherapy to standard salvage surgery may kill more tumor cells than salvage surgery alone in patients with PD-L1 positive locally recurrent or persistent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Comparing Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) Biopsy With Standard Neck Dissection for Patients With Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer

This phase II/III trial studies how well sentinel lymph node biopsy works and compares sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery to standard neck dissection as part of the treatment for early-stage oral cavity cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery is a procedure that removes a smaller number of lymph nodes from your neck because it uses an imaging agent to see which lymph nodes are most likely to have cancer. Standard neck dissection, such as elective neck dissection, removes many of the lymph nodes in your neck. Using sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery may work better in treating patients with early-stage oral cavity cancer compared to standard elective neck dissection.

Testing the Addition of the Drug BMX-001, a Radioprotector, or a Placebo to the Usual Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

This phase II trial compares the effectiveness of adding BMX-001 to usual symptom management versus usual symptom management alone for reducing oral mucositis in patients who are receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Oral mucositis (inflammation and mouth sores) is a common side effect of chemoradiation that can cause pain and difficulty swallowing. Usual management of these side effects typically consists of using mouth rinses and pain medications during treatment and for several weeks after completion of treatment. BMX-001 neutralizes harmful substances in the body, preventing damage to macromolecules such as DNA and minimizes free radical-related toxicity in normal tissues. Adding BMX-001 to usual symptom management may be more effective than usual symptom management alone at reducing oral mucositis in patients receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.

Personalized Neck Radiation Therapy Directed by Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for the Treatment of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, PRECEDENT Trial

This phase II trial studies how well personalized neck radiation therapy directed by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) works in treating patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). SLNB can be performed as part of standard care for OCSCC. During SLNB, a radiotracer is injected around the tumor. The lymph nodes are then biopsied and tested to see if the tracer injected into the tumor traveled to and is present in the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Results of the SLNB are used to determine whether lymph nodes should be removed in both sides of the neck or just on the same side as the primary tumor. Standard treatment then involves radiation therapy to both sides of the neck, regardless of SLNB results. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Studies have shown only a small number of patients develop a return of the cancer (recurrence) in the opposite side of the neck after radiation therapy. In addition, radiation therapy can negatively impact patient outcomes like saliva production, speech and swallow function, increased risk of radiation induced cancers, and chronic pain. Standard of care SLNBs may be effective in determining whether radiation therapy only needs to be administered to one side of the neck or both sides. This may help spare tissue on the opposite side of the neck from receiving radiation if there is no indication of lymph node involvement there.