Clinical Research Directory

Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With HPV Positive Advanced Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This phase II trial studies the side effects and best dose of ipilimumab, nivolumab, and radiation therapy and how well they work in treating patients with advanced human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving ipilimumab, nivolumab, and radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with HPV positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Pre-Op MRI on Margin Status for Transoral Robotic Surgery for HPV+ Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This prospective research study aims to see if pre-operative MRI can predict the margin status after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for human papillomavirus positive (HPV+) tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The pre-operative MRI will have a standard MR neck without and with contrast, with added axial T2 weighted sequence and T2 SPACE sequence through the tonsils. Three neuroradiologists will grade the thickness of the pharyngeal constrictor muscle (the muscle that surrounds the tonsils) on a five-point scale. The study will determine if the pre-operative MRI grading will correlate with positive, insecure (\<1mm), or secure (\>1mm) margin during TORS surgery for your HPV+ tonsillar SCC.