Head and Neck Tumors

Clinical Trials

Below is a list of Head and Neck Tumors clinical trials from the clinical trials database at Mayo Clinic.

This list includes only trials about which Mayo researchers choose to publish information. Mayo Clinic may be conducting other trials which are not in this database. Mayo's clinical trials include experimental treatments, often unavailable elsewhere, which frequently lead to improved patient care for people worldwide. Patients should ask their doctor at Mayo about clinical trials appropriate for their situation.

A Phase I Clinical Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen Combined with Radiation and Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck
Recently, it has become recognized as general knowledge that cancer cells are hypoxic (have a low oxygen concentration). Because of the low oxygen concentrations, many cancer treatments have not been successful. The idea behind this study is to give oxygen to patients by way of a hyperbaric chamber prior to chemotherapy and radiation in hopes of generating greater results in killing cancer cells. A hyperbaric chamber is a hard-shelled pressurized chamber that allows for the delivery of oxygen in higher concentrations.

The purpose of this study is to see how well patients tolerate the treatment and to determine if the treatment schedule is able to be done from a practical standpoint.
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Electroacupuncture for Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) in Head and Neck Patients
This study is being done to:
- To find out if electrostimulation with a Liss stimulator can improve salivary flow,
- To determine if electrostimulation using the Liss Stimulator can improvethe sensation of mouth dryness in patients with chronic radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth); and
- To learn if electrostimulation with the Liss stimulator has an effect on quality of life
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17-Allylaminogeldanamycin (17AAG) in Advanced Medullary and Differentiated Thyroid Cancers (MC0476)
This research study is being done to learn what effects (good and bad) 17AAG has on you and your advanced thyroid carcinoma.
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A Phase 3 Trial of Concurrent Accelerated Radiation and Cisplatin Versus Concurrent Accelerated Radiation, Cisplatin, and Cetuximab (C225) (Followed by Surgery for Selected Patients) for Stage 3 and 4 Head and Neck Cancer
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good and/or bad, of radiation therapy and chemotherapy (cisplatin) with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and cetuximab (C225) on you and your advanced head and neck cancer to find out which is better. In this study, you will get radiation and cisplatin or radiation, cisplatin, and C225.

C225 was approved in 2004 as a treatment for patients with colorectal cancer, and when this study began, C225 was an experimental treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. In 2006, the FDA approved C225 for the treatment of head and neck cancer. C225 may delay or prevent tumor growth by blocking certain cellular chemical pathways that lead to tumor development.

In addition, some patients in this study will have a combination of PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) scan (explained below). For those patients, this study will see if PET/CT is a good way to find out the effect of treatment on their cancer.
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ARAR0331, "Treatment of Childhood Nasopharyngeal Cancer with Chemotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy"
Patients are being asked to take part in this research study because they have a rare malignant (cancerous) tumor called nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The tumor is in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose. Air passes through it to the lungs and food passes through it as it is swallowed. An opening on each side of the nasopharynx leads into an ear.

Because of where it sits, an NPC-type tumor cannot usually be totally removed by surgery. Standard (usual) treatment for people diagnosed very early is radiation therapy only. Others, with more advanced disease get chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These people commonly have larger tumors, or cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck. This study will use radiation therapy, chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.
- Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells.
- Chemoradiotherapy is chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy


Why Is This Study Being Done?
Recent studies done in adults have shown that chemoradiotherapy works better than radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy.

Studies in adults have also shown that the drug amifostine can help prevent the loss of, and thickening of, saliva. This side effect of radiation therapy to the head and neck causes dryness of the mouth which leads to dental problems, problems swallowing and infections.

The goals of this study are:
1) To see if a combination of chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy works better at treating children with advanced NPC than the standard therapy.
2) To see how well amifostine protects children against dry mouth when given daily before radiation therapy.
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The Use of Chemotherapy Medications, Docetaxel Versus Docetaxel plus ZD1839 (Iressa, Gefitinib) for Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
This study will:

• Look at the effects (good and bad) of chemotherapy (docetaxel) plus ZD1839 (Iressa, Gefitinib).
• Look at the effects (good and bad) of docetaxel and placebo (a harmless and inactive substance that will be given the same way as the investigational drug, ZD1839).
• Compare the effects of these two on head and neck cancer to see which is better.