Head and Neck Cancer Center

Below are current clinical trials.

Filter this list of studies by location, status and more.

1. A Study to Test the Combination of Cabozantinib, Nivolumab, and Ipilimumab (CaboNivoIpi) for Advanced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

   Jacksonville, Fla., Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to determine how well cabozantinib, nivolumab, and ipilimumab work in treating patients with differentiated thyroid cancer that does not respond to radioactive iodine and that worsened after treatment with a drug targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), a protein needed to form blood vessels. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving cabozantinib, nivolumab and ipilimumab may work better than the usual approach consisting of chemotherapy with drugs such as doxorubicin, sorafenib, and lenvatinib for this type of thyroid cancer.

2. A Study to Evaluate Fractionated Radiation Therapy Utilizing GRID Therapy for Locally-advanced Bulky Tumors

   Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla.

   The purpose of this research is to study radiographic control at the 3 month time-point, the side effects (good & bad), survival outcomes and proof of this idea in patients who have had grid therapy for locally advanced bulky tumors of the heat and neck, thorax, abdomen and extremities.

3. Randomized Phase II/III Trial of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy with Cisplatin, Docetaxel-Cetuximab, or Cisplatin-Atezolizumab in Pathologic High-Risk Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

   Rochester, Minn.

   This randomized phase II/III trial studies how well radiation therapy works when given together with cisplatin compared to docetaxel or cetuximab and docetaxel after surgery in treating patients with stage III-IV squamous cell head and neck cancer. Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or transmit tumor killing molecules to them. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy is more effective when given with cisplatin, docetaxel, or cetuximab and docetaxel.

4. A Study to Evaluate Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery and Pituitary Surgery Quality of Life

   Rochester, Minn.

   The objectives of this study are to:

   • • Measure the short and long-term overall and nasal-specific quality of life (QOL) impact of patients undergoing Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery (EESBS) for pituitary and sellar lesions.
     • Determine the relative difference in QOL impact of EESBS for patients undergoing surgery for functional and nonfunctional pituitary adenomas.
     • Generate baseline data to development and validate a site-specific endoscopic-specific comprehensive QOL for EESBS.
     • Particular tumors of interest include pituitary tumors, Rathke’s cleft cysts, craniopharyngiomas, clival chordomas and chondrosarcomas.
     • Specific QOL aims focus on olfaction (sense of smell), gustation (sense of taste) and nasal function.

    

    

5. Cardiotoxic Effects of Chemotherapy in Patients with Sarcomas

   Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to determine if two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) derived-strain can detect early myocardial dysfunction and thus predict cardiotoxicity in sarcoma subjects undergoing anthracycline therapy and to compare three dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) to 2D-STE in the same group of patients.

6. Otorhinolaryngology Normal, Tumor Tissue, Saliva, Stool, and Blood Bank

   Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to obtain tissue, blood, saliva, and stool specimens and informed consent from ENT patients in order to build a freezer archive of samples to support ongoing and future developmental studies.

7. A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Drug/Body Interactions, and Activity of Oradoxel for Patients with Advanced Malignancies

   Rochester, Minn., Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

   The purpose of this study is to determine the safety, tolerability, activity, and drug/body interactions of Oradoxel for the treatment of patients who have advanced malignancies.

8. Effect of Agent Orange Exposure on Endocrine Tumor Aggressiveness

   Jacksonville, Fla., Rochester, Minn., Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

   The intent is to collect relevant clinical data on patients exposed to Agent Orange plus assessment of the tissue for genetic mutations known to be associated with growth of thyroid cancer and pituitary tumors and report our findings as a descriptive case series.

9. A Trial to Evaluate the Safety of GEN1046 in Patients with Malignant Solid Tumors

   Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla.

   The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety of GEN1046 in patients with malignant solid tumors.

10. Randomized Trial of Intensity-Modulated Proton Beam Therapy (IMPT) Versus Intensity-Modulated Photon Therapy (IMRT) for the Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer of the Head and Neck

    Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., Rochester, Minn.

    The overall goal of this trial is to identify a less toxic approach to the delivery of conformal radiation therapy for patients with cancers of the oropharynx.