HEAD AND NECK CANCER

This early-stage study is testing whether using ultrasound waves on a tumor can help a standard cancer drug (pembrolizumab) work better. It involves 6 patients with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. The main goal is to see if combining the drug with this …

This study is for people with head and neck cancer who have had surgery and need follow-up radiation, but are starting that radiation more than 6 weeks later. It aims to find out if getting radiation 6 days a week is more effective at preventing the cancer from coming back than t…

This early-stage study is testing the safety and effects of an experimental cancer drug called PF-08046876 in adults with advanced solid tumors. The drug is an antibody drug conjugate designed to target and kill cancer cells. Researchers will give the drug through an IV to about …

This Canadian study is testing whether a personalized approach to cancer treatment works. It gives the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab to about 200 patients with advanced breast, lung, or other cancers, but only if their tumor's genetic analysis suggests they might respond. The g…

This early-stage trial is testing a new combination of two experimental drugs, tislelizumab and pamiparib, given together with a standard course of chemotherapy and radiation. The goal is to find a safe and effective dose for people whose head and neck cancer has come back after …

This study is testing whether giving antibiotics and a special mouthwash before surgery can reduce the amount of bacteria inside oral cancer tumors. Researchers want to see if lowering these bacteria helps the body's immune system fight the cancer better. The trial involves 30 pa…

This study is testing a new oral drug, PC14586 (rezatapopt), for people with advanced solid tumors that have a specific mutation in a gene called TP53 (Y220C). The main goals are to find a safe and effective dose and to see if the drug can shrink tumors. The trial is enrolling up…

This program provides access to an investigational drug called ulixertinib for patients with advanced cancers that have specific genetic changes (MAPK pathway mutations). It is for people who have run out of other treatment options. The drug aims to control the cancer's growth, e…

This study is testing whether a combination of three treatments—a modified immune cell infusion, an immune-stimulating protein, and an approved targeted antibody—is safe and effective for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. It is for patients wh…

This is the first human study of an experimental drug called OCT-598 for people with advanced solid tumors that have stopped responding to standard treatments. Researchers will test increasing doses to find the safest and most effective amount, both when given alone and when comb…

This study is testing whether a new, precise radiation planning technique can protect the ovaries in young women (ages 18-50) receiving pelvic radiation for cancers like uterine or rectal cancer. The goal is to prevent radiation from causing early menopause, which can lead to ser…

This study is testing a new type of cancer drug that delivers radiation directly to tumors by targeting a protein called Nectin-4. It aims to find a safe and effective dose for patients with advanced solid cancers who have already tried other treatments. The trial will first dete…

This study is testing whether adding a new two-drug immunotherapy (iparomlimab and tuvonralimab) to standard radiation and chemotherapy can better control advanced head and neck cancer. It will involve 27 adults with newly diagnosed, locally advanced cancer who haven't had prior …

This is the first study in people to test a new experimental cancer drug called ALX2004. It aims to find a safe dose and see if the drug can help control advanced cancers that have spread and stopped responding to other treatments. The trial will enroll about 170 adults with spec…

This study is testing whether a support program called CARES helps rural cancer patients start treatment sooner and complete it faster. The program provides navigation help and counseling sessions alongside usual cancer care. Researchers will compare outcomes for 320 patients who…

This study is testing whether a patient navigation program called ENDURE helps people with head and neck cancer start their necessary radiation therapy sooner after surgery. It will compare the new program to the usual way patients are scheduled for treatment. The goal is to see …

This study is testing a new approach for people with advanced head and neck cancer. The goal is to see if giving a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy *before* surgery can shrink tumors enough to allow surgeons to perform less extensive operations. This could help prese…

This study is testing a combination of three drugs (carboplatin, paclitaxel, and cetuximab) for adults with head and neck cancer that has returned or spread after their first treatment with pembrolizumab immunotherapy. The main goal is to see how well this three-drug combo shrink…

This study is testing whether a 'prehabilitation' program—which includes personalized exercise, nutritional advice, and psychological counseling—can help people with head and neck cancer better handle their upcoming surgery or chemoradiotherapy. The program starts about a month b…

This study is testing a new drug called NT219 in combination with two existing cancer drugs (pembrolizumab or cetuximab) for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. The main goal is to see if these combinations can shrink tumors and control the dise…

This study is comparing a new, more targeted radiation technique to standard radiation for head and neck cancer. It aims to see if the new method, which uses a PET scan to guide higher radiation doses to the most active parts of the tumor, is as safe as the standard approach. The…

This study is testing whether a short, home-based program of exercise and high-protein nutrition is safe and practical for patients to do in the two weeks before head or neck cancer surgery. Researchers want to see if patients can complete the program and if it causes any problem…

This study tests whether using patients' genetic information helps doctors personalize chemotherapy doses to reduce side effects while maintaining effectiveness. Researchers will randomly assign 860 cancer patients to either receive genetic-guided dosing or standard care. The goa…

This study is testing a new treatment approach for people with a specific type of head and neck cancer that is not linked to HPV. The goal is to see if a combination of a new immunotherapy drug (volrustomig) with two standard chemotherapy drugs can shrink tumors before patients r…

This is the first-ever study in people for a new drug called EPI-326. It aims to find a safe dose and see how the body handles the drug in patients with advanced lung cancer (with a specific genetic change called EGFR mutation) or advanced head and neck cancer. The main goal is t…

This study is testing a new drug called BI 765049, given alone and with another drug called ezabenlimab, for Asian adults with advanced cancers that have stopped responding to standard treatments. The main goals are to find safe doses and see if the treatment can shrink tumors by…

This study is testing whether a personalized survivorship care plan and a counseling session can help head and neck cancer survivors get better follow-up care. About 180 survivors will be randomly assigned to receive either this new plan or the usual care. The main goal is to see…

This study is testing whether a follow-up immune therapy can help prevent cancer from returning in people with advanced head and neck cancer. It is for patients who have already had initial treatment with immunotherapy and chemotherapy and whose cancer showed a strong response. T…

This early-stage study is testing if adding two immunotherapy drugs (cemiplimab and cetuximab) to standard chemotherapy before surgery is safe for people with advanced head and neck cancer. The main goal is to see if this stronger pre-surgery treatment can work well enough that p…

This study is testing a new approach for people with HPV-linked throat cancer who have surgery. Researchers want to see if a simple blood test can identify patients who are very unlikely to need follow-up radiation. If the blood test after surgery shows no signs of cancer, patien…

This study is testing whether adding two new, experimental drugs (HB-201 and HB-202) to standard chemotherapy can better shrink tumors in people with HPV16-positive throat cancer. The goal is to see if this stronger initial treatment allows doctors to safely use less radiation or…

This study is testing a new approach for treating advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. Researchers want to see if using a simple blood test to measure tumor DNA can help decide when to add short bursts of chemotherapy to standard immunotherapy. The goal is t…

This study is testing a new, personalized treatment plan for people with oral cancer who have a high risk of the cancer returning. After initial surgery and radiation/chemotherapy, a blood test will check for leftover cancer cells. If the test is positive, patients will receive l…

This study is testing whether using a lower dose of radiation, combined with chemotherapy and planned surgery, can effectively control certain head and neck cancers. The goal is to see if this approach works while potentially reducing treatment side effects. It is for adults with…

This early-stage study is testing a new type of treatment for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has not responded to standard therapies. Doctors are giving patients specially engineered immune cells, called NK cells, which are designed to find and attack cancer. The …

This study is testing an experimental drug called patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) in people with advanced solid tumors that have spread or cannot be removed by surgery. The goal is to see if the drug can shrink tumors and control the disease in people who have already tried at l…

This study is testing whether doctors can safely use less radiation and chemotherapy after surgery for throat cancers linked to HPV. The goal is to maintain good cancer control while reducing side effects and improving patients' quality of life. The trial will enroll 111 adults w…

This study aims to see how well the drug T-DXd works in real-world settings for patients with advanced HER2-positive cancers who have already tried other treatments and have no good options left. It will follow about 100 patients with various solid tumors (excluding breast, lung,…

This study is testing a new type of targeted radiation therapy for people with advanced solid tumors that have stopped responding to standard treatments. The therapy uses a radioactive drug designed to seek out and deliver a powerful dose of radiation directly to cancer cells. Th…

This study is testing a new, experimental treatment called CAR-T cell therapy for people with head and neck cancer that has come back or stopped responding to standard treatments. The main goals are to find a safe dose and see what side effects occur. Researchers will collect a p…

This study is testing a new drug called MCLA-129 in people with advanced cancers, including lung, head and neck, and colorectal cancer, that have progressed after standard treatments. The main goals are to find a safe dose and see if the drug can shrink tumors. The drug is design…

This early-stage study is testing whether directly injecting an experimental treatment called VLPONC-01 into head and neck tumors is safe and can help shrink them. Researchers are enrolling 41 patients with advanced or surgically removable cancers to receive the injections, somet…

This study is testing a new surgical method for rebuilding the mouth or throat after removing cancer. Surgeons will take a piece of skin and tissue from the groin area (external pudendal flap) to use in the reconstruction, hoping it causes fewer problems at the site where it's ta…

This study is testing a special fluorescent dye called panitumumab-IRDye800. It is given to patients before surgery to see if it makes cancer cells glow under a special camera, helping surgeons better see and remove all the cancer. The goal is to improve the accuracy of surgery f…

This study is testing whether a special dye that glows under near-infrared light can help surgeons see tiny leftover cancer cells during head and neck cancer surgery. The dye is injected before surgery and lights up cancer tissue, potentially helping surgeons remove more cancer i…

This study is observing whether a new, high-resolution PET-CT scan of a tumor immediately after it's removed can help surgeons and doctors. The goal is to see if the scan's images match the lab results and if using this information during surgery leads to better long-term outcome…

This study is testing a new type of imaging scan to see if it can better detect and monitor many different solid tumors. The scan uses a special tracer that attaches to a protein called Trop2, which is often found on cancer cells. Researchers will compare this new scan to standar…

This study is testing whether a special type of MRI scan can help doctors predict which head and neck cancer patients might develop serious jawbone damage (osteoradionecrosis) as a side effect of their radiation treatment. Researchers will follow 1,400 patients, taking MRI scans …

This study is testing a new imaging device that takes microscopic pictures of spots inside the mouth. Researchers want to see if these pictures can accurately identify oral cancer by comparing them to traditional biopsy results. The goal is to develop a tool that could help docto…

This study is testing a new blood test designed to detect many types of cancer early, before symptoms appear. It will involve 7,000 people, both with and without cancer, to see if the test can accurately spot cancer signals and identify where in the body the cancer started. The t…

This study is testing if a pill (apixaban) is a safe and easier-to-use alternative to a daily injection (enoxaparin) for preventing dangerous blood clots after head and neck cancer surgery. It will enroll about 76 patients who are scheduled for surgery. The main goal is to see if…

This study is testing whether a personalized exercise program using video games can help people manage common side effects after head and neck cancer treatment. Researchers will enroll 150 people who have finished treatment and are struggling with fatigue or pain. One group will …

This study is testing whether a drug called riluzole can help prevent the memory and thinking problems often called 'chemo brain' in people receiving chemotherapy for various cancers. About 24 adult patients will be randomly assigned to receive either riluzole or a placebo pill w…

This study is testing whether a non-invasive electrical stimulation therapy, similar to acupuncture, can help relieve dry mouth in people who had radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Researchers want to see if this therapy improves quality of life for patients who suffer…

This study is testing if a new cooling device worn in the mouth during radiation therapy can help preserve a patient's sense of taste. It will involve 15 adults with larynx cancer who are receiving radiation and chemotherapy. The goal is to see if cooling the mouth is a practical…

This study is testing whether a natural product called miracle fruit can help people with head and neck cancer who lose their sense of taste during radiation therapy. About 40 participants will take either a miracle fruit cube or a placebo cube three times a day before meals duri…

This study is testing whether a virtual mind-body wellness program can help cancer patients feel better during treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. The program offers online classes in things like meditation and yoga to help manage common side effects like severe fatigue. R…

This study is testing whether special training for caregivers helps patients recover better after head and neck cancer surgery. Researchers will compare caregivers who receive this training to those who get standard care. They hope the training reduces caregiver stress, improves …

This study is testing whether a gentle, non-invasive light therapy can reduce chronic swelling (lymphedema) in people who have survived head and neck cancer. The therapy, already approved for similar swelling in breast cancer survivors, aims to improve symptoms, movement, and qua…

This study is testing if a supervised heavy weight lifting program is practical and helpful for people who have survived head and neck cancer. It will compare 60 survivors doing 12 weeks of heavy lifting against a group receiving usual care. The main goal is to see if the program…

This study is testing whether an 18-month physical activity program can help people with head and neck cancer. It will see if the program helps patients sit less, move more, and feel less tired compared to patients who just get standard care advice. About 96 patients will be rand…

This study is testing if using MRI scans to map and avoid the main saliva ducts during radiation treatment can better prevent severe, long-term dry mouth. It will compare this new approach to the standard method in 98 adults receiving radiation for throat cancer. The goal is to i…

This study is testing whether a smartphone chatbot called Digi-Coach can help reduce physical and emotional distress for people undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Researchers will compare patients using the AI chatbot alongside regular nursing care to those …

This study is testing if wrapping a key shoulder nerve with a protective sleeve during neck cancer surgery helps patients recover better shoulder movement and less pain. About 90 adults having this specific surgery will have the wrap placed and their shoulder function checked one…

This study is testing whether a structured support program can help head and neck cancer patients better handle the side effects of chemoradiation. The program combines nutrition counseling, guided exercise, and wellness education. Researchers want to see if this approach is prac…

This study is testing whether atorvastatin, a common cholesterol-lowering drug, can prevent hearing loss caused by cisplatin chemotherapy. Researchers are enrolling 224 adults with head and neck cancer who will receive cisplatin and radiation. Participants will be randomly assign…

This study is testing whether a treatment called photobiomodulation (a type of low-level laser light therapy) can help improve dry mouth and overall quality of life for people who have survived head and neck cancer after radiation therapy. Researchers will enroll 60 participants …

This study is testing whether a program of early monitoring and physical therapy is practical and acceptable for people with head and neck cancer. It aims to see if starting jaw exercises and manual therapy early during radiation treatment can help prevent or reduce severe jaw st…

This study is testing whether starting a special tongue-strengthening exercise program early after surgery can improve speech and swallowing for people with tongue cancer. The program uses a small biofeedback device called a Tongueometer to guide exercises. Researchers want to se…

This study is testing whether injecting material into the back of the throat can help head and neck cancer survivors who have developed speech and swallowing problems after radiation treatment. Researchers will first assess how common these problems are and test different diagnos…

This study is testing a specific nerve transfer surgery to see if it can improve facial movement and quality of life for head and neck cancer patients who have facial paralysis. Researchers will enroll 40 patients to measure changes in their facial function and daily life after t…

This study is testing whether a brief video-based therapy program can help head and neck cancer survivors who are struggling with body image distress. The trial will enroll 180 survivors who have finished cancer treatment and randomly assign them to either the new therapy program…

This study aims to create a large collection of blood samples from cancer patients and people at high risk for cancer. Researchers will use these samples to build a research library for future studies on 'liquid biopsies'—blood tests that can detect cancer DNA. The goal is to hel…

This study aims to understand why cancer patients feel extreme fatigue and nerve pain during standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Researchers will observe 125 patients with various cancers, collecting blood and stool samples to look for biological markers linked to thes…

This study aims to learn more about the nerves that control muscles in the neck. Researchers will carefully examine and measure these nerves in 50 patients who are already having neck surgery for head and neck cancer. The goal is to understand if stimulating these nerves could on…

This study aims to create and test a tool that predicts which patients aged 70 and older with head and neck cancer are most likely to experience severe side effects from curative radiation or chemotherapy. Researchers will analyze patient health data to build a predictive score. …

This large international study is collecting information on a new, more precise type of radiation therapy that uses real-time MRI scans to guide treatment. It aims to see if this advanced technology helps people with many types of cancer live longer, better control their tumors, …

This study collects tumor tissue samples from cancer patients to research whether laboratory tests can predict which patients will respond to immunotherapy drugs. Researchers will analyze how live tumor samples react to immunotherapy treatments in the lab, then compare those resu…

This study aims to understand if changes in the natural bacteria in our mouth and gut (the microbiome) play a role in causing head and neck cancers. Researchers will collect saliva and stool samples from 60 people, including those with and without oral cancer, to analyze the bact…

This study aims to understand if the bacteria in a patient's mouth influence how well radiation therapy works for head and neck cancer and how severe the side effects are. Researchers will collect saliva samples from about 100 patients before, during, and after their radiation tr…

This study aims to understand why head and neck cancers sometimes come back after a patient has received radiation treatment. Researchers will analyze tumor samples from before and after radiation to see how the cancer cells change and become resistant. The goal is to gather know…

This study is testing a blood test that looks for tiny pieces of tumor DNA to see if it can detect cancer recurrence earlier than standard scans. It aims to enroll 100 adults, including people with various solid tumors and healthy volunteers. The goal is to gather information tha…

This study aims to understand what happens to people who need a second surgery because their head and neck cancer has come back or didn't fully go away after initial treatment. It will track 400 patients to see how long they survive cancer-free, how the surgery affects their abil…

This study is creating a large collection of tissue, blood, and saliva samples from people with head and neck cancer and from healthy volunteers. Researchers are also gathering detailed health information to build a database. The goal is to provide resources for future studies to…

This study aims to collect and store tumor tissue and blood samples from patients with certain cancers. The goal is to better understand the relationship between a tumor's genetic makeup, its surrounding environment, and the body's immune response. Patients will receive standard …

This study aims to collect blood and tissue samples from people with various cancers to help develop better blood tests. Researchers want to see if these tests can detect tiny amounts of leftover cancer cells after treatment, which might help predict if the cancer could return. P…

This study aims to learn why standard immunotherapy plus chemotherapy works well for some people with advanced head and neck cancer but not for most others. Researchers will collect small tumor samples and blood from about 30 patients before and after their treatment to look for …

This study aims to collect detailed information, tissue, and blood samples from 350 head and neck cancer patients over five years. The goal is to understand why some patients respond better to treatments than others by studying their tumors and genetics. Researchers hope this dat…

This study is testing a tiny, needle-tip-sized device that can be implanted into a head or neck cancer tumor. The device releases tiny amounts of up to 20 different drugs into the tumor for a few days before it is removed during the patient's scheduled surgery. The goal is to saf…

This study aims to understand how different cancers interact with the body's immune system, particularly focusing on immune cells called T cells. Researchers will collect tissue and blood samples from 1,100 patients with seven types of solid tumors over five years. The goal is to…

This study aims to identify biological markers (biomarkers) in tissue and sputum samples that could signal the development of lung, head, neck, or esophageal cancers. Researchers are enrolling 700 participants who either have precancerous cell changes, a history of these cancers,…

This study aims to understand what helps or prevents head and neck cancer patients from using support services before treatment. Researchers will offer 60 patients nutritional counseling and exercise programs before they start radiation or chemotherapy. The main goal is to learn …

This study aims to discover new proteins and genes involved in head and neck cancer by analyzing tissue samples from patients undergoing surgery at Stanford. Researchers hope this basic science will eventually lead to better diagnostic tests and treatments. The study is enrolling…

This study is testing new MRI scanning methods to see if they can provide better information about head, neck, and thyroid cancers. Researchers want to find specific signs on the MRI scans, called biomarkers, that might predict how well a tumor will respond to treatment early on.…

This study aims to collect blood and tissue samples from people with head, neck, lung, or gastrointestinal cancers. Researchers will analyze these samples to learn how cancer treatments, especially immunotherapies, affect the body's immune system. The goal is to discover better w…