• Testing Docetaxel-Cetuximab or the Addition of an Immunotherapy Drug, Atezolizumab, to the Usual Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer

  This phase II/III trial studies how well radiation therapy works when given together with cisplatin, docetaxel, cetuximab, and/or atezolizumab after surgery in treating patients with high-risk stage III-IV head and neck cancer the begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cell). 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. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. The purpose of this study is to compare the usual treatment (radiation therapy with cisplatin chemotherapy) to using radiation therapy with docetaxel and cetuximab chemotherapy, and using the usual treatment plus an immunotherapy drug, atezolizumab.

  Investigators

  • Michael J. Kaplan, MD
  • Quynh-Thu Le, MD, FACR, FASTRO
  • A. Dimitrios Colevas, MD
  • Michael Gensheimer
  Now accepting new patients View Details

• Multidimensional and Multimodal Profiling of Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

  The purpose of this study is to better understand the natural history of oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC), with or without an association with the human papilloma virus (HPV). For this study, the investigators plan to collect blood from OPC patients prior to treatment and at six subsequent time points.

  Investigators

  • Chris Holsinger, MD, FACS
  • Harmeet Bedi
  Now accepting new patients View Details

• Identification and Characterization of Novel Proteins and Genes in Head and Neck Cancer

  Through this study, we hope to learn more about the mechanisms, which may contribute to development and progression of head and neck cancer. The long-term goal of this study will be to develop new strategies and drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer.

  Investigators

  • Michael J. Kaplan, MD
  • Quynh-Thu Le, MD, FACR, FASTRO
  • Willard ("Bill") E. Fee, Jr., MD
  • Zijie Sun
  • Peter H. Hwang, MD
  • John B. Sunwoo, MD
  • Harmeet Bedi
  Now accepting new patients View Details

• 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.

  Investigators

  • Nataliya Kovalchuk
  • Fred M Baik, MD
  Now accepting new patients View Details

• A Multicenter Cancer Biospecimen Collection Study

  This study will collect de-identified tumor samples, with correlated clinical/demographic data and tissue histology, from patients selected or scheduled for pre-treatment tumor biopsy or who have had a recent pre-treatment tumor biopsy. These specimens and clinical data may be used in subsequent studies for the development and validation of a diagnostic test.

  Investigator

  • A. Dimitrios Colevas, MD
  Now accepting new patients View Details