Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to test the safety of a study drug called PARPi-FL. This drug has been tested in animals but not yet in people. The purpose of this study is to test if a PARPi-FL scan can be used to take pictures of head and neck cancer. The usual approach to imaging this cancer includes several different imaging scans, including x-rays, CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and PET (positron emission tomography). These tests take pictures of the cancer. Read Less

The therapy of solid tumors has been revolutionized by immune therapy, in particular, approaches that activate immune T cells in a polyclonal manner through blockade of checkpoint pathways such as PD-1 by administration of monoclonal antibodies. In this study, the investigators will evaluate the adoptive transfer of RAPA-201 cells, which are checkpoint-deficient polyclonal T cells that represent an analogous yet distinct immune therapy treatment platform for solid tumors. RAPA-201 is a second-generation immunotherapy product consisting of reprogrammed autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of Th1/Tc1 cytokine phenotype. First-generation RAPA-101, which was bred for resistance to the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, demonstrated clear anti-tumor effects in multiple myeloma patients without any product-related adverse events. Second-generation RAPA-201, which have acquired resistance to the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus, are manufactured ex vivo from peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from solid tumor patients using a steady-state apheresis. RAPA-201 is also being evaluated for the therapy of relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma and was granted Fast Track Status by the FDA for this indication. The novel RAPA-201 manufacturing platform, which incorporates both an mTOR inhibitor (temsirolimus) and an anti-cancer Th1/Tc1 polarizing agent (IFN-alpha) generates polyclonal T cells with five key characteristics: 1. Th1/Tc1: polarization to anti-cancer Th1 and Tc1 subsets, with commensurate down-regulation of immune suppressive Th2 and regulatory T (TREG) subsets; 2. T Central Memory: expression of a T central memory (TCM) phenotype, which promotes T cell engraftment and persistence for prolonged anti-tumor effects; 3. Temsirolimus-Resistance: acquisition of temsirolimus-resistance, which translates into a multi-faceted anti-apoptotic phenotype that improves T cell fitness in the stringent conditions of the tumor microenvironment; 4. T Cell Quiescence: reduced T cell activation, as evidence by reduced expression of the IL-2 receptor CD25, which reduces T cell-mediated cytokine toxicities such as cytokine-release syndrome (CRS) that limit other forms of T cell therapy; and 5. Reduced Checkpoints: multiple checkpoint inhibitory receptors are markedly reduced on RAPA-201 cells (including but not limited to PD-1, CTLA4, TIM-3, LAG3, and LAIR1), which increases T cell immunity in the checkpoint-replete, immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. This is a Simon 2-stage, non-randomized, open label, multi-site, phase I/II trial of RAPA-201 T immune cell therapy in patients with advanced metastatic, recurrent, and unresectable solid tumors that have recurred or relapsed after prior immune therapy. Patients must have tumor relapse after at least one prior line of therapy and must have refractory status to the most recent regimen, which must include an anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, accrual is limited to solid tumor disease types potentially amenable to standard-of-care salvage chemotherapy consisting of the carboplatin + paclitaxel (CP) regimen that will be utilized for host conditioning prior to RAPA-201 therapy. Importantly, carboplatin and paclitaxel are "immunogenic" chemotherapy agents whereby the resultant cancer cell death mechanism is favorable for generation of anti-tumor immune T cell responses. Thus, the CP regimen that this protocol incorporates is intended to directly control tumor progression and indirectly promote anti-tumor T cell immunity. The CP regimen is considered standard-of-care therapy for the following tumor types, which will be focused upon on this RAPA-201 protocol: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer; breast cancer (triple-negative sub-type or relapse after ovarian ablation/suppression); gastric cancer (esophageal and esophageal-gastric-junction adenocarcinoma; gastric adenocarcinoma; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma); head and neck cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, larynx, nasopharynx, and other sites); carcinoma of unknown primary; bladder cancer; and malignant melanoma. Protocol therapy consists of six cycles of standard-of-care chemotherapy (carboplatin + paclitaxel (CP) regimen) administered every 28 days (chemotherapy administered on cycles day 1, 8, and 15). RAPA-201 cells will be administered at a target flat dose of 400 X 10\^6 cells per infusion on day 3 of cycles 2 through 6. A sample size of up to 22 patients was selected to determine whether RAPA-201 therapy, when used in combination with the CP regimen, represents an active regimen in solid tumors that are resistant to anti-PD(L)-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy, as defined by a response rate (≥ PR) consistent with a rate of 35%. The first stage of protocol accrual will consist of n=10 patients; to advance to the second protocol accrual stage, RAPA-201 therapy must result in a tumor response (≥ PR) in at least 2 out of the 10 initial patients. Read Less

This trial evaluates how well a new therapeutic device works in managing trismus in patients who received radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Radiation therapy is a common form of treatment in patients with head and neck cancers. However, changes to surrounding tissue following radiation therapy may lead to trismus, an inability to open the mouth fully. This can create significant functional impairment leading to malnutrition due to impaired chewing, risk of dental infections due to impaired oral hygiene, difficulty with speech, and decreased health-related quality of life. Exercise therapy is the mainstay of treatment for post-radiation trismus to help improve mobility and flexibility and increase range of mouth opening. This new device is non-invasive and is similar to other jaw stretching devices where a mouthpiece is placed between the teeth and a hand-lever is used to spread open the upper and lower jaw. However, it will also have additional sensors to measure pressure exerted by the hands and jaw as well as the distance to open the mouth which could help guide therapy. This study may help doctors customize a device to patient-specific needs, provide real-time feedback, and encourage compliance for trismus exercise therapy. Read Less

Earlier detection of disease recurrence will enable greater treatment options and has strong potential to improve patient outcomes. This project is translational and has the potential to lead to future translational research opportunities, including interventional trials in which therapeutic escalation is offered at the early circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) molecular residual disease (MRD) detection timepoint. Ultimately, the integration of ctDNA into the clinical workflow has the potential to enhance cancer diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and prognosis, and guide clinical decision-making in this era of personalized precision medicine. Read Less

The overarching long-term goal of the Integrative Medicine for Patient-reported Outcomes Values and Experience (IMPROVE) research program is to evaluate whether integrating a virtual mind-body programming, Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@Home), will improve patient perceived values, outcomes, and experiences as they undergo systemic cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted agents, cytoreductive surgery. Read Less

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. Read Less

Project's goal is evaluate an online tool the research team created called Empowered Survivor (ES) against a free online self-management intervention developed for cancer survivors by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society called Springboard Beyond Cancer. Read Less

The goal of this clinical research trial is to study the use of differing investigational doses and scheduling for Proton Therapy for tumors previously treated with radiation therapy. Generally, when patients are first treated for cancer with radiation therapy, they are treated with traditional photon (or x-ray) radiation therapy, which uses high-energy waves to kill tumor cells. In some cases, the cancer either returns or a new tumor can present in a different part of the body. With the usual radiation treatment, the photon beams travel all the way through the body. As a result, healthy tissues in front of and behind the tumor are exposed to radiation. Physicians who treat these cases where the tumor has returned often use a much lower dose of radiation to prevent patients from experiencing serious and long-term side-effects. This dose is often not strong enough to destroy the cancerous tumor. Alternatively, they may also treat a smaller area than would be indicated for complete tumor eradication, again in an attempt to prevent serious and long-term toxicities, but at the cost of optimally treating the cancer. Proton therapy, however, may offer a chance to safely deliver a more effective dose and volume of radiation as it is more targeted and can spare healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. The reason we are conducting this research study is to look at whether Proton therapy can be a better way to treat reoccurring tumors in patients who have previously received radiation therapy to the same area, compared to treatment approaches used to date. Read Less

This is a phase 2 pragmatic study that evaluates the clinical benefit of continuing systemic therapy with the addition of locally ablative therapies for oligo-progressive solid tumors as the primary objective. The primary outcome measure is the time to treatment failure (defined as time to change in systemic failure or permanent discontinuation of therapy) following locally ablative therapy. Read Less

This study examines the acceptability, feasibility, and safety in developing a prehabilitation program for head and neck cancer patients. The purpose of this research is to access the safety and acceptability of using a prehabilitation program before head and neck cancer surgery. Read Less

By doing this study, the research team would like to learn if using a blood test that measures the amount of tumor DNA in blood can help guide how to use chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy for individuals with head and neck cancer. Using this blood test, the research team hopes to learn if intermittent (occasional) chemotherapy added to immunotherapy will work better than immunotherapy alone. Participation in this research will last about two years. Read Less

This clinical trial is evaluating a drug called BT5528 alone and in combination with nivolumab in participants with advanced solid tumors historically known for expression of EphA2. The main goals of this study are to: * Find the recommended dose(s) of BT5528 that can be given safely to participants alone and in combination with nivolumab * Learn more about the side effects of BT5528 * Learn about how effective BT5528 is for the treatment of ovarian cancer, urothelial/bladder cancer, lung cancer (NSCLC), triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer (HNSCC), and gastric/upper gastrointestinal cancer. * Learn more about BT5528 therapy alone and in combination with nivolumab. Read Less