Head and neck cancer includes tumors of the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, and salivary glands. Most are squamous cell cancers linked to tobacco, alcohol, or HPV infection. Treatment typically combines surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but outcomes vary widely depending on cancer location, stage, and HPV status.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab, often combined with chemotherapy or radiation. Research focuses on using HPV status to guide treatment intensity, testing new antibody-drug conjugates, exploring EGFR-targeted therapies beyond cetuximab, and studying ways to preserve speech and swallowing function during treatment.
Immunotherapy combinations
Checkpoint inhibitors are being combined with chemotherapy and radiation to see if they improve survival while potentially reducing long-term side effects. Early results suggest HPV-positive cancers may respond particularly well.
Treatment de-escalation
For HPV-positive cancers, which tend to respond better to treatment, trials are testing whether lower radiation doses or less surgery can maintain survival while reducing damage to speech and swallowing. This approach aims to preserve quality of life without compromising outcomes.
Targeted antibody drugs
New antibody-drug conjugates deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells by targeting surface proteins. Several are in trials for recurrent or metastatic disease that stopped responding to other treatments.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on cancer location and stage, HPV status, prior treatments, and functional status including ability to eat and speak.
What types of trials are currently open
- First-line treatment trials — Testing new combinations of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation for newly diagnosed cancer. These often compare standard treatment against adding a checkpoint inhibitor.
- Recurrent disease trials — Testing treatments for cancer that returned after initial therapy, including targeted drugs and immunotherapy combinations.
- De-escalation trials — Testing lower doses of radiation or less extensive surgery for HPV-positive cancers to reduce side effects while maintaining survival.
- Supportive care trials — Testing treatments for side effects like difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, pain, and nutritional problems during and after cancer treatment.
- Prevention trials — Testing drugs or supplements to prevent second cancers in people previously treated for head and neck cancer.
Recently added Head And Neck Cancer trials
Tissue Adhesive Versus Sutures in Oral Biopsy Closure
Excisional biopsies are commonly performed in the oral mucosa, and proper wound closure and hemostasis are critical for the success of the surgical procedure. Suturing remains the gold standard for closing surgical incisions; however, it has several drawbacks, including being time-consuming and requiring technical skill for proper placement. In addition, access to posterior areas of the oral cavity can be challenging. Suturing may also cause patient discomfort during needle penetration of tissues and can serve as a potential pathway for microbial contamination. Therefore, this randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate one of the latest tissue adhesives from the cyanoacrylate group (PeriAcryl 90 HV) compared to conventional surgical sutures (Nylon 4-0) for wound closure following oral excisional biopsies. A total of 28 patients with oral fibroma will be randomly assigned to either the tissue adhesive group or the suture group (14 patients per group).
Clinical Evaluation of Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Titanium Implants for Facial Reconstruction.
This clinical study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of patient-specific 3D-printed titanium facial implants in the reconstruction and aesthetic correction of facial defects. The study will include patients presenting with congenital, traumatic, or post-surgical facial deformities requiring reconstructive intervention. Eligible participants will undergo preoperative clinical assessment and radiological imaging to design customized implants using computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing technology. The implants will be fabricated from medical-grade titanium and surgically placed according to standardized maxillofacial reconstructive protocols. Postoperative follow-up will assess functional outcomes, implant stability, complication rates, and aesthetic improvement over a defined observation period. Outcome evaluation will include clinical examination and patient-reported satisfaction measures. The objective of this study is to determine whether patient-specific 3D-printed titanium implants provide reliable functional restoration and improved aesthetic outcomes in facial reconstruction compared to conventional reconstructive techniques.
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