Head & Neck Cancers | Specialty

The OncLive Head and Neck Cancer condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on unmet needs, treatment advances, and ongoing research within head and neck cancer.

Vokes Charts a New Course in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

May 22nd 2014

Everett E. Vokes, MD, was recognized by the "Giants of Cancer Care" awards program for his groundbreaking research into head and neck cancers.

Doxepin Rinse Relieves Pain in Patients With Radiation-Related Oral Mucositis

May 21st 2014

Doxepin rinse may prove to be a viable option for the relief of pain associated with oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancers, according to findings of a phase III trial.

Review Study Suggests an Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment in Thyroid Cancer

April 30th 2014

A review study of trends in patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer from 1975 to 2009 suggest the cancer has been overdiagnosed, and therefore overtreated, according to Louise Davies, MD, MS, and H. Gilbert Welch, MD, MPH.

Study Suggests IMRT Improves Survival in Head and Neck Cancer

February 25th 2014

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) improved survival and reduced toxicities compared with conventional radiation treatment in patients with head and neck cancer, according to a recent database analysis.

Lenvatinib Extends PFS in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

February 3rd 2014

The phase III SELECT trial of the investigational agent lenvatinib (E7080) met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC), according to Eisai Inc., the company that is developing the agent.

Dr. Brose on the FACT2 Study and the Treatment of ATC

January 24th 2014

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and the FACT2 study.

Specific Gene Alterations Explain Survival Disparities in HNSCC

December 20th 2013

Alterations in specific genes involved in the formation of tissues and organs during embryonic development could be responsible for survival disparities seen between African-American and non-Latino white men with head and neck cancer.

Lymphoseek Pursues Approval in Head and Neck Cancer

December 18th 2013

The FDA has granted a Fast Track designation to Lymphoseek (technetium Tc99m tilmanocept) as a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent for sentinel lymph node detection in patients with head and neck cancer.

Novel Oral Mucositis Treatment Explored in Head and Neck Cancer

December 18th 2013

Following a fast track designation from the FDA earlier this year, a phase II clinical trial is being initiated to evaluate SGX942 as a treatment for oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer.

Dr. Brose Describes the DECISION Trial

December 3rd 2013

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, describes the DECISION trial, which analyzed the efficacy of sorafenib in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Brose Sheds Light on Targeted Therapies in Thyroid Cancer

November 25th 2013

Marcia Brose, MD, sat down with OncLive at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium in New York City to discuss recent advances in the treatment of thyroid cancer.

FDA Approves Sorafenib for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

November 22nd 2013

The FDA has expanded the approval for sorafenib to include the treatment of patients with RAI-resistant metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer, based a substantial prolongation in PFS over placebo in the DECISION trial.

Swallowing Exercises Help to Preserve Function After RT and CRT

November 21st 2013

Head and neck cancer patients who participated in a swallow preservation protocol were less likely to suffer from the detrimental effects associated with dysphagia, a common complication associated with radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy.

ThyroSeq Test Could Reduce Unnecessary Surgeries for Thyroid Cancer

November 20th 2013

A new test has been developed to identify the difference between malignant and benign nodules in the thyroid gland, which could potentially reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries, according to an announcement from The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences.

Dr. Brose on Recent Advances in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

November 12th 2013

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, discusses recent advances in papillary thyroid cancer.

Large-Scale Analysis Confirms Superiority of Hyperfractionation in HNSCC

October 29th 2013

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy improved overall survival rates compared to standard and accelerated radiotherapy when administered without concomitant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Vemurafenib Demonstrates Antitumor Activity in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

October 18th 2013

In a phase II clinical trial, the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with BRAFV600E-mutated papillary thyroid cancer who were either TKI treatment naÃ¯ve or had received prior TKI treatments.

Physical Activity May Reduce the Risk of Esophageal Cancer

October 18th 2013

A meta-analysis of nearly 2000 patients has shown that physical activity may substantially reduce the risk of developing esophageal cancer, especially esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Questions Remain Regarding Prognostic Value of BRAF Mutation in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

September 24th 2013

Several recently published papers have introduced contradicting findings on the usefulness of BRAF status for predicting the presence of aggressive papillary thyroid cancer.

Toxicity Clinics

September 12th 2013

Found to be helpful for patients with head and neck cancer.