Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8

This phase II trial compares the effectiveness of adding BMX-001 to usual symptom management versus usual symptom management alone for reducing oral mucositis in patients who are receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Oral mucositis (inflammation and mouth sores) is a common side effect of chemoradiation that can cause pain and difficulty swallowing. Usual management of these side effects typically consists of using mouth rinses and pain medications during treatment and for several weeks after completion of treatment. BMX-001 neutralizes harmful substances in the body, preventing damage to macromolecules such as DNA and minimizes free radical-related toxicity in normal tissues. Adding BMX-001 to usual symptom management may be more effective than usual symptom management alone at reducing oral mucositis in patients receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of camonsertib in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy in controlling disease in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Camonsertib may stop the growth of tumor cells and may kill them by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain). The total dose of radiation is divided into smaller doses given over several days. This type of radiation therapy helps spare normal tissue. Giving camonsertib in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy may help control disease in patients with recurrent or unresectable head and neck squamous cell cancers.

This phase II trial compares the effectiveness of cemiplimab with CDX-1140 to cemiplimab without CDX-1140 prior to surgery in treating patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. CDX-1140 is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Giving cemiplimab with CDX-1140 versus cemiplimab alone before surgery may make the tumor smaller and may reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed for patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer.

This phase I/Ib trial tests the safety and best dose of ipatasertib in combination with the usual treatment approach using chemotherapy together with radiation therapy ("chemo-radiation") in patients with head and neck cancer. Ipatasertib is in a class of medications called protein kinase B (AKT) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of tumor cells and may kill them. Cisplatin, which is a chemotherapy used in this trial, is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high energy to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving ipatasertib in combination with chemo-radiation may be better than chemo-radiation alone in treating patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

This phase III trial compares cetuxumab to chemotherapy, carboplatin and paclitaxel, with intensity modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin. Cetuximab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It binds to a protein called EGFR, which is found on some types of cancer cells. This may help keep cancer cells from growing. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is a type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of radiation therapy reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor. It is not yet know if cetxiumab or chemotherapy, with intensity modulated radiation therapy works best for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin.