Head Cancer

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.

The aim of the AURACCO study is to evaluate the association between the onset of tinnitus and hearing loss in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated by concomitant chemoradiotherapy or exclusive radiotherapy

The primary objective is to evaluate major pathologic response after RiMO-301 with hypofractionated radiotherapy and a PD-1 inhibitor (pembrolizumab), as assessed by clinical response rate using iRECIST criteria; determine event-free survival for up to 12 months; and determine overall survival for up to 24 months. The secondary objectives include determining event-free survival for up to 12 months and overall survival for up to 24 months.

The purpose of this study is to find out whether combining the standard chemotherapy for head and neck cancer with the immunotherapy drugs cetuximab and cemiplimab (the study drug) is a safe treatment for head and neck cancer, and whether receiving this combination treatment before surgery may allow participants to forgo the standard radiation treatment after surgery.

While existing data supports the use of acupuncture to reduce radiation-induced xerostomia, the optimal timing of acupuncture for managing chemoradiation-induced xerostomia remains an area of active investigation. Prior studies have administered acupuncture either in patients who developed xerostomia 12 months after radiation 10 or during the radiation therapy itself 9. The hypothesis is that acupuncture may be more effective in preventing and reducing xerostomia when administered early during CRT, rather than after chronic xerostomia has already set in. Yet, oncologists have concerns about the potentially higher risk of complications, such as infection, associated with acupuncture, especially if administered concurrently with chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, this study aims to conduct this randomised trial to evaluate the impact of early versus delayed acupuncture on patient-reported and objective measures of xerostomia, as well as the safety and tolerability of acupuncture in this setting. To our knowledge, this will be the first randomised clinical trial evaluating the optimal timing for incorporating acupuncture to reduce xerostomia in patients undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck cancers. It is also the first study conducted in Singapore to study the role of acupuncture in reducing CRT-induced xerostomia.

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.

Following preliminary studies carried out in our department on these subject and subjective findings during clinical examinations, it has been shown that pain is a symptom that is rarely reported following treatment. Instead, neurosensory disorders such as hypoesthesia and paresthesia are found. The objective of the study is to map and qualitatively evaluate neurosensory disorders in patients treated for cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx.