CompletedNot Applicable

PET Scans and CT Scans in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

United States19 participantsStarted 2006-02

Plain-language summary

RATIONALE: Imaging procedures, such as PET scan and CT scan, may help doctors predict a patient's response to treatment and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well PET scans and CT scans show response to treatment in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or lymphoepithelioma of the head and neck, including any of the following sites: * Oral cavity * Oropharynx * Hypopharynx * Larynx * Nasopharynx * Unknown primary of the head and neck region * Stage III or IV disease * Definitive chemoradiotherapy with curative intent must be planned PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Able to tolerate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (e.g., fasting glucose \> 200 mg/dL) despite medication PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior radiotherapy to head and neck

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Prognostic value of positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging in predicting clinical response at baseline, at weeks 2 and 4, and at week 6 post chemoradiotherapy

Timeframe: 3 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00388024

SponsorWake Forest University Health Sciences

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2008-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Carcinoma of Unknown Primary trials