Immune Biomarker Study for Head and Neck Cancer

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ERLANGEN-NÜRNBERG MEDICAL SCHOOL · May 11, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called the Immune Biomarker Study for Head and Neck Cancer, is focused on understanding how the immune system responds to newly diagnosed head and neck cancers. Researchers want to find out if certain immune markers in both the tumor and the blood can help predict how well patients will respond to treatment. By looking at these markers, they aim to create a score that can help doctors assess a patient's prognosis, which is essentially how likely they are to do well after treatment.

To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have a confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in areas such as the oral cavity or throat, specifically in stages II to IVB. Participants will need to agree to provide samples of blood, saliva, and stool for the study. Those who have other types of cancer or certain health issues may not be eligible. If you join the study, you can expect to contribute to important research that could help improve future treatments for head and neck cancer patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Initial diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, paranasal sinuses or larynx in stage UICC II-IVB (study group)
• • Diseases other than malignant diseases (patients with the indication for surgery of the ear, nose nose or maxillofacial surgery) (control group)
• • Absence of a currently existing or previous malignant disease regardless of the anatomical localization (control group)
• • Agreement of the patients for sampling blood, saliva and stool as well as consent to the preservation of all samples for further study purposes
• • Age ≥ 18 years
• • Cognitive ability of the patients to understand the meaning and purpose of the study and agree to it
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Distant metastases and / or simultaneous secondary carcinoma at the time of diagnosis (= inclusion date)
• • Carcinomas in which it is (likely) impossible to take a sample without interfering with the further pathological assessment
• • Present drug abuse
• • Patients who are unable or unwilling to behave and receive treatment according to protocol
• • Patients who are legally patronized
• • Patients who are not eligible for participation in the study due to language barrier