Learning more about cancer and its effects is a major goal of the Head and Neck Oncology Program. In addition to clinical research, the Program has an active interest in the Quality of Life of long-term cancer survivors.
In addition, the Division has developed basic science research collaborations that are evaluating a novel method to decrease mucous membrane injury during radiation and chemotherapy, co-stimulatory molecules that might someday lead to vaccine therapy for head and neck cancer, and new studies of how eicosanoids might play a role in progression from pre-malignant to malignant states.
Clinical Research: MCW participates in a variety nationally- and locally-sponsored clinical trials. Every patient who is eligible for a clinical trial is offered the opportunity to be entered. This benefits patients in two ways; first, it offers the most up-to-date approaches to each patient, and, second, recent data show that patients entered into clinical trials do better.
The Medical College is one of the Top 10 US participants in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). MCW is also a member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG). RTOG, ECOG, and ACOSOG are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, patients participate in trials of otherwise unavailable new medications thorough a collaborative agreement with the University of Chicago.
Functional Preservation: This commitment to clinical research has led our treatment philosophy to evolve over the years.
Since Medical College physicians were among the first to enter patients into voice-preserving studies, we have continued to study ways to avoid removal of the larynx or mandible whenever possible. When removal of the larynx is needed, we often perform immediate voice restoration procedures.