Pushing for a Cure: New Treatments for Head and Neck-Endocrine Cancer

Moffitt's Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology Department shares new developments in treatments and clinical trials for head and neck and endocrine cancers in a webinar and Q&A session hosted by Dr. Caitlin McMullen and Dr. Kedar Kirtane.

Over the past five years, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of head and neck cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials at Moffitt. The efforts to improve the standard of care for this patient population has supported continued advances in clinical trial research. Dr. Jameel Muzaffar, Medical Oncologist in the Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology Department, reviews new clinical trials open for accrual or opening soon. With 40% of new head and neck cancer patients coming to Moffitt for second opinions or clinical trial options, new innovative clinical trials are key. Some of these trials include immunotherapy and cellular therapy for HPV positive patients, combination therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, the use of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes to treat both HPV-related and cancers unrelated to HPV, and new vaccine studies. Additionally, there is a new tissue study sequencing gut microbiomes to better understand the role in how patients respond to therapy. 

Dr. Krupal Patel, Surgical Oncologist in the Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology Department, discusses the progress in personalized medicine, new advances in minimally invasive surgery and the importance of a multidisciplinary care team to address the specific challenges of head and neck surgery and reconstruction and the physical, emotional and financial effects on patients. 

Dr. Caitlin McMullen and Dr. Valentina Tarasova also discuss advances in the management and treatment of thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, cancer-related endocrine issues and endocrine oncology. 

Watch the full webinar.