Twenty years after HPV vaccine approval, head and neck cancers have become the most common HPV-related cancer with 16,000 cases annually. The incidence tripled from 2000 to 2017, primarily affecting men in their 40s to 60s. Vaccination rates among teens reached approximately 77-79% for at least one dose in 2024.
Yale Cancer Center experts presented research at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego, including patient-centered trials, pathology methods and head and neck cancer studies. The meeting also included a plenary presentation, a pathology award and an AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grant.
Patient-derived organoids demonstrate clinically meaningful predictive value in drug development, with validation studies showing concordance between organoid drug-response profiles and patient outcomes. These models enable earlier go/no-go decisions and more rational clinical trial design, as evidenced by their use in developing FDA Breakthrough Therapy designated candidates.
AstraZeneca terminated its Phase I/IIa trial of AZD0022 for KRASG12D-mutant cancers, withdrew a planned saruparib ovarian cancer platform study, and completed a real-world non-small cell lung cancer treatment review.
New research and precision radiation techniques aim to minimize debilitating side effects of head and neck cancer treatment, including oral mucositis, while maintaining tumor control and improving patient quality of life.
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07462377 |
A Phase 1 Study of EPI-326 in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and HNSCC |
RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07437326 |
Food-related Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07241273 |
SPECT-CT Guided ELEctive Contralateral Neck Treatment in Lateralized Oropharyngeal Cancer |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT07108517 |
A Manualized Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for People With Cancer in Greece - IC-Growth |
RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT06940505 |
Telemedicine Follow-Up for Early Laryngeal Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Care Close to Home Versus Standard of Care |
RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT06910657 |
IDOV-Immune for Advanced Solid Tumors |
RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT06896448 |
Innovative OSA Screening in Head and Neck Cancer Patients With the Apneal App |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT06894459 |
A Prospective, Multicenter, Multicohort Phase II Study: Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Preoperative Neoadjuvant Treatment With a PD-1 Inhibitor in Combination With Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT06870799 |
Comparing Closed Face Masks vs Surface Guided Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Radiotherapy |
RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT06806683 |
Predictive Tools in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy |
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING |
