Portland, ORNCT07857655Now EnrollingIRB Ready

Head and Neck Carcinoma Clinical Trial in Portland, OR

Access cutting-edge head and neck carcinoma treatment through this phase 4 clinical trial at a research site in Portland. Study-provided care at no cost to qualified participants.

Sponsored by OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Quick Self-Assessment

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Expert Care in Portland

Access head and neck carcinoma specialists at no cost

IRB Approved

This study follows strict safety protocols and ethical guidelines

No-Cost Care

All study-related head and neck carcinoma treatment provided free

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Check if you qualify for this head and neck carcinoma clinical trial in Portland, OR

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Your information is protected and will only be shared with the research team.

Why Participate?

  • No-Cost Study Care

  • Local to Portland

    Convenient for OR residents

  • Cutting-Edge Treatment

    Access to innovative therapies

  • Expert Medical Care

    Close monitoring by specialists

  • Possible Compensation*

    For time and travel

*Compensation varies by study. Confirm details with coordinator.

Simple Process

  1. 1Submit this form
  2. 2Phone screening
  3. 3Visit Portland site if eligible
  4. 4Begin participation

About This Head and Neck Carcinoma Study in Portland

This phase IV trial compares how well methadone plus standard fentanyl given during surgery (intraoperative) works compared to intraoperative standard fentanyl alone in managing pain after surgery (postoperative) among patients with head and neck cancers. For most head and neck cancers, the standard treatment is surgery to remove the cancer followed by surgical reconstruction, which often requires tissue harvested from another part of the body-known as a "free flap tissue transfer". These procedures are highly complex, demand a two-surgeon team, and often take many hours to complete. The combination of multiple operative sites and extent of the surgery contributes to significant postoperative pain. Methadone is not yet used in the head and neck population but has been utilized in other subspecialties like spine and cardiac surgery. The benefits of methadone may include improved pain control in the first 72 hours postoperatively requiring less opioids postoperatively and improvement in overall pain scores. Giving intraoperative methadone plus standard fentanyl may work better than fentanyl alone in managing postoperative pain among patients with head and neck cancers.

Sponsor: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Who Can Participate

Inclusion Criteria

Adults 18-89
Patients with biopsy proven head and neck cancer\*. Diagnosis will be confirmed by Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OTOHNS) team at our center
Oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal
Undergoing surgical intervention with ablative and/or reconstructive OTOHNS surgeons for one of the following:
Free flap reconstruction (single or double flaps including: radial forearm free flap \[RFFF\], osteocutaneous radial forearm flap \[OCRFF\], fibula free flap \[FFF\], anterolateral thigh \[ALT\], scapula flap, latissimus, gracilis, rectus sheath, pectoralis)
Resections with pedicled flaps (e.g., pectoralis major, latissimus) with an expected case time of \> 4 hours
Expected time of surgery is found in the surgery request and in our department, the surgeon puts in these orders

Exclusion Criteria

Patients will be excluded if they do not consent, are minors, are deemed part of a vulnerable population or lack decision-making capacity
Current use of long-acting opioids
Pain patients treated with opioids for pathology unrelated to head and neck cancer and/or chronic pain patients, i.e. chronic back pain
Positive screening at interview for illicit drug use, not including marijuana
Drug screening is not routinely acquired prior to anesthesia per our institution's standard of care and policies. Any suspected abuse or use is guided by clinical evaluation. Patients with evidence of acute intoxication or concern for prior abuse history will be excluded per clinical judgement
Contraindications to methadone (American Society of Addiction Medicine \[ASAM\] criteria): hypersensitivity, severe respiratory depression, paralytic ileus - in which only hypersensitivity is relevant, since individuals undergoing surgery would not present with the latter
Currently on CYP therapies noted in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) methadone pamphlet to have either decreased efficacy of therapy or reduced metabolism of methadone with concurrent use
Rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, voriconazole, abacavir, amprenavir, darunavir+ritonavir, efavirenz, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, telaprevir, lopinavir+ritonavir, saquinavir+ritonavir, tipranavir+ritonavir combination, didanosine, stavudine, zidovudine
Extensive surgical interventions that require additional assistance from outside services at the time of reconstruction (i.e. hypopharyngeal cancer also requiring esophagectomy)
Head and neck cancers with intracranial components (direct, primary tumor extension, metastatic disease)
Body mass index (BMI) \> 40
Sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index \> 30 without planned tracheostomy
Stage 3b chronic kidney disease or higher (estimated glomerular filtration rate \< 45)
Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) greater than two times the upper limit of normal
Patients with a history of corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation \> 500 ms

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your interest and a study coordinator will help determine your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is this study available in Portland?

Yes, this clinical trial (NCT07857655) has an active research site in Portland, OR that is currently enrolling participants.

Q:Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. This study has been reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals. You can withdraw at any time.

Q:Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time and travel expenses. Specific compensation details will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is provided at no cost.

Q:Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

Still have questions? Our study coordinators are here to help.

Head and Neck Carcinoma Treatment Options in Portland, OR

If you're searching for head and neck carcinoma treatment options in Portland, OR, this clinical trial (NCT07857655) may be an excellent opportunity. Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that aren't yet available to the general public, often at no cost to participants.

Our Portland research site is actively enrolling participants for this phase 4 clinical trial. You'll receive care from experienced head and neck carcinoma specialists who are at the forefront of medical research. All study-related care, including examinations, treatments, and monitoring, is provided at no cost to qualified participants.

Looking for more options? Browse all head and neck carcinoma clinical trials near you to find additional studies recruiting in your area.

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