Research into laryngeal cancer

Researchers around the world are looking at better ways to treat laryngeal cancer and manage treatment side effects.

Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for laryngeal cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.

Find a clinical trial

Research and clinical trials

All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:

• they work

• they work better than the treatments already available

• they are safe

To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.

Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.

About this research

Some of the research on this page has now stopped asking people to take part. But it takes time before the results are available. This is because the research teams follow the people taking part for a period of time to collect and analyse the information.

We have included information about these to give examples of the types of research being carried out.

Research into scans

Researchers are looking at scans to diagnose cancer and see how well treatment works. Also to look at better ways of follow up after treatment.

One study is measuring the growth of blood vessels using a ​PET-CT scan​ and a PET- MR scan.

This is to:

• find out how good a PET-CT scan is at measuring the growth of blood vessels around a cancer

• find out if measuring the blood supply of the cancer with a PET-CT scan can be used to find out how fast the cancer is growing

• compare PET-MR scans and PET-CT scans

Doctors in another study are comparing patient-led follow up with a PET-CT scan to standard follow up. This is to understand the best way to check if the cancer has come back after treatment.

Research into treatments for laryngeal cancer

Radiotherapy and surgery 

Doctors can treat early laryngeal cancer with either surgery or radiotherapy. Newer techniques for surgery include transoral surgery (TORS) or transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). A newer radiotherapy technique is ​intensity modulated radiotherapy​ (IMRT).  All these treatments are successful but have different side effects.

Researchers are looking at each type of treatment and whether one is better than the other. For example, they look at how well it preserves function, such as swallowing.

Targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy  

​Targeted cancer drugs​ and ​immunotherapy​ are common treatments for different types of cancer.

Researchers are looking at different targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy to treat laryngeal cancer. These drugs might be completely new. Or already used for other cancer types. Doctors want to know more about:

• the best dose of the drug to have alongside radiotherapy

• more about the side effects

• how treatment affects ​quality of life​

You might have these treatments on their own or with: •   ​radiotherapy​ •   ​chemotherapy​   •   other targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy  

Read more about treatment for laryngeal cancer

Radiotherapy  

For some people, radiotherapy is a standard treatment for early stage laryngeal cancer. But it does have side effects.

Doctors are comparing radiotherapy to the vocal cords with radiotherapy to the whole larynx. They want to find out if the treatment stops the cancer from coming back and reduces the side effects. Common side effects include difficulty in swallowing and changes in the voice. Doctors also want to find out how the treatment affects quality of life. 

Treatment injected into the cancer

In some studies, doctors inject certain drugs directly into the cancer. They want to find out if the treatment shrinks or controls the cancer and more about the side effects. Some people might have other treatments, such as chemotherapy with the injections. 

Find out more about the side effects of radiotherapy

Research into Side effects of treatment

Researchers are looking at developing a computer tool. The tool will help them to predict what long term side effects people might have after radiotherapy. These side effects can affect your quality of life.

People who are having radiotherapy and who take part in the study will be asked to fill in a questionnaire about their side effects.    

The aim of this study is to gain information about the long term side effects of radiotherapy. And to use this to develop a computer tool that can predict an individual’s risk of getting them.

Research into living with laryngeal cancer

A study is looking at using an app to see if it can help support people having treatment for head and neck cancer.

The aims of the study are to find out if people:

• are willing to use the app

• can use the app easily

• find it helps to support them

Researchers in another study want to find out the main concerns of people having cancer treatment. This trial includes people with laryngeal cancer. The aim is to focus support and information based on individual needs.

Find out more about clinical trials