Sponsored content provided by Johnson & Johnson for educational purposes and reviewed for alignment with Head & Neck Cancer Alliance mission.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses a group of cancers that typically begin in the mouth, throat, sinuses, or salivary glands. It affects over 650,000 people globally each year and is the 7th most common cancer worldwide – and this is expected to rise by 20% by 2030.[1],[2],[3]
The most common type is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), accounting for more than 90% of cases and approximately 4.5% of all cancers worldwide.[2]
These cancers are not only medically complex, most often being diagnosed late, but also deeply impact patients’ daily lives.[4] HNC and/or its’ treatments can affect essential functions like speaking, eating, breathing, and swallowing – placing a heavy physical, emotional and social burden on patients.[5]
Patients often also face delays in diagnosis and care due to low awareness of early symptoms – both amongst themselves and primary care providers – as well as unclear referral pathways.[2],[6] The lack of standardized screening guidelines further compounds this, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection and intervention.[7] Even after diagnosis, the treatment phase can feel overwhelming, with patients seeking more support to understand their options, manage logistics and cope emotionally.[8],[9] After treatment, people living with HNC frequently undergo intense rehabilitation.[8],[9]
Standard treatment options include:[5]
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
Johnson & Johnson’s Innovative Approach to Head and Neck Cancer [10]
Clinical trials are research studies that show whether a treatment is safe and effective (works to treat what it is intended to). They are an important way to help improve care for people with different health conditions. The trials follow strict scientific standards which protect patients and help produce reliable study results.
Clinical trials are carefully designed to find out:
- If the investigational medicine works for certain illnesses
- If it’s safe
- If it causes any side effects
A clinical trial may find that a new medical approach improves patient outcomes, or in some cases offers no benefit or causes unexpected harm. All results are important because they advance medical knowledge and help improve patient care.
A medical treatment goes through clinical trial phases before it becomes available to the public:
- Phase I – Safety: this phase tests if the investigational product is safe in a small group
- Phase II – Does it work: this phase tests if the investigational product works in people who have the condition
- Phase III – Confirm results and compare: this phase tests the investigational product in a large group and compare the new product to existing treatments
- Phase IV – Monitor: this phase monitors how the investigational product works after it is approved and is being used by many people
Although they offer vital access to emerging therapies, many patients are unaware of clinical trial options or feel excluded due to geographic limitations or lack of guidance. For patients and caregivers already overwhelmed by a new diagnosis, clinical trials can add complexity and lead to hesitancy.[11] Introducing trial opportunities to patients earlier can reduce fear and provide time to address misconceptions about safety, side effects and risk.[11]
Designing clinical trials with patient experience at the core is essential, and collaboration with patient organizations makes this possible.
Through these collaborations it’s possible to:
- Create accessible, patient-friendly materials
- Drive mutual decision-making between patients and healthcare providers
- Improve access to clinical trials[12]
Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) Innovative approach to head and neck cancer
J&J’s work in HNC is part of a larger, long-standing commitment to oncology innovation, built on over 30 years of cancer research.
Given the significant challenges faced by patients living with HNC and the urgency for new therapies, clinical trials in HNC need an innovative approach. J&J’s HNC clinical trial program integrates both systemic therapies – which circulate throughout the body – and intratumoral treatments, which are delivered directly into tumors.[13]
Their Patient Advocacy Research & Development (R&D) team works closely with patient organizations to ensure that clinical trials reflect the lived experiences of patients and caregivers.
Explore Clinical Trials
Finding the right clinical trial can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance offer a Clinical Trial Finder to help patients and caregivers easily search for trials that may be relevant to their diagnosis and location. This tool provides information about ongoing studies for head and neck cancer – empowering you to make informed decisions about your care.
Search Clinical Trials on the Head & Neck Cancer website.
DISCLAIMER:
- This blog is intended for US audiences only.
- This information is intended solely for informational purposes. It is not intended as medical or healthcare advice, or to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment for any individual problem.
- Image licensed and provided by the Alliance
REFERENCES
[1] Head & Neck Cancer Alliance. The Changing Face of Head and Neck Cancer. Published April 9, 2020. Accessed November 7, 2025. https://www.headandneck.org/the-changing-face-of-head-and-neck-cancer/.
[2] Barsouk A, Rawla P, Barsouk A, Aluru JS, Zakharia K. Epidemiology, risk factors and prevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Med Sci. 2023;11(2):42. doi:10.3390/medsci11020042.
[3] Hu Q, Lv S, Wang X, Pan P, Gong W, Mei J. Global burden and future trends of head and neck cancer: a deep learning-based analysis (1980–2030). PLoS One. 2025;20(4):e0320184. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0320184.
[4] Bhat G. et al. Head and neck cancer: Current challenges and future perspectives. Adv Cancer Res. 2021:152:67-102. Epub 2021 Jun 16.
[5] Cleveland Clinic. Head and Neck Cancer. Published September 3, 2024. Accessed November 10, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14458-head-and-neck-cancer
[6] Ferris RL, Blumenschein G Jr, Fayette J, et al. Nivolumab for recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(19):1856-1867. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1602252.
[7] Guntinas-Lichius O., Targeted Screening Strategies for Head and Neck Cancer: A Global Review of Evidence, Technologies, and Cost-Effectiveness. Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Aug 20;15(16):2095. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15162095.
[8] A Jagannathan and S Juvva. Emotions and coping of patients with head and neck cancers after diagnosis: A qualitative content analysis. J Postgrad Med . 2016 Jul-Sep;62(3):143–149. doi: 10.4103/0022-3859.184273.
[9] Matko S, Knauseder C, Riedl D, et al. The role of dysphagia on head and neck cancer patients’ quality of life, functional disabilities and psychological distress: outcomes of cancer rehabilitation from an observational single-center study. Curr Oncol. 2025;32(4):220. doi:10.3390/curroncol32040220.
[10] National Institute on Aging. What Are Clinical Trials and Studies? Updated May 2023. Accessed November 10, 2025. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials-and-studies/what-are-clinical-trials-and-studies
[11] Quinn G., et al. Cancer Patients’ Fears Related to Clinical Trial Participation: A Qualitative Study. J Cancer Educ. 2012 June ; 27(2): 257–262. doi:10.1007/s13187-012-0310-y.
[12] Hoos A., et al. Partnering With Patients in the Development and Lifecycle of Medicines: A Call for Action. Ther Innov Regul Sci. 2015 Nov;49(6):929–939. doi: 10.1177/2168479015580384
[13] Harrington KJ. Intratumoral drug administration: more potential in head and neck cancer? In: Critical Issues in Head and Neck Oncology. 2025;325–336. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-84539-0_22.
