Shauna Campbell, DO

Less Surgeries, Better Lives: A New Approach to Oral Cancer Treatment

A pair of researchers at Cleveland Clinic are reimagining treatment for early-stage oral cavity cancer by adapting proven strategies from other cancer types, such as breast cancer, to enhance the patient experience. Currently, patients with early-stage oral cancer undergo surgery to remove the tumor along with one to three nearby lymph nodes for testing. If cancer is detected in one or more of those nodes, a second, more extensive surgery is typically performed where the rest of the 15 or more lymph nodes are removed from the neck.

However, most patients still require radiation therapy afterward, raising the question: could radiation alone be sufficient in some cases, saving lymph nodes and sparing patients from the added risks and recovery time of a second neck surgery? Shauna Campbell, DO, a radiation oncologist, was awarded a VeloSano grant alongside Jamie Ku, MD, FACS, to find out.

“Patients who undergo both surgery and radiation can suffer from lymphedema and increased dysfunction in their shoulder or neck,” says Dr. Campbell. “Our goal is to preserve cancer outcomes while minimizing the number of treatments and the side effects patients experience.”

Seeing patients not only endure cancer treatment but also navigate the lasting effects of survival has deeply inspired Dr. Campbell and Dr. Ku to advance the quality of care in head and neck oncology. This concept that they are testing has the potential to be practice-changing for the entire field for this group of patients.

“That is what’s most exciting in terms of trials,” says Dr. Ku. “At the end of the day, we want to impact the patients that are immediately around us enrolling in the trial, but down the road, it could have an impact regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Dr. Campbell and Dr. Ku’s commitment to advancing cancer care truly reflects the spirit of VeloSano. For years, they’ve taken their passion beyond the clinic and onto the road, riding in Bike to Cure to help power the very discoveries they’re leading.

“Bike to Cure is exciting and a lot of fun,” says Dr. Campbell. “It’s very well-orchestrated and just a really great experience. We’re lucky to have something like this. And to know that the proceeds directly support our research here at Cleveland Clinic—research that’s near and dear to us and truly helps our patients—makes it even more special.”