Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Pathology: -- Histologic documentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or its variants (lymphoepithelioma, undifferentiated epidermoid carcinoma, etc.). Stage: -- Patients will be entered on this protocol after initial induction therapy, if, prior to the induction regimen, they were previously untreated Stage III or IV (MO) SCCHN. Evaluable disease during induction therapy is required. Required Prior Therapy: Patients entered on this protocol will have received platinum/FUra based induction chemotherapy. They may have received a taxane as part of this plan. Patients treated with induction are eligible provided that they receive no more than 3 cycles of chemotherapy, but at least one cycle of chemotherapy, and are less then 7 weeks from the start of last cycle of induction therapy. Other Malignancies: Patients with previous head and neck cancer are ineligible, except patients who were treated with surgery as the sole modality ≥2 years prior to study entry. Patients with concurrent malignancy of any site, except limited basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix are ineligible. Patients with any non-SCCHN malignancy within 3 years of study entry, except curatively treated basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix are ineligible. Other Prior Therapy: Patients treated with induction therapy Hormonally treated patients are eligible. Performance: Patients must meet the following performance criteria: Performance status: ≤2 (ECOG) Complete recovery from previous diagnostic or therapeutic procedures is required. Nutritional Status: Adequate and nutritionally balanced enteral intake ≥ 1,800 kcal/day). A PEG is required prior to initiation of radiation. Age: ≥18 years Life Expectancy: Longer than 3 months. Women of child bearing potential must not be pregnant by history or lactating at the time of entry on this protocol and men and women of child bearing potential must be requested to use an accepted and effective method of birth control during therapy. Organ Function: Biochemical and hematological parameters (obtained within 2 weeks of study entry) as follows: Hepatic: SGOT < 1.5 x ULN and Alkaline Phosphatase < 2.5 x ULN for entry. Total Bilirubin = WNL and SGOT must be ≤ 2 x ULN as an isolated value. SGPT ≤ 2.5 x ULN Hematologic: WBC ≥ 3,000/mm3 or a normal absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000; Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin ≥ 10 gm/d1 (transfusion to bring the hemoglobin to or above this level is permitted if clinically indicated, however, transfusions should not be used solely in order to meet eligibility criteria). Neurologic: Peripheral neuropathy of any etiology must not exceed grade 2. Other: Lack of other serious illness or medical condition Informed consent: -- Patients must give written informed consent. Follow-up: All patients must be available for monthly evaluation and re-staging by the physicians from the Head and Neck Cancer Clinic while on therapy. Exclusion Criteria: Pathology: -- Patients with previous head and neck cancer are ineligible, except patients who were treated with surgery as the sole modality ≥ 2 years prior to study entry. Other Malignancies: Patients with concurrent malignancy of any site, except limited basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix are ineligible. Patients with any non-SCCHN malignancy within 3 years of study entry, except curatively treated basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix are ineligible. Other Prior Therapy: Patients who were previously treated with radiotherapy for SCCHN are not eligible. Patients treated with any form of prior chemotherapy, other than induction therapy within the last 5 years are not eligible Performance: Nutritional Status: Patients requiring intravenous alimentation as primary source of calories are excluded from this study. Patients with persistent diarrhea are ineligible. Organ Function: -- Neurologic: Peripheral neuropathy of any etiology must not exceed grade 2. -- Cardiovascular/Pulmonary: No acute cardiac dysrhythmias or unstable cardiac condition such as angina. Follow-up: Patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to Taxotere or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 will be excluded.