A Study of Chemoradiotherapy for Intermediate Stage/Selected Stage IV Cancers of the Head and Neck

Inclusion Criteria: Patients must have stage II-III (carcinoma of head and neck, including oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses and cervical esophagus). Selected patients with stage disease (T will also be considered for enrolment). Therapy is given with curative intent. Patients with clinical N2 or N3 disease are excluded. Prior to entry in the study the resectability and standard treatment options for each patient will be determined during a joint evaluation by a team composed of an attending surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. In addition the timing and feasibility of initial organ preserving surgery will be determined in each patient prior to therapy at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Salvage surgery and neck dissection will be allowed for suspicious or evident residual disease at the completion of the treatment regimen. Measurable disease is not required. Patients must have a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of carcinoma of the head and neck. No prior exposure to chemotherapy or radiotherapy for a malignancy of the head and neck. Patients must have ECOG performance status of 0-2. Age 18 years of age and older. Patients must have normal organ and bone marrow function. Exclusion Criteria: Receiving any other investigational agents Recent (within 6 months) myocardial infarction, New York Heart Association (NYHA) - Class H or greater congestive heart failure, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication, or Grade II or greater peripheral vascular disease within 1 year prior to treatment in the study Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture. History of recurrent or chronic deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus History of CNS disease (including CNS involvement from primary cancer) or hemorrhagic or thrombotic stroke within the last 6 months Uncontrolled hypertension Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy History of hemoptysis Anatomic lesion that increases the risk of serious hemorrhage (e.g. invasion of a major vessel by tumor). History of other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug or that might affect the interpretation of the results of the study or render the subject at high risk from treatment complications. Current ongoing treatment with any dose of warfarin or its equivalent. Major surgical procedure or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day 0. Fine needle aspirations, indwelling catheter placement, or significant traumatic injury within 7 days prior to Day 0 Anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to rhuMAb VEUF or other agents used in the study. History of a concurrent malignancy or a history of a prior malignancy within the past 3 years. Pregnant women HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy