Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation in Treating Patients With Stage III or IV Head and Neck Cancer (Paradigm Trial)
Head and Neck Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Head and Neck Cancer focused on measuring stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
Eligibility Criteria
List of Inclusion Criteria: Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck Stage III or IV* disease One of the following primary tumor sites: Oral cavity No mandible invasion Oropharynx Hypopharynx Larynx The following primary tumor sites are excluded: Nasal cavity Paranasal cavity Nasopharynx NOTE: *No evidence of distant metastases by chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scan (for patients with liver function test abnormalities) or bone scan (for patients with local symptoms) At least 1 uni- or bi-dimensionally measurable lesion PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Over 18 Performance status WHO 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL Hepatic Bilirubin normal AST or ALT within eligibility range Alkaline phosphatase within eligibility range Renal Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No unstable cardiac disease despite treatment No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Pulmonary No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, defined as requiring hospitalization for pneumonia or respiratory decompensation within the past year Obstruction caused by the tumor allowed Neurologic No symptomatic peripheral neuropathy > grade 2 No symptomatic altered hearing > grade 2 No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders, including dementia or seizures Other No active drug addiction, including alcohol, cocaine, or intravenous drugs within the past 6 months No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or other cancer curatively treated by surgery alone No active, clinically significant, uncontrolled infection No autoimmune disease requiring therapy No unhealed or clinically active peptic ulcer disease No hypercalcemia No other serious illness or medical condition No involuntary weight loss > 25% of body weight within the past 2 months HIV negative Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy Surgery No prior organ transplantation No prior surgery for this cancer Biopsy allowed Other More than 30 days since prior participation in another investigational study No other concurrent anticancer therapy
Sites / Locations
- Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center
- CCOP - Colorado Cancer Research Program
- Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Community Hospital - Main Campus
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
- Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola University Medical Center
- Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and Blood Disorders - Scarborough
- Greenebaum Cancer Center at University of Maryland Medical Center
- Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center at Dana Farber Cancer Institute
- Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital - Saint Louis
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- UMDNJ University Hospital
- Albert Einstein Cancer Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center
- UPMC Cancer Centers
- Klinikum der J.W. Goethe Universitaet
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Arm I
Arm II
Patients receive induction chemotherapy comprising docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 3 courses. Patients achieving a pathologic complete response at the primary site and a clinical complete response in the neck then receive carboplatin once weekly and undergo concurrent radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. Patients with a partial response at the primary site (i.e., positive biopsy), stable disease, or radiographic evidence of persistent disease in the neck receive docetaxel once weekly for 4 weeks and undergo concurrent radiotherapy once or twice daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks.
Patients receive cisplatin IV on weeks 1 and 4 and undergo concurrent radiotherapy once or twice daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks.