S9715, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer of the Nasopharynx
Head and Neck Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Head and Neck Cancer focused on measuring stage III nasopharyngeal cancer, stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma (excluding adenocarcinoma), stage III or IV with no evidence of distant metastatic disease (M0) No lung, bone, or liver metastases as proven within 42 days of registration by: -CT scan or nucleotide study of the chest or chest x-ray -liver and bone scan if alkaline phosphatase is greater than the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN), or if clinically indicated -liver scan if SGOT is greater than the institutional ULN PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL AND/OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/minute Other: Not pregnant or nursing Women/men of reproductive potential must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No previous chemotherapy to the primary site or nodes Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No previous radiotherapy (except for nonmelanomatous skin cancer outside of the radiation therapy treatment volume) Surgery: No previous surgery to the primary site or nodes