Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

This is an interventional treatment trial for Head and Neck Cancer focused on measuring recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity, recurrent mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, recurrent verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage II adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage II mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage II verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage III adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage III mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage III verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the lip, recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage II basal cell carcinoma of the lip, stage III basal cell carcinoma of the lip, recurrent lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, stage II lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, stage III lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, recurrent lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx, recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage II lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx, stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage III lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, high-grade salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma, low-grade salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma, recurrent salivary gland cancer, salivary gland acinic cell tumor, salivary gland adenocarcinoma, salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, salivary gland anaplastic carcinoma, salivary gland malignant mixed cell type tumor, salivary gland poorly differentiated carcinoma, salivary gland squamous cell carcinoma, stage II salivary gland cancer, stage III salivary gland cancer, stage IV adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage IV mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity, stage IV verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity, stage IV salivary gland cancer, stage IV lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, stage IV lymphoepithelioma of the oropharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, stage IV basal cell carcinoma of the lip Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Biopsy-confirmed* invasive head and neck cancer, including the following primary sites:

  • Nasopharynx
  • Oropharynx
  • Paranasal sinus
  • Oral cavity
  • Orbit
  • Salivary gland NOTE: *Biopsy must be performed prior to initiation of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT)

• Stage T2-4 tumor at the time of diagnosis

  • Primary tumor ≤ 5 cm in diameter at the time of CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)

• Meets one of the following criteria:

  • Eligible for CyberKnife® SRS as boost therapy, as defined by one of the following criteria:

    • Planning to undergo definitive EBRT, with or without chemotherapy, with curative intent for primary head and neck cancer
    • Biopsy-confirmed locally persistent disease < 3 months after completion of definitive EBRT

  • Eligible for CyberKnife® SRS as salvage therapy*, as defined by one of the following criteria:

    • Biopsy-confirmed locally recurrent disease occurring ≥ 6 months after the completion of radiotherapy; achieved a complete response to initial therapy by imaging or clinical examination; had > 50% of the tumor volume in the prior irradiated volume; and received > 45 Gy of radiotherapy
    • Biopsy-confirmed locally recurrent disease occurring between 6 weeks and 6 months after the completion of radiotherapy; achieved a complete response to initial therapy by imaging or clinical examination; had < 50% of the tumor volume in the prior irradiated volume; and received > 45 Gy of radiotherapy NOTE: *Not a candidate for salvage surgery or brachytherapy
• Anticipated total dose of radiotherapy to the spinal cord ≤ 50 Gy (including prior dose)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Karnofsky performance status 60-100%
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Able to achieve normal tissue tolerance to critical structures with the CyberKnife® planning system
• Able to undergo CT simulation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

Exclusion Criteria:

• No laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer
• No evidence of distant metastases
• No prior brachytherapy
• No prior CyberKnife® SRS boost or salvage therapy
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No active connective tissue disorders (e.g., lupus or scleroderma)