Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2006-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of chemotherapy plus radiation therapy in treating patients with head and neck cancer.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Chicago
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Fluorouracil; Hydroxyurea

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of carcinoma

• Stage II-III (T2, T3, N0 or T1-3, N1) carcinoma of head and neck, including: oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, and cervical esophagus

• No N2 or N3

• Measurable disease is not required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-3

Life expectancy:

• Anticipated survival is 3-4 years (median)

Hematopoietic:

• WBC count at least 3.5/mm^3

• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• Not specified

Pulmonary:

• Not specified

Other:

• No infection or severe medical illness

• Not pregnant

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• No prior surgery