Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With the Head and Neck Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the
growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies, such as
cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to
grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances
to them. Giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy and cetuximab may kill more
tumor cells.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well chemotherapy given together with radiation
therapy and cetuximab works in treating patients with head and neck cancer.