Combination Therapy for Cancer of the Head and Neck

What we are studying

The standard treatment for your cancer is radiation given at the same time as a chemotherapy drug called Cisplatin. The purpose of this research protocol is to study if the combination of the three chemotherapeutic drugs: Taxotere, Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil, given before the radiotherapy combined with a drug that enhances radiation effect, Erbitux, will improve chances to get rid of the cancer and prevent it from growing back.

Who we are studying

Men and Women
Races:
- White
- African American
- Asian
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- Other
All Ethnicities
Ages 18+

Eligibility Criteria

Confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Stage III or IV
No prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy for the study cancer
No chemotherapy; biologic therapy or hormonotherapy within the last one year

What is involved

3 courses of chemotherapy 3 weeks apart
1 month later patients will start Erbitux administered weekly through the duration of radiotherapy
Radiotherapy will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks
Follow-Up visits 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment; then every 2 months for up to 2 years; every 3 months for year 3; every 6 months for up to 5 years; and yearly thereafter