RATIONALE: It is not yet known whether zinc sulfate is effective in preventing the loss of ability to taste food in cancer patients who are undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of zinc sulfate in preventing loss of sense of taste in patients who are undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine whether zinc sulfate prolongs the time to onset of altered taste in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
• Determine whether this drug decreases the overall incidence of altered taste in these patients.
• Determine whether this drug results in fewer radiotherapy treatment interruptions in these patients.
• Assess the quality of life of patients treated with this drug.
• Determine the toxic effects of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to planned radiotherapy dose (less than 6,000 cGy vs at least 6,000 cGy), estimated amount of oral mucosa in the radiation field (60% or less vs more than 60%), age (under 50 vs 50 and over), concurrent chemotherapy (yes vs no), and smoking (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive oral zinc sulfate 3 times daily beginning the first week of radiotherapy.
• Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo 3 times daily beginning the first week of radiotherapy.

Treatment in both arms continues daily during and for 1 month after radiotherapy in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, weekly during treatment, and then at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the completion of treatment.

Patients are followed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the completion of treatment and then every 6 months for 1 year.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of head and neck cancer
• No stage I laryngeal cancer
• Planned treatment with at least 2,000 cGy of external beam radiotherapy to at least 30% of the oral cavity

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Gastrointestinal:

• Able to tolerate oral medication
• No known mechanical obstruction of the alimentary tract
• No malabsorption
• No intractable vomiting (more than 5 episodes per week)

Other:

• No known intolerance to zinc sulfate
• No known, untreated oral thrush
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Surgery:

• No prior surgery that included ablation or removal of the olfactory component of taste

Other:

• No concurrent zinc supplements

  • Concurrent standard multivitamins allowed