Docetaxel (NSC-628503), Cisplatin (NSC-119875), And 5-Fluorouracil (NSC-19893) Induction Chemotherapy Followed By Accelerated Fractionation/Concomitant Boost Radiation And Concurrent Single Agent Cisplatin (NSC-119875), In Patients With Advanced Squamous Cell Head And Neck Cancer
Docetaxel (NSC-628503), Cisplatin (NSC-119875), And 5-Fluorouracil (NSC-19893) Induction Chemotherapy Followed By Accelerated Fractionation/Concomitant Boost Radiation And Concurrent Single Agent Cisplatin (NSC-119875), In Patients With Advanced Squamous Cell Head And Neck Cancer
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 more than one chemotherapy drug with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy in treating patients with stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE:
Patients are followed every 2 months for 1 year, every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months for 1 year.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study within 2 years.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (excluding lip, nasopharynx, paranasal sinus, and salivary gland) by biopsy or fine needle aspirate of the primary lesion or neck mass
No evidence of distant metastases
Primary site in the head and neck region must be identified
Considered to be appropriate for definitive radiotherapy with curative intent
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age
Performance status
Life expectancy
Hematopoietic
Hepatic
Renal
Cardiovascular
Other
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy
Chemotherapy
Endocrine therapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery
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