RATIONALE: Nebulized dornase alfa inhalation solution may decrease the thickness of saliva in the mouth and improve quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. It is not yet known whether dornase alfa inhalation solution is more effective than a placebo in lessening the discomfort of treatment in these patients.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well dornase alfa inhalation solution works compared with a placebo in treating patients with stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine if use of nebulized dornase alfa inhalation solution can improve the overall daily symptom and quality of life as well as reduce treatment discomfort during radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
• To determine if once daily nebulized dornase alfa inhalation solution given prior to radiotherapy can reduce thick oropharyngeal secretions associated with curative radiotherapy and chemotherapy in these patients.
• To determine if reduction in thick oropharyngeal secretions with the use of nebulized dornase alfa inhalation solution can decrease the incidence of mucositis, infections, and aspiration pneumonia.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive nebulized dornase alfa inhalation solution via oral inhalation approximately 30 minutes prior to radiation therapy on days 1-5. Treatment continues for up to 4 weeks (weeks 3-6 of radiation therapy) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
• Arm II: Patients receive nebulized placebo via oral inhalation approximately 30 minutes prior to radiation therapy on days 1-5. Treatment continues for up to 4 weeks as in arm I.

All patients are assessed for treatment-related symptoms and treatment disturbance daily during radiation therapy. Patients are assessed for quality of life weekly during radiation therapy and then monthly during follow-up for 3 months. Clinical symptoms (i.e., mucositis, bacterial and fungal infections, and aspiration pneumonia) are also assessed weekly during radiation therapy.

Sputum samples are collected prior to initiating radiation therapy (at baseline) and periodically during week 3 of radiation treatment and evaluated for salivary DNA levels.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed monthly for 3 months and then every 3-4 months for a minimum of 2 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx

  • Stage III or IV disease
  • Confirmation from primary site and/or lymph nodes

• Patients with a history of head and neck cancer allowed provided they have not received prior radiotherapy

  • Prior localized radiotherapy for skin cancer arising in the head and neck region is allowed

• Planning to receive radiation therapy and chemotherapy to the head and neck regions with a minimum expected radiation dose of 60 Gy over 6 weeks

  • Chemotherapy may include but is not limited to, cisplatin or carboplatin, fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, docetaxel, and/or cetuximab

    • Induction chemotherapy allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Karnofsky performance status 50-100%
• No prior allergic reaction or known sensitivity to dornase alfa inhalation solution
• No significant active infection or other severe complicating medical illness
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent amifostine
• No mouth wash 1 hour before or after dornase alfa inhalation solution administration