Phase 2 Study Assessing the Impact of Parenteral Administration of the Immunomodulater Oral IMPACT® for Postoperative Radiochemotherapy in Patients With Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Phase 2 Study Assessing the Impact of Parenteral Administration of the Immunomodulater Oral IMPACT® for Postoperative Radiochemotherapy in Patients With Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
RATIONALE: Giving a nutritional supplement containing arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and nucleotides to patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy may stimulate the immune system and help the body build a stronger immune response.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well an arginine/omega-3 fatty acids/nucleotides nutritional supplement works in treating patients with stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Patients undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 6½ weeks. Patients receive cisplatin IV during weeks 1, 4, and 7 of radiotherapy. Patients also receive arginine/omega-3 fatty acids/nucleotides oral supplement (Oral IMPACT®) via percutaneous gastrostomy tube 3 times daily for 5 days before each chemotherapy treatment.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Diagnosis of head and neck cancer meeting the following criteria:
Must have percutaneous gastrostomy tube in place
Must have undergone prior surgery for head and neck cancer within the past 6-8 weeks
No cerebral metastases
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: