Cetuximab, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2005-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can locate tumor cells and either kill
them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. 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 chemotherapy
with monoclonal antibody therapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining cetuximab, cisplatin, and
radiation therapy in treating patients who have advanced stage III or stage IV head and neck
cancer.