Chemo/XRT +/- Amifostine to Assess Outcomes Related to Xerostomia, Mucositis, & Dysphagia
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2008-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor
cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses
high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Amifostine may decrease the side effects caused by
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is not yet known whether chemotherapy and radiation
therapy are more effective with or without amifostine in treating head and neck cancer.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying amifostine to see how well it works
compared with standard care in reducing side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy and
radiation therapy for stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.