Organ Preservation in the Multispeciality Therapy of Stage II-IV Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Subjects enrolled on a previous head and neck cancer treatment protocol

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligibility Criteria:

Subjects previously enrolled in a treatment protocol for locally advanced head and neck cancer who met the following criteria:

1. Patients with Stage IV carcinoma of the nasal or oral cavity, nasopharynx pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, cervical esophagus, or hypopharynx are eligible. Patients with Stage III carcinoma of the nasopharynx, base of tongue and hypopharynx are also eligible. Therapy is given with curative intent.

   Prior to entry in the study the resectability and standard treatment options for each patient will be determined during a joint evaluation by a team composed of an attending surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. In addition the timing and feasibility of surgery will be determined in each patient prior to initiation of therapy. The unequivocal demonstration of distant metastasis confers in eligibility.

2. Measurable disease is not required, but all disease will be carefully evaluated.
3. Patients must have a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma or lymphoepithelioma.
4. Patients must have not received prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
5. Patients must have performance status of >60%
6. Patients must have a WBC count of >3.5, an ANC count >1500 and a platlet count of >100,000.
7. The serum creatinine must be equal to or less than 1.5 m/dlor the calculated creatinine clearance must exceed 50cc/min.
8. Patient must be free of significant infection or other severe complicating medical illness.
9. Pregnancy will constitute an absolute contraindication to entrance on this protocol.