OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the percentage of patients for whom a complete course of therapy can be administered using targeted supradose cisplatin chemoradiation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. II. Determine the partial and complete response rate of cisplatin chemoradiation. III. Determine the incidence of adverse events using cisplatin chemoradiation therapy. IV. Determine the rate of disease-free survival and overall survival in these patients. V. Determine the incidence and pattern of recurrence in these patients. VI. Document quality of life measured by disease-specific instruments in these patients.
OUTLINE: All patients receive four courses of cisplatin on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 concurrent with radiotherapy. One course of chemotherapy consists of intra-arterial cisplatin given over 3-5 minutes. Radiotherapy is given 5 days a week for 7 weeks. This weekly cisplatin chemoradiation course will be repeated 4 times, providing recovery from toxicity is present. Dexamethasone is started the evening prior to cisplatin treatment, and continues until the morning following the procedure.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: 60 patients will be enrolled.
