Iseganan Hydrochloride in Preventing Oral Mucositis in Patients Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed malignancy of the head and neck, including cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or salivary glands Undergoing or planning to undergo radiotherapy to the head and neck involving: Bilateral treatment with either conventional, hyperfractionated, or concurrent boost external beam radiotherapy Minimum total radiation dose of 60 Gy to at least 3 sites within the oral cavity Total scheduled administration of no more than 8 weeks No oral mucositis already present Ulceration related to head and neck malignancy or prior surgery allowed
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Must be able to orally rinse with study drug Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Concurrent chemotherapy allowed Endocrine therapy: No concurrent topical corticosteroids to oral cavity Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational agent for prevention and/or treatment of mucositis No prior participation in this study No concurrent topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine or dyclonine hydrochloride, within 30 minutes before or 15 minutes after study agent No concurrent oral rinses within 15 minutes of study agent