Induction Chemotherapy Using Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Followed by Combretastatin A4 Phosphate and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Regionally Advanced Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed anaplastic or poorly differentiated variant thyroid carcinoma of either of the following:
• * Regionally advanced disease
• * Confined to the neck and/or superior mediastinum (i.e., above the level of the carina)
• * Measurable or evaluable\* disease
• * Completely resected disease without measurable or evaluable disease NOTE: \*At a minimum, abnormalities on physical exam or radiographic studies that may not be precisely measured but readily followed
• Must have original/diagnostic tumor blocks available to confirm histopathology and for tumor microvessel density immunohistochemistry
• * Patients with no available original/diagnostic tumor blocks must have tumor accessible for pretreatment needle core biopsy
• Must undergo indirect and direct laryngoscopy to ensure patency of the trachea/airway if deemed inoperable, with bulky thyroid/neck masses and/or suspicion of airway obstruction
• No distant metastases, including but not limited to, brain metastases, disease below the level of the carina, pulmonary parenchyma, and hepatic or bony metastases
• * Superior mediastinal disease (i.e., above the level of the carina) in addition to regional neck disease is allowed provided the disease can be contained in a single radiotherapy port
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• ALT and AST ≤ 3.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• LVEF ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
• EKG normal
• No prior angina
• No prior myocardial infarction (e.g., significant Q waves), QTc \> 450 msec, or other clinically significant abnormalities on ECG
• No congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled atrial arrhythmias or clinically significant arrhythmias, including any of the following:
• * Conduction abnormality
• * Nodal junctional arrhythmias and dysrhythmias
• * Sinus bradycardia or tachycardia
• * Supraventricular arrhythmias
• * Atrial fibrillation or flutter
• * Syncope or vasovagal episodes
• No significant heart wall abnormality or heart muscle damage by echocardiogram
• No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure consistently greater than 150/100 mm Hg irrespective of medication)
• * Hypertension is allowed provided there is clinical documentation of controlled blood pressure for 2 months before study entry
• No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease or cerebrovascular disease
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia
• No concurrent serious infection
• No other nonmalignant uncontrolled medical illness or one whose control may be jeopardized by the complications of study therapy
• No grade 2 or greater pre-existing motor or sensory peripheral neuropathy
• No psychiatric disorder or other condition that would preclude study compliance
• No conditions associated with QTc prolongation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No concurrent biologic therapy
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent hormonal therapy, except for the following:
• * Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer
• * Hormone replacement therapy
• * Oral contraceptives
• * Megestrol for anorexia/cachexia
• Radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior attempt at resection or cytoreduction (e.g., debulking) surgery irrespective of surgical margins allowed provided there are no distant metastases
• At least 1 week but no more than 8 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
• Other
• No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy
• No other concurrent antineoplastic therapy
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No concurrent medications known to prolong the QTc interval unless the medication can be held for at least 4 days during each treatment course