Patients will be randomized into one of two study groups. One study group will receive amifostine prior to daily radiation therapy and the other group will receive radiation therapy alone.
Amifostine will be administered 30-60 minutes prior to radiation treatment. Vital signs will be monitored 5 minutes and 15 minutes after amifostine injection as well as immediately following radiation treatment.
Patients will also complete a quality-of-life questionnaire on the first and last day of radiation treatment. Follow-up questionnaires will be done at follow-up visits 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months after completion of radiation therapy.
Patients will be removed from the study if they develop an allergic reaction to amifostine.
