Weekly Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane) + Weekly Cetuximab + Radiation Therapy (IMRT, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) in Patients With Stage III-IVB Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Inclusion Criteria

• •Locally and/or regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AJCC Stage III-IVB)
• •Karnofsky performance status ≥ or = to 70%
• •Adequate bone marrow function: absolute neutrophil count ≥ or = to 1,500/μl, platelets ≥ or = to 100,000/μl, hemoglobin ≥ or = to 9 gm/dl
• •Adequate hepatic function:
• •Total Bilirubin ≤ or = to institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT and Alkaline Phosphatase must be within the range allowing for eligibility. In determining eligibility the more abnormal of the two values (AST or ALT) should be used
• •Patients must have adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl or estimated creatinine clearance of ≥ 45 ml/min by Cockcroft and Gault method
• •Men and women of childbearing potential must be willing to consent to using effective contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter
• •Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test
• •Patients must have ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document