Safety and Efficacy of Radiation/Cetuximab Plus EGFR Antisense DNA for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Subject population We will enroll patients with SCCHN who are suitable for intratumoral injections of EGFR antisense. Please see eligibility criteria. Treatment plan EGFR AS will be administered by direct intratumoral injection using direct visualization, endoscopy, or imaging-guidance (ultrasound) as clinically determined . Patients will receive a total of up to 7 weekly intratumoral injections of EGFR antisense (or less if there is no identifiable tumor) starting 2 weeks prior to radiation. Patients will receive standard radiation 70 Gy/200 cGy/daily, 5 days/week,excluding weekends and holidays, with concurrent cetuximab 250 mg/m2, after a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 2 weeks prior to starting radiation. Statistical Design and Sample Size The study will be conducted in two-stages. In the first stage, 11 patients with stage IVA-C or recurrent disease will be evaluated for safety. If the regimen is deemed safe, a total of 31 patients with stage III or IVA-B, previously untreated SCCHN will be enrolled in the second stage of the study.