Selenomethionine in Reducing Mucositis in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Are Receiving Cisplatin and Radiation Therapy

Exclusion Criteria

• •Non-regional metastatic disease (stage IVc)
• •Previous malignancy within the last 5 years except for adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia
• •Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for HNSCC, or any prior radiotherapy that would compromise delivery of a radical dose to the HNSCC
• •Known to be positive for hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• •Unable to tolerate oral medication (unless a feeding tube is in place)
• •History of hypersensitivity to platinum drugs
• •Symptomatic peripheral neuropathy \>= National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade II
• •Pregnant, lactating or unwilling to use adequate contraception
• •Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation
• •Planned use of amifostine for prophylaxis against radiation-induced xerostomia
• •Patients taking selenium supplements in excess of 100 ug/day
• •Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• •Evidence of any other significant medical disorder or laboratory finding that in the opinion of the Investigator compromises the subject's safety during the study