Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Veliparib in Treating Patients With Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase II dose, dose limiting toxicity (DLT), and safety of ABT-888 (veliparib) with carboplatin and paclitaxel induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced head and neck (LAHNC) patients. (Phase I) II. Compare magnitude of tumor shrinkage (response) following 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy with and without ABT-888 in LAHNC. (Phase II) SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Compare progression-free (PFS), disease-specific (DSS), and overall survival (OS) in subjects treated with or without ABT-888. (Phase II) OUTLINE: This is a phase I, dose-escalation study of veliparib followed by a phase II study. PHASE I: Patients receive veliparib orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-7, paclitaxel intravenously (IV) over 60 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then continue on to concomitant chemoradiotherapy. PHASE II: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive veliparib, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as in Phase I. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 10 days from completion of course 2, patients begin concomitant chemoradiotherapy. ARM II: Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-7. Patients also receive paclitaxel and carboplatin as in Phase I. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 10 days from completion of course 2, patients begin concomitant chemoradiotherapy. CONCOMITANT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 regimens of concomitant chemoradiotherapy based on the guidelines of the institution where they are being treated. OPTION I (CONCOMITANT CHEMORADIATION WITH CISPLATIN): Patients receive cisplatin IV on days 1 and 22 and undergo radiation therapy 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 5 courses. OPTION II (CONCOMITANT CHEMORADIATION WITH TFHX): Patients receive hydroxyurea PO every 12 hours on days 1-5 for up to 11 doses, fluorouracil IV over 120 hours on days 1-5, paclitaxel IV on day 1, and undergo radiation therapy BID on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 5 courses. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 months. Patients who progress will be followed up every 6 months through year 5.