Use of Pharmacogenetics to Select Erbitux or Cisplatin to Treat Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •Biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx, but not including primary tumors of the nasopharynx, sinuses, or salivary glands.
• •Locally advanced, Stage III to IVB disease, and a candidate for primary therapy using chemotherapy and radiation therapy with curative intent.
• •No previous chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for their diagnosis of head and neck cancer
• •Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status \</= 1
• •Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 30 hours before initiation of study drug dosing. Female subjects of reproductive potential must agree to avoid pregnancy throughout the study and for up to 3 months following discontinuation of study drug. Male subjects must agree to avoid conceiving a child throughout the study and for up to 3 months following discontinuation of study drug;
• •Hemoglobin \>/= 8.0 gm/dL
• •Absolute neutrophil count \>/= 1500
• •Platelet count \>/= 100,000
• •Glomerular Filtration Rate \> 50 mL/min calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation
• •Total bilirubin \</= 2.0 times the upper limit of normal unless the patient has Gilbert's syndrome
• •Aspartate aminotransferase and Alanine Aminotransferase \</= 2.5 times the upper limit of normal
• •Age of 18 or older
• •Ability and willingness to give informed consent
• •Subjects must in the opinion of the Investigator be capable of complying with this protocol.