Erlotinib Hydrochloride and Radiation Therapy in Stage III-IV Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

Summary

RATIONALE: Erlotinib hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Erlotinib hydrochloride may also make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x- rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells. Giving erlotinib hydrochloride together with radiation therapy may be an effective treatment for patients with head and neck cancer.PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving erlotinib hydrochloride together with radiation therapy works in treating patients with stage III-IV squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

Conditions

• Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx
• Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx
• Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity
• Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx
• Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx
• Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity
• Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx
• Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity
• Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx
• Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx
• Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx
• Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Interventions

DRUG

erlotinib hydrochloride

Given orally or via gastronomy tube

RADIATION

intensity-modulated radiation therapy

IMRT will be given in 35 fractions over 7 weeks. The primary tumor and involved nodes (PTV70) will receive 2 Gy per fractions, intermediate-risk areas (PTV63) will receive 1.8 Gy per fractions, and subclinical disease sites (PTV56) will receive 1.6 Gy perfraction. The total doses will thus be 70 Gy, 63 Gy and 56 Gy, respectively.

OTHER

pharmacogenomic studies

Optional correlative studies

OTHER

gene expression analysis

Correlative studies

RADIATION

3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy

The initial target volume encompassing the gross and subclinical disease sites will receive 2.0 Gy per fraction, five fractions a week to 54 Gy in 27 fractions in 5.4 weeks. The boost volume covering gross tumor and clinically/radiologically involved nodes will receive boost irradiation for additional 16 Gy at 2.0 Gy. The primary tumor and clinically/radiologically-involved nodes will thus receive 70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks, and uninvolved upper neck nodes will receive an elective dose of 54 Gy in 5.4 weeks. The uninvolved lower neck nodes will receive 2.0 Gy per fraction at 3-cm depth to a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions in 5.0 weeks through a matching AP or AP/PA lower neck field.

OTHER

biopsy

Optional correlative studies

OTHER

pharmacological study

Optional correlative studies

OTHER

laboratory biomarker analysis

Optional correlative studies

OTHER

questionnaire administration

Optional ancillary studies

OTHER

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Optional correlative studies

OTHER

polymorphism analysis

Optional correlative studies

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Panayiotis Savvides, MD · Case Medical Center, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-01-31

Primary Completion

2012-10-31

Completion

2012-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations