DSSG Group: Head & Neck

Advanced head and neck cancer

This phase II/III trial compares the effect of the combination of high-dose cisplatin every three weeks and radiation therapy versus low-dose cisplatin weekly and radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. This study is being done to find out if low-dose cisplatin given weekly together with radiation therapy is the same or better than high-dose cisplatin given every 3 weeks together with radiation therapy in treating patients with head and neck cancer.

Cancer of the head and neck who are planned to receive radical radiation therapy.

The purpose of this study is to compare the setup accuracy of three different types of masks (conventional 5-point closed radiotherapy mask, 5-point open radiotherapy mask and a 3-point open radiotherapy mask (with shoulder retractors))