CompletedPhase 3

Cisplatin With or Without Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

United States, Puerto Rico, South AfricaStarted 1999-08-06

Plain-language summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether cisplatin plus monoclonal antibody therapy is more effective than cisplatin alone for metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized double-blinded phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of cisplatin with or without monoclonal antibody in treating patients who have metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 120 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that is incurable with surgery or radiotherapy No nasopharyngeal primaries Measurable or evaluable disease Newly diagnosed with extensive, incurable local regional disease AND distant metastases OR Local regional recurrence/persistence or distant metastases after surgery or radiotherapy Persistent or progressive disease after radiotherapy must be histologically proven at least 8 weeks after therapy No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.2 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Calcium no greater than ULN No history of hypercalcemia Other: No active infection No other concurrent malignancy within past 2 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No known hypersensitivity to murine proteins Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior chimeric antibody or kinase inhibitor for recurrent or met…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00003809

SponsorEastern Cooperative Oncology Group

Sponsor typeNETWORK

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2004-09

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Head and Neck Cancer trials