Radiation + Cisplatin or Panitumumab in Locally Advanced Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed (primary lesion or regional lymph nodes) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx

• Locally advanced disease, defined by any of the following criteria:

• Any T, N+, M0

• T3-4, N0, M0

• No current history of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, primary nasopharyngeal, paranasal, or salivary gland tumors of the head and neck

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1

• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/L

• Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^9/L

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST or ALT ≤ 3 times ULN

• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min

• Magnesium > 0.5 mmol/L

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 6 months after completion of study treatment

• Must be accessible for treatment and follow-up

• Able (sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life (QOL) and swallowing QOL questionnaires in either English or French

• Must be assessed by a radiation oncologist and medical oncologist and deemed suitable for study participation

• No other malignancies within the past 5 years, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ cancer of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumors

• No history of allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to any of the study drugs or their excipients

• No prior or concurrent interstitial lung disease (e.g., pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis) on baseline CT scan

• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 (CTCAE v3.0)

• No hearing loss/tinnitus ≥ grade 3 (CTCAE v3.0)

• No thromboembolic event within the past 12 months despite being treated with anticoagulation drugs

• Prior thromboembolic event > 12 months allowed provided patient is stable on anticoagulation or on preventative anticoagulation

• None of the following allowed:

• Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months

• Uncontrolled severe congestive heart failure

• Unstable angina

• Active cardiomyopathy

• Unstable ventricular arrhythmia

• Uncontrolled hypertension

• Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder

• Active serious infection

• Active peptic ulcer disease

• Any other medical condition that might interfere with protocol therapy delivery

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior surgical treatment except diagnostic biopsy for this disease

• No prior induction chemotherapy for this disease

• No prior radiation to the head and neck region that would result in overlap of fields for this study

• No prior cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy

• No prior targeted anti-EGFR therapy of any kind

• At least 30 days since any prior investigational agent

• No concurrent granulocytic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim [G-CSF]) during radiotherapy

• No concurrent erythropoietic growth factors, pilocarpine, amifostine, other anticancer therapy (e.g., cytotoxic agents, biological response modifiers, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy), or other investigational drug therapy

• The following radiological investigations must be done within 8 weeks of randomization:

• MRI or CT of the head and neck

• CT chest