Dr. Ang who is on the OCF board of science advisors is the lead investigator in a clinical trial worthy of consideration if it applies to anyone here. This doctor was my primary, and is the president of thhe American Academy of Radiation Oncology.

Here is the information.
Treatment for Locally Advanced Head & Neck Cancer

Name of the Clinical Trial
Phase III Randomized Study of Concurrent Accelerated
Fractionated Radiotherapy & Cisplatin with vs
without Cetuximab in Patients with Stage III or IV Squamous
Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx, Hypopharynx, or Larynx (RTOG-0522)

See the protocol summary at:
<http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/RTOG-0522>

Principal Investigator
Dr. K. Kian Ang, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

Why This Trial Is Important
Recent clinical trials have shown that treating locally
advanced head & neck cancer with combined chemotherapy &
radiation therapy helps patients live longer than if they are
treated with radiotherapy alone.

This trial will enroll patients with locally advanced squamous
cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx.
"Locally advanced" means that the cancer has spread to nearby
tissues or lymph nodes but not elsewhere. All patients will be
treated with radiotherapy & the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.
In addition, half of the patients will be treated with a
monoclonal antibody called cetuximab.

Cetuximab targets a protein called epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR), which is found in excess amounts on the
surface of many cancer cells. Blocking the activity of EGFR
may inhibit a tumor's ability to grow. In a previous trial,
adding cetuximab to radiotherapy significantly improved the
survival of patients with locally advanced head & neck cancer.
Researchers want to know if adding cetuximab to radiotherapy
& cisplatin treatment will help patients live longer without
their cancer recurring.

"Earlier trials have proven that combining radiation with
either cisplatin or cetuximab decreases the likelihood of
recurrence," said Dr. Ang. "With this trial, we hope to see
if combining radiation with both agents further improves
disease-free survival."

Who Can Join This Trial
Researchers will recruit 720 patients aged 18 or over with
stage III or stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the
oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx with no distant mets.

See the list of eligibility criteria:
<http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/RTOG-0522>

This trial is eligible for special Medicare coverage.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.