Patient Selection
INCLUSION CRITERIA
- Patients with histological proof (from the primary lesion and/or lymph nodes) of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx.
- Patients should have Stage III or IV disease, M0
- Patients must have life expectancy of at least 6 months and a Karnofsky performance status of ≥ 70
- Age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 70 years
- No distant metastatic disease
- No clinically significant heart disease:
- No significant ventricular arrhythmia requiring medication with antiarrhythmics
- No symptomatic coronary artery disease (angina)
- No myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
- No second or third degree heart block or bundle branch block or clinically significant conduction system abnormality
- Patients must sign a study-specific informed consent form
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
- Histology other than squamous cell carcinoma
- Evidence of metastasis (below the clavicle or distant) by clinical or radiographic means
- Prior complete resection of the primary tumor
- Prior chemotherapy (Bleomycin) or radiotherapy to the head and neck
- Patients with simultaneous primaries
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary pathologies
- Untreated pneumothorax
- Claustrophobia