Nab-Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Followed by Chemoradiation in Treating Patients with Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• Histological or cytological documentation of recurrent head and neck cancer requiring regional therapy
• Recurrent or second primary, previously irradiated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) without clinically measurably metastatic disease
• Prior radiation therapy completed >= 4 months, and/or chemotherapy completed >= 1 month before study entry, and patient should have recovered from any adverse effects
• Predominance of disease that is amenable to radiotherapy
• Measurable disease prior to induction chemotherapy
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of one or less
• Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks
• Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males must use an effective contraception method during treatment and for three months after completing treatment
• Negative serum or urine beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) pregnancy test at screening for patients of childbearing potential
• Patients must have < grade 2 pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE])
• Leukocyte >= 3,000/ul
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/ul
• Platelets >= 100,000/ul
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) < 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
• Creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 45 mL/min

Exclusion Criteria

• Previously untreated patients with locoregional-only disease are not eligible
• Patients who have had chemotherapy within 4 weeks prior to entering the study, or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
• Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical composition agents used in the study
• Patients with pre-existing grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy, defined as sensory alteration or paresthesia (including tingling), interfering with function
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements