An Imaging Agent (Panitumumab-IRDye800) for the Detection of Head and Neck Cancer During Surgery
This phase II trial studies the effect of panitumumab-IRDye800 in detecting head and neck cancer during surgery in patients head and neck cancer. Doctors who perform surgery for head and neck cancer are well-trained in removing all of the cancer that can be seen during the operation; however, there are times when there is cancer that is so small that it cannot be seen by the surgeon. Panitumumab-IRDye800 is a combination of panitumumab and IRDye800CW. Panitumumab works by attaching to the cancer cell in a unique way that allows the drug to get into the cancer tissue. IRDye800CW is an investigational dye that, when tested in the laboratory, helps various characteristics of human tissue show up better when using a special camera. Panitumumab-IRDye800 is a combination of the drug and the dye that attaches to cancer cells and appears to make them visible to the doctor when he or she uses the special camera during the surgery. Giving panitumumab-IRDye800 may help doctors better identify cancer in the operating room.