Cetuximab, IMRT, Albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane®)
OtherAll patients will receive standard treatment with definitive radiation therapy (IMRT, intensity-modulated radiation therapy) administered concurrently with cetuximab (400 mg/m2 intravenous loading dose one week prior to radiation therapy, followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly intravenous infusions). To explore different dose levels of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane®) given intravenously weekly with the standard regimen of weekly cetuximab + daily radiation therapy.
The total number of planned cetuximab infusions is 8 (loading dose, plus 7 weekly infusions concurrent with radiation therapy). The total number of planned albumin-bound paclitaxel infusions is 7 (all concurrent with radiotherapy). Five dose levels of weekly intravenous (IV) albumin-bound paclitaxel will be explored.