Comparing Radiation Plus Cetuximab to Radiation Plus Chemotherapy in People With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Cannot Receive Cisplatin

This phase III trial compares cetuximab to chemotherapy, carboplatin and paclitaxel, with intensity modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) who are unable to receive cisplatin. Cetuximab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It binds to a protein called EGFR, which is found on some types of cancer cells. This may help keep cancer cells from growing. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is a type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of radiation therapy reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor. It is not yet know if cetuximab or chemotherapy, with intensity modulated radiation therapy works best for the treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have pathologically confirmed, previously untreated, unresected squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, or oral cavity * Local evaluation of p16 status is required for all oropharynx patients prior to registration * Local evaluation of p16 status is recommended for non-oropharynx patients prior to registration * Locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) defined as: * Non-oropharynx and p16-negative oropharynx cancer: American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) 9th edition stage III-IVB * Eligible Laryngeal, Hypopharyngeal, Oral Cavity, and p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Primaries: * AJCC 9th Edition TNM: T3 N0 or T1-3 N1 M0; AJCC 9th Edition Stage: III * AJCC 9th Edition TNM: T1-3 N2 or T4a N0-N2 M0; AJCC 9th Edition Stage: IVA * AJCC 9th Edition TNM: T4b N0-N2 or T1-4b N3 M0; AJCC 9th Edition Stage: IVB * p16-positive oropharynx cancer: AJCC 9th edition stage II-III * Eligible p16-Positive Oropharyngeal Primaries * AJCC 9th Edition TNM: T3 N0-2 or T1-2 N2 M0; AJCC 9th Edition Stage: II * AJCC 9th Edition TNM: T4 N0-3 or T1-3 N3 M0; AJCC 9th Edition Stage: III * The following are required prior to registration: * Imaging of the head and neck with a neck CT or MRI (with contrast, unless contraindicated) or PET/CT which includes diagnostic-quality CT of the neck (with contrast, unless contraindicated) * Chest imaging: Chest CT (with contrast, unless contraindicated) or PET/CT * Age ≥ 18 * Complete the online tool at www.nrgoncology.org prior to registration and record the (modified) Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI), Head and Neck Cancer Intergroup (HNCIG) omega, and G-8 scores on the registration form in Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN) * Patients must have a contraindication to cisplatin as defined in the following bullet points: * Absolute or relative contraindication to cisplatin, defined as ONE OR MORE of the following prior to registration: * Creatinine clearance (CrCl) \< 60 mL/min by the Cockroft-Gault formula * Pre-existing peripheral (sensory or motor) neuropathy grade ≥ 2 (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v\] 5.0) * History of hearing loss, defined as either: * Existing need of a hearing aid OR * ≥ 25 decibel shift over 2 contiguous frequencies on a pretreatment hearing test as clinically indicated OR * age ≥ 70 with Head and Neck Cancer Intergroup (HNCIG) omega score \< 0.80 prior to registration OR * Age \< 70 with ALL of the following conditions prior to registration (see Appendix II for calculation instructions): * HNCIG omega score \< 0.80 * (Modified) Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥ 1 * G-8 score ≤ 14 * Not pregnant and not nursing * Participants must be able to safely receive the radiation and drug regimens per current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved package insert(s), treating investigator's discretion, and institutional guidelines * No prior systemic therapy for the study cancer; note that prior systemic therapy for a different cancer is allowable * No prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields * No prior surgery for the study cancer