Dacomitinib Plus Radiotherapy, With and Without Cisplatin in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

This is a phase 1 study of the drug dacomitinib with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Dacomitinib is an oral drug, which is found to be active in SCCHN patients, blocks a receptor called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). By blocking signals for cancer cells to grow, it is believed to stop or slow the growth of tumor cells. The dose escalation phase will find the best dose as well as determine the safety of dacomitinib when given with radiotherapy and with or without chemotherapy.The dose expansion phase will further test the best dose determined in the dose escalation phase for response rate.