Understanding GRID Radiation Therapy Effects on Human Tumor Oxygenation and Interstitial Pressure to Increase Translation of Solid Tumor Therapy
Understanding GRID Radiation Therapy Effects on Human Tumor Oxygenation and Interstitial Pressure to Increase Translation of Solid Tumor Therapy
To estimate the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the post-treatment decreases in the
 interstitial fluid pressure and hypoxia-specific PET-scan signal from GRID-treated tumors in
 patients with locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

 The possible effects of GRID radiotherapy on tumor oxygenation levels and interstitial fluid
 pressure within the tumors will be measured by assessing the trend and statistical
 significance of the difference in values for each condition obtained prior to and just after
 GRID exposure in each subject enrolled in the study. We expect that there may be a trend for
 increases in tumor oxygenation and decreases in interstitial fluid pressure which would
 indicate that more accurately timed additional chemotherapy and radiation therapy would
 improve overall patient outcomes.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  18 - 80 years of age

 -  Karnofsky performance status greater than 70 or ECOG ≥ 2

 -  Cytological or histological documentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and
 neck, including the tongue, with a minimum tumor size of 6cm in any dimension.

 -  History of adequate hepatic function (endoscopic or percutaneous drainage as needed):

 a. AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 5X institutional ULN

 -  Chemotherapy naive

 -  History of adequate renal and bone marrow function:

 1. Leukocytes ≥ 3000/uL

 2. ANC ≥ 1500/uL

 3. Platelets ≥ 100000/UI

 4. Serum Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Women with a positive urine pregnancy test are excluded from this study; women of
 childbearing potential (defined as those who have not undergone a hysterectomy or who
 have not been postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months) must agree to refrain
 from breast feeding and practice adequate contraception as specified in the informed
 consent. Adequate contraception consists of oral contraceptive, implantable
 contraceptives, injectable contraceptives, a double barrier method, or abstinence

 -  Subjects with active infections such as pneumonia, or wound infections that would
 preclude study procedures

 -  Subjects with known presence of central nervous system or brain metastases

 -  Subjects with prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region

 -  Subjects will be excluded if deemed unable to comply with study procedures