Randomized Phase II Study of Docetaxel in Combination With Zactima (ZD6474) in Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Detailed Summary

In this research study, the researchers are comparing the combination of docetaxel and Zactima with docetaxel alone to see if the combination of the two drugs will be more effective than docetaxel alone. Zactima blocks the actions of three substances in the body: 1)vascular endothelial growth factor reception (VEGFR); 2)epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); and 3) rearranged during transfection (RET). VEGFR stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. When certain proteins bind to the VEGF receptor, a process begins to occur which allows new blood vessels to be made that provide blood to the cancer cells. Zactima is thought to block these proteins from binding to the VEGF receptor, which would then block the process that creates new blood vessels. EGFR controls how quickly cells grow and multiply. RET is thought to have a particularly significant role in the development and growth of squamous cell tumors. The actions of Zactima are very different from the way standard chemotherapy drugs work. Researchers believe that Zactima might have different side effects from other cancer treatments so another one of the purposes of this study is to assess the side effects caused by the drug.

Study Details

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Interventions