Conditions: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
Keywords: SCCHN erlotinib tarceva
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 36
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The main purpose of this research study is to collect information to learn how effective erlotinib (tarceva) is in combination with either bevacizumab or sulindac in treating patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Erlotinib and bevacizumab are targeted therapy drugs that can control tumor growth by targeting specific abnormalities sometimes found on cancer cells. Erlotinib targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and bevacizumab targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Sulindac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can block G protein-coupled receptor which laboratory evidence shows is associated with both cancer cell growth and EGFR activity. The bevacizumab being administered in this study is not a commercially marketed formulation of the drug. Previous research with head and neck cancer suggest that erlotinib alone has some anti-cancer activity. This research study is designed to see how well erlotinib works in combination with bevacizumab or sulindac in head and neck cancer.

Detailed description:
* Participants will be randomized to either Arm A: erlotinib plus bevacizumab, or Arm B: erlotinib plus sulindac. Participants will have an equal chance of being placed in any group.
* Medication on Arm A: erlotinib plus bevacizumab: Participants will take erlotinib pills orally once a day. Bevacizumab will be given intravenously on day one of each treatment cycle (each treatment cycle will last three weeks). Urine tests will be performed once every three weeks to test kidney function.
* Medication on Arm B: erlotinib plus sulindac: Participants will take erlotinib pills orally once a day. Sulindac will be taken orally twice a day.
* Physical exams will be performed during each treatment cycle and will include vital signs and general health questions. We will take the participants blood pressure every 2 weeks for the first 6 weeks. After that point, we will take it every 3 weeks or more often if necessary. Blood tests will be performed including chemistry and hematology.
* After every 2 cycles, a repeat CT scan, MRI, and/or PET scan will be performed along with either a chest x-ray or CT scan to ensure that there is no tumor in the participants lungs. We may also do a bone scan if there may be tumor in the participants bones, and abdominal CT scan if there may be tumor in the liver, and a head CT scan or MRI if there may be tumor in the brain.
* After the final treatment the participant will be seen in the clinic to see if they have had any side effects from the drugs within 30 days of stopping the drugs.
* Participants will be in this research study for as long as they are receiving clinical benefits from the study drugs, and do not develop excessive side effects or disease progression. After treatment is discontinued, we will follow the participant closely for 30 days and every 1-2 months after that.

Arms:
arm 1: erlotinib plus bevacizumab arm 2: erlotinib plus sulindac

Interventions: intervention 1: Bevacizumab intervention 2: erlotinib intervention 3: Sulindac
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Given intravenously on day one of each 3 week cycle intervention 2: Given orally once a day intervention 3: Given orally twice a day

Protocol document: