A Study of Chemo +/- Low-dose Radiation as Induction Therapy in SCCHN

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced head and neck cancer of squamous type stage III, IVA and IV B and select Stage II tumors of the BOT who are appropriate for potentially curative therapy with chemoradiotherapy.
* Measurable disease.
* ECOG performance status of 0, 1 or 2
* No prior chemotherapy for the current locally advanced SCCHN.
* Age ≥18 years.
* Life expectancy of greater than 3 months
* Normal organ and marrow function measured within 14 days of registration as defined below:

  * absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL
  * platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
  * total bilirubin \< institutional upper limit of normal
  * AST(SGOT ≤ 2.5 × institutional upper limit of normal
  * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 × institutional upper limit of normal
  * creatinine within normal institutional limits
* OR

  o Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal.
* Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, throughout the duration of active treatment and for 4 months after completion of chemotherapy and radiation. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of active study treatment, and for 4 months after completion of chemotherapy and radiation (both induction and definitive) administration.
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior chemotherapy for SCCHN
* Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents.
* Patients with known brain metastases
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Carboplatin or Docetaxel.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
* Pregnant women
* HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy
* Other prior malignancy except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, adequately treated previous Stage I or II cancer from which the patient is currently in complete remission or other cancer from which the patient has been disease-free for 3 years.
* Patients with nasopharynx or salivary gland primary site
* Patients with distant metastatic disease (M1c)
* Patients with grade II or greater peripheral neuropathy