Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) and Docetaxel in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• A written, voluntary informed consent form must be completed prior to beginning any study procedure.
• Patients >/= 18 years of age.
• Histologically documented diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell cancer
• At least one measurable site of disease and can be assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST).
• Performance status 0-2 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ECOG)
• Patients must have adequate hepatic, renal, and bone marrow function, defined as the following: (1) total bilirubin 1.5 * 10^9/L; (5) platelets > 100 * 10^9/L.
• Female patients of childbearing potential must have negative pregnancy test within 7 days before initiation of study drug dosing. Postmenopausal women must be amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential. Male and female patients of reproductive potential must agree to employ an effective barrier method of birth control (i.e. condoms, diaphragm) throughout the study and for up to 3 months following discontinuation of study drug.
• Patients who have not been treated for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) (i.e. Patients who have been treated with chemotherapy for induction/adjuvant or concurrent therapy with radiation in the setting of definitive treatment but have now developed recurrent or metastatic disease are eligible).

Exclusion Criteria

• Prior exposure to docetaxel or imatinib mesylate.
• Patient has received any other investigational agents within 30 days of first day of study drug dosing.
• Patients with myocardial infarction within the past 6 months or New York Heart Association class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure.
• Female patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Patient has a severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal disease, or active uncontrolled infection (i.e. septic).
• Patient has unstable brain metastasis. Unstable brain metastasis is defined as patients on steroid medication to control symptoms or patient with motor neurologic compromise due to brain metastasis. Patients with treated brain metastasis are eligible if they are > 6 weeks out from therapy and off all steroid medication.
• Patient has known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis).
• Patient has a known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV patients are at much greater risk of infection when receiving highly myelosuppressive agents (docetaxel and imatinib) and for safety reasons are not eligible for this trial.
• Patient received chemotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin-C) prior to study entry, unless the disease is rapidly progressing.
• Patient previously received radiotherapy to >/= 25 % of the bone marrow
• Patient had a major surgery within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
• Patient with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant reliable informed consent.
• Patients must agree not to use herbal remedies or other over-the-counter biologics (i.e. shark cartilage)
• History of hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other taxane therapy.
• History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80.
• Patients taking therapeutic levels of warfarin. However, patients receiving 1 mg daily for catheter related anticoagulation are eligible for the study.
• Prior pericardial effusion requiring intervention such as pericardiocentesis or pericardial window within 2 months of study entry.
• Patient is < 5 years free of another primary malignancy except: if the other primary malignancy is not currently clinically significant nor requiring active intervention, or if other primary malignancy is a basal cell skin cancer or a cervical carcinoma in situ. Existence of any other malignant disease is not allowed.
• Patients with a history of Regional Ileitis, Colitis, or Crohn's disease, or