Gabapentin for the Reduction of Radiation Therapy Induced Pain During the Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer

The specific aims of this proposed study include the following:

- Evaluate the reduction or delay of mucositis related pain and morbidity with the use of
gabapentin in patients with stage III or IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
undergoing definitive radiation with concurrent chemotherapy as part of their cancer
management, compared to standard supportive side effect mitigation - using patient
reported quality of life endpoints such as the Patient-Reported Oral Mucositis Symptoms
(PROMS) scale.

- Assess morphine-equivalent opioid use in both treatment arms by collecting the patient's
narcotic use in the previous 24-hour period at each weekly evaluation during radiation
treatment.

- Report on change in Speech and swallow performance, as measured by the Performance
Status Scale (PSS) for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

- Evaluate changes in weight from baseline throughout treatment between the two arms.

- Assess feeding tube requirements during treatment.

- Evaluate the adverse events associated with gabapentin.

- Evaluate the severity of radiation mucositis (grade 3-4, CTCAE, v. 4)

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients being treated with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy daily for
locally advanced (stage III-IV) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

- Age ≥ 18.

- ECOG performance status ≤ 1.

- Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry and be able
to fill out toxicity and quality of life related questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients may not be receiving gabapentin, any other investigational agents, or other
anticonvulsants.

- Patients with metastatic disease are excluded from this clinical trial.

- Patient with allergies or hypersensitivity to gabapentin.

- Patients receiving surgery as part of their definitive management.

- Patients who have received prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

- Patients unable to complete the required forms; however, verbal completion is adequate
if recorded on the form daily.

- Uncontrolled serious illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or serious active
infection requiring IV antibiotics for over 30 days, symptomatic congestive heart
failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia other than chronic, stable
atrial fibrillation, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit
compliance with study requirements.