A Phase II Study to Evaluate Transoral CO2 Laser Supraglottic Laryngectomy and Irradiation in Stage I, II and III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Supraglottic Larynx

Stage I, II, or selected Stage III (T1-T2, N1, M0) (or T3 disease deemed appropriate for CO2 laser surgery)squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx; vocal cords must be free of disease; pts found to have microscopic escape into the pre-epiglottic space are allowed, all other T3 are excluded; patients must have adequate bone marrow reserve defined as WBC > 3,500/µl, platelets > 50,000/µl and Hgb > 10.0g%; patients must not have had a myocardial infarction within the past previous 3 months, uncontrolled congestive heart failure, unstable or uncontrolled angina; pts. must undergo the following evaluations within 60 days prior to registration: complete history/physical exam, biopsy of primary tumor, and CT or MRI scan of the larynx and neck.

To be eligible to participate on this limited institution trial, experienced laser surgeons must meet certain criteria and qualifications as mandated by the Southwest Oncology Group, the Study Coordinator and the Head and Neck Cancer Committee.