A Phase I Study of M6620 (VX-970, Berzosertib) in Combination With Cisplatin and XRT in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC; SDC 10060121)
This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of berzosertib (M6620) when given together with cisplatin and radiation therapy in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced). M6620 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving M6620 together with cisplatin and radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
• Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) including paranasal sinus cancers but excluding nasopharyngeal carcinomas
• Clinical staged III or IV HNSCC, according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th Edition, that is not amenable to surgical resection
• Carcinoma of the neck of unknown primary site origin (regardless of HPV/p16 status) is eligible
• Age \>= 18 years; because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) in combination with cisplatin in patients \< 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study, but will be eligible for future pediatric trials
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%)
• Life expectancy of greater than 3 months
• Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as \>= 20 mm (\>= 2 cm) with conventional techniques or as \>= 10 mm (\>= 1 cm) with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or calipers by clinical exam
• Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL
• Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL
• Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL
• Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
• Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
• The effects of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) on the developing human fetus are unknown; for this reason and because DNA-damage response (DDR) inhibitors as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial may have teratogenic potential, 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 and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately; men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and for 6 months after completion of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) administration
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
• Women of childbearing potential who are sexually active should be willing and able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception throughout the treatment phase of the trial and for up to 6 months following the last administration of study treatment; men who are sexually active must be willing and able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception throughout the treatment phase of the trial and for 6 months after completion of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) administration