Chemotherapy Before Surgery and Radiation Therapy or Surgery and Radiation Therapy Alone in Treating Patients With Nasal and Paranasal Sinus Cancer That Can Be Removed by Surgery

This randomized phase II trial studies how well chemotherapy before surgery and radiation therapy works compared to surgery and radiation therapy alone in treating patients with nasal and paranasal sinus cancer that can be removed by surgery. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, cisplatin, and carboplatin 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 chemotherapy before surgery and radiation therapy may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed and treated with radiation.

EA3163:Phase II randomized trial of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and post-operative radiation versus surgery and post-operative radiation for organ preservation of T3 and T4a nasal and paranasal sinus squamous cell carcinoma (NPNSCC)