Testing the Addition of an Investigational Drug, Xevinapant, to Usual Radiation Therapy Plus Cisplatin/Carboplatin for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

This phase II trial compares the effect of usual radiation therapy with cisplatin/carboplatin (chemoradiation) to the addition of xevinapant with chemoradiation in patients with head and neck cancer. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Xevinapant is a first-in-class antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (programmed cell death) proteins (IAPs), which leads to tumor cell death and enhances tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Giving xevinapant with chemoradiation may be more effective in preventing head and neck cancer from growing or spreading than chemoradiation alone.