Chemoradiotherapy With Elective Low Dose Nodal Radiation for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx * No surgical resection of primary site or neck dissection (excisional biopsy of lymph node is permitted) * Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing of tumor performed; HPV p16 by immunohistochemistry * Stage III or IVa disease (T1-2N1-3M0, T3-4N0-3M0) excluding T1-2N1 oral cavity and tonsil primaries and any N2C or bilateral N3 disease. Patients with T2N0 cancer of the base of tongue and hypopharynx are eligible * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Age \>18 years * No current pregnancy * No other invasive malignancies within the last 2 years Patients with basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers or carcinoma in situ of any site are eligible. * No prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region * No prior cisplatin chemotherapy * No symptomatic coronary disease or myocardial infarction within the last 6 months * Laboratory evaluation: ANC \> 2,000/mm3, platelets \>100,000/mm3, creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dl, creatinine clearance \> 50 ml/min, bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dl, AST or ALT \< 2X upper normal limit * Study-specific consent signed prior to entry Exclusion Criteria: * Second primary malignancy that is clinically detectable * Inability or unwillingness to comply with chemoRT * Prior radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or investigational treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. * Metastatic disease (M1) * Pregnant or breast-feeding women.