Understanding GRID Radiation Therapy Effects on Human Tumor Oxygenation and Interstitial Pressure to Increase Translation of Solid Tumor Therapy

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 - 80 years of age * Karnofsky performance status greater than 70 or ECOG ≥ 2 * Cytological or histological documentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including the tongue, with a minimum tumor size of 6cm in any dimension. * History of adequate hepatic function (endoscopic or percutaneous drainage as needed): a. AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 5X institutional ULN * Chemotherapy naive * History of adequate renal and bone marrow function: 1. Leukocytes ≥ 3000/uL 2. ANC ≥ 1500/uL 3. Platelets ≥ 100000/UI 4. Serum Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Exclusion Criteria: * Women with a positive urine pregnancy test are excluded from this study; women of childbearing potential (defined as those who have not undergone a hysterectomy or who have not been postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months) must agree to refrain from breast feeding and practice adequate contraception as specified in the informed consent. Adequate contraception consists of oral contraceptive, implantable contraceptives, injectable contraceptives, a double barrier method, or abstinence * Subjects with active infections such as pneumonia, or wound infections that would preclude study procedures * Subjects with known presence of central nervous system or brain metastases * Subjects with prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region * Subjects will be excluded if deemed unable to comply with study procedures