L-lysine in Treating Oral Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy With or Without Chemotherapy For Head and Neck Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the complete response rate, decrease in severity, and time to complete
response of oral mucositis related to head and neck cancer irradiation and chemotherapy
after using L-lysine supplementation daily.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the functional impact of use of L-lysine for oral mucositis on daily life as
measured by the Functional Life Index-Cancer (FLIC) Questionnaire total score.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive oral L-lysine once daily until completion of radiotherapy and resolution of
mucositis in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up weekly for 1 month.