Phase Ib Study of BKM120 With Cisplatin and XRT in High Risk Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Cancer of Head and Neck

This research study is evaluating a drug called buparlisib (BKM120) as a possible treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Inclusion Criteria: * Stage III/IV, locally advanced, biopsy proven squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that undergo chemoradiation as their primary treatment with curative intent. * Oropharynx (HPV positive and HPV negative), hypopharynx, larynx primaries, nasopharynx as well as those with documented SCC of the cervical lymph nodes, with unknown primaries. * \>10 pack years of tobacco use * Age ≥ 18 years * ECOG performance status ≤ 2 * At least one site of measurable disease * Adequate bone marrow function as shown by: ANC \> 1.5 x 109/L, Platelets \>100 x 109/L, Hb \>9 g/dL * Total calcium (corrected for serum albumin) within normal limits * Magnesium ≥ the lower limit of normal * Potassium within normal limits for the institution. * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) within normal range * Serum bilirubin within normal range (or ≤ 1.5 x ULN if liver metastases are present; or total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 x ULN with direct bilirubin within normal range in patients with well documented Gilbert Syndrome) * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or 24-hour clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Serum amylase ≤ ULN * Serum lipase ≤ ULN * Fasting plasma glucose ≤ 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) * Signed informed consent * INR ≤ 2 Exclusion Criteria: * Distant metastatic disease * Less than or equal to 10 pack years of tobacco history * Received prior chemotherapy * Received prior radiation to the head and neck or adjacent anatomical site * Received prior treatment with a P13K inhibitor. * Known hypersensitivity to BKM120 or to its excipients * Acute or chronic liver, renal disease or pancreatitis * Mood disorders ≥ CTCAE grade 3 * Diarrhea ≥ CTCAE grade 2 * Active cardiac disease * History of cardiac dysfunction including any of the following: * Patient has poorly * Impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function * Currently receiving treatment with medication with a known risk to prolong the QT interval or inducing Torsades de Pointes and the treatment cannot either be discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study drug. * Chronic treatment with steroids or another immunosuppressive agent. * Herbal medications and certain fruits within 7 days prior to starting study drug. * Currently treated with drugs known to be moderate and strong inhibitors or inducers of isoenzyme CYP3A, and the treatment cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study drug. Please refer to Appendix B for a list of prohibited inhibitors and inducers of CYP3A (Please note that co-treatment with weak inhibitors of CYP3A is allowed). * Undergone major surgery ≤ 2 weeks prior to starting study drug or who have not recovered from side effects of such therapy. * Currently taking therapeutic doses of warfarin sodium or any other coumadin-derivative anticoagulant. * Women who are pregnant or breast feeding or adults of reproductive potential not employing an effective method of birth control. * Known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection * History of another malignancy within 3 years, except cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin or excised carcinoma in situ of the cervix