title: High-dose folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin on a weekly schedule in the treatment of advanced cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: A group of 60 patients with advanced head/neck cancer were treated with high-dose folinic acid (500 mg/m-2/week-1) plus 5-fluorouracil (400 mg/m-2/week-1 on day 1, and cisplatin (20 mg/m-2/week-1) 24 h after folinic acid infusion was completed. Out of 55 evaluable patients, 10 patients (18%) experienced a complete response with a mean duration of 11.4+ months, 25 patients had a partial response (45%) of 6.7+ months, 6 patients (11%) showed a stabilization of 4.8+ months, and 14 (25%) progressed. The overall response rate was 63.6% (95% confidence limits 56.5%-69.5%). Patients pretreated with radiotherapy had a 67% overall response rate, while those pretreated with chemotherapy showed a 54% overall response rate. All patients with cancer of the oropharynx had a major response, while patients with cancer of the oral cavity had the lowest response rate. The mean survival of patients who attained a complete response was 14.5+ months. Partial responders had a mean survival of 10.6+ months, while patients who progresses survived a mean of 3.6+ months. The treatment has been very well tolerated with few cases of grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Grade 1-2 leukopenia was recorded in 64% of cases, grade 1-2 nausea/vomiting in 85%. In one case therapy was stopped because of persistent diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oncology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rausa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ingria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatafora
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pastorello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil