title: Evaluation of high-dose cisplatin and 5-FU infusion as initial therapy in advanced head and neck cancer.
abstract: The combination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion in head and neck cancer patients produces an overall response rate of 90% for advanced disease and 70% for recurrent disease. Whether or not escalating the platinum dose in combination with other agents, as has been done with refractory ovarian and testicular patients, would improve the response rates in patients with advanced head and neck cancer has not been evaluated. We undertook a study to determine the most efficacious dose of cisplatin that could be administered with 5-FU infusion in head and neck cancer patients. Eleven patients entered the study. Initial dose of cisplatin was 40 mg/m2 (in hypertonic saline) on days 1-5 plus 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1-5 as a continuous infusion. Subsequent cisplatin doses were adjusted for the main toxicity, which was myelosuppression. The safest tolerable dose was 30 mg/m2 for 5 days. Overall response was 90% [45% complete response (CR) (5/11) plus 45% (5/11) partial response (PR)] which is comparable to that seen with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 and 5-FU in a 120-h infusion. Although patient numbers are small, there was no appreciable difference in response rate with higher dose cisplatin and there was a significant increase in serious toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kish
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ensley
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al-Sarraf
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil