title: Accelerated split-course radiotherapy and simultaneous cis-dichlorodiammine-platinum and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy with folinic acid enhancement for unresectable carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Thirty-four (6 stage III, 28 stage IV) patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated by simultaneous radio-chemotherapy. Treatment was divided into three cycles. Chemotherapy consisted of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) 60 mg/sqm i.v., 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 350 mg/sqm i.v. and folinic acid (FA)-50 mg/sqm i.v. on day 2 and 5-FU 350 mg/sqm per 24 h and FA 100 mg/sqm/24 h on days 2-5. Radiotherapy consisted of 23.4 Gy/9 days divided in 13 fractions of 1.8 Gy delivered twice a day from day 3 through day 11. This regimen was repeated on days 22 and 44. Total radiation dose amounted to 70.2 Gy/51 days. Mean follow-up of surviving patients was 21 (14-34) months. 28/32 patients achieved complete response, 4/32 partial response. Actuarial one and two years survival were 88 and 58% including two early deaths from tumour bleeding. Local control rates at one and two years were 87 and 81%, respectively. This protocol produces excellent palliation and the chance of improved long term tumour control. Two patients developed distant metastases. Overall toxicity was tolerable. Since the treatment breaks were inserted after low radiation doses, acute mucositis healed rapidly and was not a limiting factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, F.R.G.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wendt
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Wustrow
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hartenstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rohloff
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Trott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D005492:Folic Acid; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil