title: Combination chemotherapy as induction therapy for advanced resectable head and neck cancer.
abstract: Fifty-four previously untreated patients with locally advanced resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were enrolled into a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether induction chemotherapy improves the disease-free survival compared to the standard treatment (surgery + radiation). Thirty patients received chemotherapy, which consisted of cisplatin 20 mg/m2 day 1-5, bleomycin 10 mg/m2, continuous infusion from day 3-7, and methotrexate 40 mg/m2 given on day 15 and day 22. The cycle was repeated on day 29 for two cycles. Twenty patients completed chemotherapy courses. Overall response rate was 77% (23 of 30). No survival improvement was observed. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated survival (and 95% confidence interval) at 3 years was 57% (29%-84%) for the control group and 60% (34%-87%) for the chemotherapy group, and 57% (29%-84%) and 45% (12%-78%) at 4 years (P = 0.736). However, patients who had a complete response were significantly better in terms of long-term survivors (5 of 7 patients were still alive), in contrast to patients who had partial responses among whom only 4 of 16 were alive. Toxicities of this induction protocol are tolerable; one chemotherapy-related death occurred from profound thrombocytopenia. If efforts in determining a chemotherapy-sensitive patient were successfully established, along with a better sequence and the discovery of new and safer drugs, survival of SCCHN should be much improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maipang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maipang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geater
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panjapiyakul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanaarepornchai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Punperk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate