title: Head and neck carcinoma with distant metastases: a retrospective analysis of 44 cases treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapeutic regimens.
abstract: The rarity of medical reports on the chemotherapeutic management of head and neck cancer metastatic to distant organs prompted us to review the effect of cisplatin-based regimens in this clinical setting. Out of 44 eligible patients, 10 patients (23%) achieved a CR, 16 patients (36%) has a PR, 7 (16%) no change, and 11 (25%) progressed. Patients with rhinopharyngeal carcinoma showed a 69% overall response rate, while those with other head and neck carcinomas had a 54% overall response rate. No preferential site of response was detected. The difference in mean survival of responding patients between the rhinopharyngeal group and the non-rhinopharyngeal group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Responding patients survived longer than non responders (P < 0.05 in both groups). Interestingly, 3 patients in the rhinopharyngeal cancer group survived more than 2 years from the start of chemotherapy for metastatic disease. These data strengthen the observation that rhinopharyngeal carcinoma, even with distant metastases, responds to chemotherapy better than other carcinomas arising in the head and neck region. Moreover, although survival is still dismal, cisplatin-based systemic chemotherapy seems an effective palliative treatment for metastatic head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Chemotherapy, Oncological Hospital Maurizio Ascoli, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agostara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Callari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerillo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Restivo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cupido
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ingria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatafora
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fazio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin