title: Combination cisplatin and carboplatin in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Twenty-three patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who had received no prior chemotherapy were treated with carboplatin 350 mg/m2 followed by cisplatin 50 mg/m2 every 28 days. Twenty-one of 23 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Eight patients (38%) achieved complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) with 2 CR and 6 PR. The overall median survival was 8.4 months (range 19 days-56+ months). The major toxicity was hematological with grade III/IV granulocytopenia in 32% and grade III/IV thrombocytopenia in 32%. There was very little nonhematological toxicity and no nephrotoxicity. There were no therapy-related deaths. The combination carboplatin/cisplatin is tolerable in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, with objective responses in 38%; however, the response rate was not superior to single-agent carboplatin or cisplatin. Further studies with a higher dose of cisplatin should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1082, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Inabinet
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin