title: Intensive concomitant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase II study of radiotherapy with cisplatin and 7-week continuous infusional fluorouracil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate an intensive concomitant chemoradiotherapy protocol of conventional radiotherapy with intermittent cisplatin (CDDP) and continuous-infusion fluorouracil (5-FU) in unresectable, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients with unresectable stage IV MO disease (International Union Against Cancer [UICC]/American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC], 1987) received radiotherapy 70 Gy followed by CDDP 80 mg/m2 and 5-FU 300 mg/m2/d. Response was assessed 2 months after treatment completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients (52%) received the full treatment schedule; 53 (93%) received full-dose radiotherapy, while 48 (84%) were given at least 75% of the planned chemotherapy doses. Severe mucositis (World Health Organization [WHO]) grade 3 to 4 was the limiting toxicity and was seen in 79% of patients. The median time for mucositis resolution was 8 weeks. Other toxicities were generally manageable, but there were four treatment related deaths (7%). Fifty patients were assessable for activity, with an overall response rate of 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58% to 82%). Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 42% and 28%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simultaneous combined-modality regimen was feasible at the cost of severe mucosal toxicity, which required hospitalization with nutritional, parenteral, and hydroelectrolytic support. The high response rate achieved (70%) did not translate into improved survival, probably due to patient eligibility. The likelihood of cure of this high-tumoral-volume patient population remains low (approximately 10%), despite the association of two therapeutic modalities at full standard therapeutic intensity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wibault
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bensmaine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Forni
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Armand
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tellez Bernal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Recondo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domenge
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Janot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luboinski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eschwege
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cvitkovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil