title: Concurrent carboplatin and radiotherapy in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, stage IV. Preliminary data of a phase II study.
abstract: About two-thirds of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are diagnosed when the disease is in a locoregionally advanced stage. If surgery is not advisable, radiotherapy is the only treatment presently available to obtain radicality. In order to improve the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy has been associated with it with the aim of eradicating possible micrometastatic foci outside the radiotherapic fields and to enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiation. Results with concomitant chemoradiotherapy have been encouraging. We carried out a phase II study with the combination of carboplatin 300 mg/m2 every 21 days and RT at conventional doses in SCCHN stage IV (non M1). We obtained an overall response of 85.7% with an 18-month survival of 70%. The toxicity was moderate. These results encourage us to continue the accural of patients.
authors.affiliation: Satellite Unit IST-Genoa, co Institute of Oncology-University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pergolizzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiofalo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin