title: Enhanced acute toxicity in oropharynx carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and concomitant cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of giving concomitant radiotherapy and 3 cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MMC) in locally advanced inoperable oropharyngeal cancer. From March 1990 to September 1993, 27 male patients (mean age 55 years) were included in this study. 3 patients (11%) were T2N0, 19 (70%) T3 (T3N0: n = 9, T3N1: n = 1, T3N2: n = 5, T3N3: n = 4), and 5 (19%) T4 (T4N0: n = 1, T4N1: n = 1, T4N2: n = 2, T4N3: n = 1). All patients received conventional radiotherapy delivering 70 Gy in 35 fractions and 52 days, and three cycles of chemotherapy starting on day 1, 21 and 42 with CDDP 20 mg/m2 and 5-FU 400 mg/m2 day 1 to day 4, and MMC 10 mg/m2 day 1. With a mean follow-up of 34 months (17-59), 10 patients (37%) were alive and free of disease. Among the 17 other patients, 8 died of cancer. Crude locoregional control rate was 78%, and probability of local control at 1 and 2 years was 85 and 80%, respectively. One- and 2-year survival rates were 48 and 31%, respectively, for both overall and disease-free survival. Grade 3 or 4 mucositis occurred in 22 patients (81%); enteral feeding was necessary for 63%; mean weight loss was 5.7 kg. Grade > 2 thrombocytopenia occurred in 11 patients (41%), grade > 2 neutropenia in 8 patients (29%), grade > 2 anaemia in 4 patients (15%). Febrile neutropenia or aplasia occurred in 5 patients (19%). 2 patients (7%) died during treatment of haematological or infectious complications related to the treatment. Another patient died 1 month after treatment with grade 4 thrombocytopenia and septicaemia. In conclusion, a high complete response rate has been achieved with this concomitant chemo- and radiotherapy, but with severe digestive and haematological toxicity. Addition of MMC to 5-FU and CDDP might have been responsible for this increased toxicity. This therapeutic combination is therefore not routinely feasible.
authors.affiliation: Clinique d'Oncologie et Radiothérapie, CHU Tours, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chapet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynaud-Bougnoux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garand
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Le Floch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil