title: Mitomycin C, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil for advanced and/or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: The combination of cisplatin (CDDP 100 mg/m2 on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU 1,000 mg/m2 continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion days 1-5) is the most widely used chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of advanced head and neck carcinomas, with a response rate of 70-90% but with a survival and a duration of response which are not impressive. Most patients relapse in < or = 2 years and die of cancer. We evaluated the activity of a CDDP (90 mg/m2 on day 1), 5-FU (900 mg/m2/120 h continuous i.v. infusion from day 1), and mitomycin C (MMC 6 mg/m2 on day 1) regimen in advanced or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Fifty-six patients were treated and evaluated for response and toxicity: 5 (9%) complete responses (CR) and 36 (64%) partial responses, (PR) were observed (response rate 73%). The median duration of response was 12 months, and median survival was 15 months. At a median follow-up of 14 months, the estimated overall survival at 1 year was 65%; at 2 years, it was 35%. Grade 3-4 toxicity was noted in 14 patients, mostly hematologic; overall toxicity required a dose-intensity decrease in 20.2% of all cycles. No treatment-related deaths occurred. The regimen showed a good response rate and an encouraging median duration of response with a good tolerability profile.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iop
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cartei
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vigevani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clocchiatti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansutti
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sibau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016685:Mitomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil