title: Neoadjuvant therapy with cisplatin/fluorouracil vs cisplatin/UFT in locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer.
abstract: This study compared the activity and toxicity of fluorouracil (5-FU)/ cisplatin with the combination tegafur and uracil (UFT)/cisplatin in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced-stage III or IV (MO)-head and neck cancer. A total of 67 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1 followed by either a continuous infusion of 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2/day on days 2 through 6 (group 1) or oral administration of UFT 300 mg/m2/day on days 2 through 20 (group 2). Both treatments were repeated every 21 days for four cycles. Responding patients received locoregional standard radiotherapy (50 to 70 Gy) after chemotherapy. Group 1 was comprised of 34 patients, 30 of whom were men, with a median age of 57.5 years; 79% of this group had a Karnofsky performance status of 90% to 100%; 70% had a squamous and 29% an undifferentiated histology. The majority (85%) had stage IV disease. Of the 33 patients in group 2, 29 were men. The median age was 56 years. Most (88%) had a performance status of 90% to 100%. More patients had a squamous than an undifferentiated histology (82% vs 18%) and most (88%) had stage IV disease. Overall response in group 1 was 73% (21% complete) compared with 79% (18% complete) in group 2. At a median follow-up of 84 months, no significant differences have emerged in overall survival, 15 vs 37 months, or time to progression, 8.5 vs 14.5 months, for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Toxicity was also similar, except for phlebitis, which occurred significantly more often in group 1 (71% vs 9%). Cisplatin/UFT was as effective as the classic cisplatin/5-FU regimen and has the advantages of outpatient oral administration and a lower incidence of phlebitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: González-Larriba
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia Carbonero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sastre Valera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perez Segura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diaz-Rubio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; 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; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005544:Forecasting; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil