title: Radiochemotherapy with amifostine cytoprotection for head and neck cancer.
abstract: A randomized study was conducted to evaluate the protective activity of amifostine (A) against the dose-limiting toxicities of radiochemotherapy (RCT). Patients with head and neck cancer received radiotherapy (2 Gy/day 5 days a week up to 60 Gy) with carboplatin 70 mg/m2 on days 1-5 and 21-25 inclusive. Patients either received RCT alone (n = 14) or RCT + A at a dose of 500 mg prior to treatment with carboplatin (n = 25). There was a significant reduction in the incidence of grade 3/4 mucositis (P < 0.0001), acute grade 2 xerostomia (P < 0.0001) and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (P = 0.012) in these patients who received A. The incidence of grade 2 late xerostomia at 12 months is 16.7% and the incidence of loss of taste is 0% in patients treated with A, as opposed to 54.5% and 63.6% in patients who received RCT alone. There were 18 (72%) complete responses (CR) and 6 (24%) partial responses (PR) in patients who received A, compared with 6 (43%) CR and 6 PR (43%) in patients treated with RCT alone. The disease-free survival at 12 months is 85.7% in the RCT + A arm and 78.6% in the RCT alone arm. The use of amifostine reduces the incidence and severity of acute and late toxicities associated with RCT whilst preserving antitumour activity.
authors.affiliation: HNO-Klinik am Klinikum Suhl, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Büntzel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Küttner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glatzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004999:Amifostine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D004999:Amifostine