title: Taxanes as radiosensitizers for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Combinations of paclitaxel and radiation therapy or paclitaxel with other chemotherapy agents and radiation have been tested with variable results in patient populations. To date, three phase I trials have been conducted using paclitaxel alone in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. Dose-limiting toxicity in the 1-hour infusion was mucositis, whereas in the 24-h/wk infusion, fever was the dose-limiting toxicity. In the long-term infusion (24 h/d, 7 d/wk), no dose-limiting toxicity was seen at the doses of paclitaxel given. In two of the protocols in which biopsies were obtained, a G2/M block was observed. A phase I protocol using paclitaxel in combination with fluorouracil and hydroxyurea with radiation and a phase II protocol using paclitaxel with cisplatin in operable head and neck cancers have been reported. Preliminary results suggest that paclitaxel in combination with radiotherapy is a reasonable experimental treatment that deserves further study in patients with stage III and IV squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*