Biochemoprevention for dysplastic lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and secondarily the toxic effects of biochemopreventive therapy (high-dose isotretinoin [13-cis-retinoic acid], alpha-tocopherol, and interferon alfa) in the reversal of advanced premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract and to correlate the therapeutic events with modulation of biomarkers.


METHODS
Prospective, nonrandomized chemoprevention trial.


METHODS
Tertiary cancer care referral center and ambulatory care.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with advanced premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract, without cancer during the 2 years before the intervention, with evaluable lesions, and without retinoid therapy for 3 months before the trial.


METHODS
Administration of oral isotretinoin (100 mg/m2 per day), oral alpha-tocopherol (1200 IU/d), and subcutaneous interferon alfa (3 megaunits per square meter twice weekly) for 12 months, with serial biopsies and clinical examination at 0, 6, 12, and 18 months from study start.


METHODS
Clinical and histologic responses to the intervention.


RESULTS
Of the 36 patients, evaluation was possible in 30 for response at 6 months and in 21 at 12 months. At 6 months, there were 10 pathologic complete responses and 7 partial responses; at 12 months, 7 complete and 3 partial responses. A striking difference in response was observed in favor of laryngeal lesions (9/19 [47%] complete response rate at 6 months and 7/14 [50%] at 12 months vs 1/11 [9%] and 0/7 [0%], respectively, for oral lesions). Toxic effects were acceptable and did not exceed grade 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Biochemoprevention is a promising biologic approach for laryngeal dysplasia and needs to be investigated further.
Papadimitrakopoulou
V A
VA
Department of Thoracic-Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. vpapadim@mdanderson.org
Clayman
G L
GL
Shin
D M
DM
Myers
J N
JN
Gillenwater
A M
AM
Goepfert
H
H
El-Naggar
A K
AK
Lewin
J S
JS
Lippman
S M
SM
Hong
W K
WK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014810:Vitamin E; D015474:Isotretinoin