Hyperfractionated chemoradiation with carbogen breathing, with or without erythropoietin: a stepwise developed treatment schedule for advanced head-and-neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of carbogen breathing on chemoradiation and the effects of erythropoietin on transfusions.


METHODS
From March 1996 to April 2000, 42 (4 Stage III and 38 Stage IV) patients with head and neck cancer were treated with a twice-a-day hyperfractionated schedule. Each fraction consisted of 5 mg/m(2) of carboplatin plus 115 cGy with carbogen breathing. Treatment was given 5 days per week up to total doses of 350 mg/m(2) of carboplatin plus 8050 cGy in 7 weeks. Anemia was treated either by transfusion or by erythropoietin.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients tolerated the treatment as scheduled. All patients tolerated the planned radiation dose. Five transfusions were given in the first group, but no transfusion was needed in the erythropoietin group. Local toxicities remained at the level expected with irradiation alone. Chemotherapy toxicity was moderate. Forty-two complete responses were achieved. At two years actuarial local control, cause-specific survival and overall survival are respectively 85%, 69%, and 68%. At four years estimated probabilities of local control, cause-specific survival and overall survival are also 85%, 69%, and 68%.


CONCLUSIONS
These results compare favorably with those of most reported studies. The addition of carbogen breathing appears to improve the results of chemoradiation alone. Erythropoietin therapy avoided transfusions.
Martinez
J C
JC
Servicio de Oncologia Radioterapica, Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Carretera del Rosario s/n, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Villar
A
A
Cabezon
M A
MA
de Serdio
J L
JL
Fuentes
C
C
Espiñeira
M
M
Perez
M D
MD
Gil
J
J
Artazkoz
J J
JJ
Borque
C
C
Suñer
M
M
Saavedra
J A
JA
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C011700:carbogen; D016190:Carboplatin; D010100:Oxygen