title: [Chemo-radiotherapy for head and neck cancer].
abstract: Many randomized trials have investigated the effect on survival of induction chemotherapy; none however, has demonstrated improved survival. A study of the Department of Veterans Affairs Laryngeal Cancer Study Group demonstrated the feasibility of induction CDDP/5-FU plus surgical salvage as an alternative to initial laryngectomy, but it did not include a radiation-alone treatment arm. Thus, a three-arm trial (R 91-11) was needed to compare the regimen of induction chemotherapy plus surgical salvage treatment with radiation alone and with concurrent chemo-radiation, to determine whether the addition of chemotherapy led to better results than conventional radiation alone. R 91-11 data revealed that concurrent chemo-radiation significantly increased the time to laryngectomy and chemotherapy suppressed distant metastasis, but there was no difference in overall survival. Single-agent docetaxel is known to induce a response in 22-45% of patients with recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. When used in combination with CDDP, response rates of between 40 and 54% have been reported. Increased expression the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is reported in head and neck cancer. Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody is associated with decreased cell proliferation, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis, and it has a synergistic effect with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It is hoped that further advances will lead to greater realization of the therapeutic potential of these compounds as anticancer agents.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil