title: [Radio-chemotherapy of locally advanced head and neck cancer, providing tissue and organ protection]
abstract: PURPOSE: the study of the effect of Amifostine in reducing acute mucositis, xerostomia and late xerostomia emerging in the course of locally advanced head and neck cancer radio-chemotherapy. METHODS: Starting in 1999 we have conducted radio-chemotherapy treatment on 7 patients with or without Amifostine protection, each receiving 60 Gy (2 Gy a day/5 fractions a week) loco-regional irradiation. From the first to the fifth day and from the twenty-first to the twenty-fifth day prior to irradiation they were given a 70 mg/m(2) Carboplatin treatment. In the Amifostine group, on days 1-5 and 21-25 300 mg/m(2) and on days 6-20 and 26-30 200 mg/m(2) Amifostine therapy was given prior to the radio- and chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the course of the trial we did not find any haematologic side effects, or side effects directly connected to the Amifostine, which would have required suspension of the therapy. In the active phase, mucositis of Grade 1-2 was detected 1-2 weeks later than in the control group, in contrast to the mucositis of Grade 2-3 in the other arm. Global oral discomfort associated with acute xerostomia was of Grade 4-6 on a linear scale of ten, compared with Grade 7-8 on the active line. We had similar results when testing the symptoms directly connected with late xerostomia. Unstimulated and stimulated saliva production doubled following the Amifostine treatment. CONCLUSION: Despite the small pool of patients we have the impression that Amifostine can effectively reduce the severity of acute mucositis, xerostomia and late xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Capital Oncoradiology Center, Uzsoki Hospital, Budapest, H-1145, Hungary. uzsokikh@mail.matav.hu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patyánik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Póti
vernacular_title: Elôrehaladott fej-nyaki tumorok radio-kemoterápiája szöveti-szervi védelem mellett. Korai eredmények.