Induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil and l-leucovorin for locally advanced head and neck cancers: a modified regimen for Japanese patients.
Combination chemotherapy with docetaxel (T), cisplatin (P), fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin has been reported to have major activity against squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) administered as a 4-day (TPFL4) or 5-day (TPFL5) regimen. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a modified TPFL regimen (m-TPFL) for locally advanced SCCHN, consisting of a modified dosage with docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-FU and l-leucovorin (l-LV) designed for Japanese patients. Organ preservation of the primary tumor site was also assessed. Thirty-four Japanese patients with locally advanced SCCHN were eligible. Docetaxel was administered as a 1-h i.v. infusion at 48 mg/m2 on day 1; cisplatin, 24 mg/m2/day; 5-FU, 560 mg/m2/day and l-LV, 125 mg/body/day were delivered on days 1-4 by continuous i.v. infusion. This regimen was administered every 28 days. Patients who achieved a complete response (CR) after induction chemotherapy underwent radiation therapy alone. Ninety-one cycles were administered. The main hematological toxicity was neutropenia, classified as grade III or IV in 18.7% of cycles. The most common non-hematologic toxicities included anorexia, stomatitis and alopecia. The clinical overall response rate to m-TPFL was 88.2%, with 58.8% CRs and 29.4% partial responses. After definitive locoregional therapy, 25 of 34 patients were disease-free with preserved primary tumor site anatomy. Overall and progression-free survival rates at the 2-year follow-up are 92.8 and 75.3%, respectively. Our m-TPFL regimen designed for Japanese patients yielded excellent response rates with an acceptable toxicity profile in good-performance-status patients.
Division of Otolaryngology, Keiyukai Sapporo Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. akihito-watanabe@hokkaido.med.or.jp
Akihito
A
Watanabe
Masanobu
M
Taniguchi
Shigeyuki
S
Sasaki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil