Concomitant radiochemotherapy in primary inoperable advanced head and neck cancer with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy and concomitant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C infusion in inoperable head and neck cancer.


METHODS
Seventy-six patients (86% men, 14% women), mean age 57 years, with primary inoperable head and neck cancer were treated with 70 Gy plus simultaneous intravenous chemotherapy with 5-FU (600 mg/m(2)/d, days 1 to 5) and mitomycin-C (10 mg/m(2), day 5 plus 36).


RESULTS
After a mean follow-up of 13 months, 31 patients were alive. Complete response (CR) was seen in 63%. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 67.7% and 39.5%, and locoregional control rates were 51.7% and 35.6%. Pretreatment hemoglobin <13.9 g/dL was associated with lower locoregional control rates (p = .03). Therapy was well tolerated (grade 3 mucositis in 21%, grade 4 in 1%, grade 3 leukopenia in 11%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our radiochemotherapy regimen offers a curative option for this group of patients with a poor prognosis. Hemoglobin levels before therapy have an influence on prognosis.
Christiansen
Hans
H
Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
Hermann
Robert M
RM
Hille
Andrea
A
Weiss
Elisabeth
E
Nitsche
Mirko
M
Martin
Alexios
A
Hess
Clemens F
CF
Pradier
Olivier
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D006454:Hemoglobins; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil