title: Concomitant radiochemotherapy in primary inoperable advanced head and neck cancer with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hille
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nitsche
authors.forename: Alexios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Clemens F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pradier
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D006454:Hemoglobins; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil