A new concurrent chemotherapy with vinorelbine and mitomycin C in combination with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of concurrent chemotherapy with vinorelbine and mitomycin C in combination with accelerated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced cancer of the head and neck.


METHODS
Between January 2003 and March 2004, 15 patients with T4/N2-3 squamous cell carcinoma (12/15) and with N3 cervical lymph node metastases of carcinoma of unknown primary (3/15) were treated with chemotherapy and simultaneous accelerated RT.


RESULTS
11 patients completed therapy without interruption or dose reduction. Grade 3-4 acute mucosal toxicity was observed in 9/15 patients, grade 4 hematologic toxicity in 6/15 patients. At a median follow-up of 7.5 months, 2 patients have died of intercurrent disease, 2 patients have experienced local relapse; 5 patients are alive with no evidence of disease at the primary tumor site.


CONCLUSIONS
The described regimen is highly effective, but led to remarkable side effects.
Wilkowski
Ralf
R
Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkranke, München, Germany. ralf.wilkowski@med.uni-muenchen.de
Pachmann
Sophia
S
Schymura
Beatrice
B
Dellian
Marc
M
Schalhorn
Andreas
A
Dühmke
Eckhart
E
D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016685:Mitomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine