title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkranke, München, Germany. ralf.wilkowski@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilkowski
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pachmann
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schymura
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dellian
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schalhorn
authors.forename: Eckhart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dühmke
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016685:Mitomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine