title: Concurrent radio-chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatinum in inoperable or relapsed head and neck cancer.
abstract: Usually head and neck cancer is treated with combined therapy, applying surgery, if possible, and then radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a sequential or concomitant way. Sequential approach seems to be preferred, because of the high toxicity rate of concomitant therapy. Platinum compounds and 5-fluorouracil are the standard drugs, but new drugs are entering therapeutic arena: gemcitabine and taxanes are the most promising ones. The efficacy of these drugs, especially in association with radiotherapy, must be assessed; moreover it is essential to ascertain how to associate these drugs to radiotherapy and to evaluate drug toxicity when combined with the latter. End point of the study here presented is a preliminar assessment of toxicity and feasibility of concurrent radio-chemoterapy with docetaxel and cisplatinum in patients with head and neck cancer. The number of enrolled patients and the relatively short time of follow up do not allow to evaluate treatment efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit Villa Scassi Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mencoboni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rebella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tredici
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergaglio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delle Piane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bavazzano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scarpati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin