Taxotere, cisplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (TPFL)as induction chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
This is a phase II clinical study conducted to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of a 4-day regimen of docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (TPFL) in patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).


METHODS
Twenty-one previously untreated patients with stage III or IV SCCHN were treated with TPFL. Patients who received a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) to three cycles of TPFL received definitive radiation therapy. The primary end points were toxicity and response to TPFL.


RESULTS
Fifty cycles were administered to 21 patients. The major acute toxicities to TPFL were mucositis, fatigue, and anorexia. Additional major toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and weight loss. The overall clinical response rate to TPFL was 47.6% , with 19% CRs and 28.6% PRs. In addition, the median time to progression and overall survival time were 49.2 months and 42.7 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
TPFL has an acceptable toxicity profile for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and may hold curative potential for some patients with surgically unresectable or medical inoperable situations.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety to TPFL regimen for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Kamnerdsupaphon
Pimkhuan
P
Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
Chitapanarux
Imjai
I
Lorvidhaya
Vicharn
V
Sumitsawan
Yupa
Y
Tharavichitkul
Ekkasit
E
Sukthomya
Vimol
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil