Chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) in 103 head-and-neck cancer patients: a cumulative dose-effect analysis.
OBJECTIVE
In patients with head-and-neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), a cisplatin-based regimen is often used. Several treatment schedules are accepted with a cumulative cisplatin dose of 200 mg/m(2) (CisCD200) given during radiotherapy. The aim of this analysis was to investigate feasibility and efficacy of a weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) regimen.


METHODS
During 08/2001 and 12/2006, 103 patients with squamous head-and-neck cancer received concurrent CRT with intended weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) and were analyzed retrospectively. CRT was definitive for a newly diagnosed primary in 62, postoperative in 16, and for recurrence in 25 patients. Most patients had carcinoma of the hypo- and oropharynx (81%). Patients received a median total dose of 70 Gy (range, 42-71.2 Gy).


RESULTS
Only 42 patients (41%) received a CisCD200 predominantly due to hematotoxicity. Actuarial 12- and 18-month overall survival (OS) for patients with and without CisCD200 was 83.3% versus 72.1% (p = 0.19) and 66.7% versus 67.2% (p = 0.86), the 12- and 18-month locoregional control (LRC) 66.7% versus 78.7% (p = 0.325) and 59.5% versus 78.7% (p = 0.109), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed only type of CRT (definitive vs. recurrent) and T-classification as significant variables predicting OS and LRC.


CONCLUSIONS
Feasibility and efficacy of CRT with weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m2 were suboptimal in this analysis. However, the prospects of weekly cisplatin may be its more suitable integration into emerging trimodality concepts combining CRT with molecularly targeted agents.
Steinmann
Diana
D
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany. steinmann.diana@mh-hannover.de
Cerny
Bettina
B
Karstens
Johann Hinrich
JH
Bremer
Michael
M
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D002945:Cisplatin