Organ preservation with daily concurrent chemoradiotherapy using superselective intra-arterial infusion via a superficial temporal artery for T3 and T4 head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic results and rate of organ preservation in patients with advanced head and neck cancer treated with superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy via a superficial temporal artery and daily concurrent radiotherapy.


METHODS
Between April 2002 and March 2006, 30 patients with T3 or T4a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck underwent intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy. Treatment consisted of superselective intra-arterial infusions (docetaxel, total 60 mg/m(2); cisplatin, total 150 mg/m(2)) and daily concurrent radiotherapy (total, 60 Gy) for 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The median follow-up for all patients was 46.2 months (range, 10-90 months). The median follow-up for living patients was 49.7 months (range, 36-90 months). After intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy was administered, primary site complete response was achieved in 30 (100%) of 30 cases. Seven patients (23.3%) died. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 96.7%, 83.1%, and 70.2%, respectively, while 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year local control rates were 83.3%, 79.7%, and 73.0%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 mucositis occurred in 20 cases (66.7%). Grade 3 toxicities included dysphagia in 20 cases (66.7%), dermatitis in 6 cases (20%), nausea/vomiting in 2 cases (6.7%), and neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 1 case (3.3%). No osteoradionecrosis of mandible and maxillary bones developed during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy using a superficial temporal artery provided good overall survival and local control rates. This combination chemoradiotherapy approach can preserve organs and minimize functional disturbance, thus contributing to patients' quality of life.
Mitsudo
Kenji
K
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. mitsudo@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Shigetomi
Toshio
T
Fujimoto
Yasushi
Y
Nishiguchi
Hiroaki
H
Yamamoto
Noriyuki
N
Furue
Hiroki
H
Ueda
Minoru
M
Itoh
Yoshiyuki
Y
Fuwa
Nobukazu
N
Tohnai
Iwai
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013699:Temporal Arteries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin