title: A study using ifosfamide and etoposide in patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with ifosfamide and etoposide in cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with ifosfamide (1000 mg/m(2)/day) as a continuous 24 h infusion for 3 days and etoposide (100 mg/m(2)/day) as a bolus 1 h infusion on the same 3 days. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks until disease progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of response was 27% (8/30), and 20% (6/30) of the patients achieved stable disease status. Median overall survival was 7.7 months. Subgroup analysis demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival in the group that achieved control of disease. Thirteen (43.3%) patients developed grade 3-4 neutropenia, and five (16.6%) developed grade 3-4 non-hematologic mucositis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination chemotherapy had an effective and safe profile and improved survival in patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who achieved disease control.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Peter Mu-Hsin
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pen-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hwai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Shyue-Yih
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Muh-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide