title: Functional organ preservation in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by platinum-based multidrug induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy in terms of functional organ preservation of multidrug induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC-CCRT) protocol in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with previously untreated, inoperable, histologically proven nonmetastatic stage III or IV HNSCC were eligible. Following one cycle of IC, two cycles of cisplatinum and 5-fluorouracil CCRT with conventional fractionated radiotherapy up to a dose of 66-70 Gy were administrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 2000 and July 2007, a total of 139 patients were candidates to receive IC-CCRT for LA-HNSCC. Overall, 83% of the patients completed the treatment. Three-year overall survival estimate was 68% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57% to 79%]. Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) estimate was 62% (95% CI 50% to 74%). Three-year functional PFS was 57% (95% CI 44% to 69%). There were no cases of treatment-related deaths. The most frequent severe acute toxicity was pharyngeal mucositis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cisplatinum-based multidrug IC-CCRT can result in functional organ preservation and curative treatment in most patients with LA-HNSCC. The toxicity profile and patients' compliance to treatment confirmed the safety and tolerability of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Regional Center for Head and Neck Cancer, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Treviso Regional Hospital, Italy. paolo.boscolorizzo@unipd.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boscolo-Rizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gava
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baggio
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Da Mosto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil