title: Oral metronomic scheduling of anticancer therapy-based treatment compared to existing standard of care in locally advanced oral squamous cell cancers: A matched-pair analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head and neck cancers in developing countries present with advanced disease, compounded by poor access to tertiary care centers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated oral metronomic scheduling of anticancer therapy (MSAT) in advanced operable oral cancers, in conjunction with standard therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective matched-pair analysis carried out in a tertiary referral cancer center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advanced operable oral cancer patients having a waiting period for surgery > 3 weeks were administered MSAT. Patients then underwent standard therapy (surgery +/- adjuvant radiation/chemoradiation) as warranted by the disease, followed by MSAT maintenance therapy. Outcomes of the MSAT group were compared with stage-matched controls with similar waiting periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survivals were found using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between groups using the log rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response was seen in 75% of 32 patients. Two-year disease-free survivals (DFS) in MSAT and control groups were 86.5 and 71.6%, respectively. Two-year DFS in MSAT group who received at least three months of MSAT was 94.6% (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral MSAT is an economical, effective, and safe adjuvant therapy for oral cancers. It has the potential for preventing progression of the disease and improving DFS.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Pai
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Vaidya
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Prabhash
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Banavali
mesh_terms: D059250:Administration, Metronomic; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059039:Standard of Care
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin