title: Response to docetaxel and cisplatin induction chemotherapy of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter, non-comparative, open-label interventional pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil is an efficacious induction regimen but is more toxic than cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil. This study aimed to determine whether docetaxel and cisplatin without 5-fluorouracil maintains efficacy while decreasing toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter non-comparative pilot study of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was performed. Patients received primary therapy comprising three cycles of 75 mg/m2 docetaxel and 75 mg/m2 cisplatin followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the response rate to the docetaxel and cisplatin induction regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 patients were enrolled: of these, 23 (88.5 per cent) received all three docetaxel and cisplatin cycles. Common grade 3-4 adverse events were febrile neutropenia (19.2 per cent of patients), diarrhoea (19.2 per cent) and non-neutropenic infection (15.4 per cent). The overall response rate to docetaxel and cisplatin induction chemotherapy was 65.4 per cent. A total of 23 patients (88.5 per cent) subsequently received chemoradiotherapy with a median radiotherapy dose of 70 Gy. The response rate to chemoradiotherapy was 73 per cent. At a median follow up of 44 months, the 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 62 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Docetaxel and cisplatin induction chemotherapy is a feasible induction regimen with comparable efficacy to docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil induction chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,B. P. Poddar Hospital and Medical Research Ltd,Kolkata,India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,HCG Hospital,Bengaluru,Karnataka,India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis,Tata Memorial Hospital,Parel,Mumbai,India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juvekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,HCG Hospital,Bengaluru,Karnataka,India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goud
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,HCG Hospital,Bengaluru,Karnataka,India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prabhash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Head and Neck Neoplasms; Induction Chemotherapy; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Taxoids