Concomitant radiochemotherapy in primary inoperable advanced head and neck cancer with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C

✍ Scribed by Hans Christiansen; Robert M. Hermann; Andrea Hille; Elisabeth Weiss; Mirko Nitsche; Alexios Martin; Clemens F. Hess; Olivier Pradier

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 534 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.20030

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy and concomitant 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and mitomycin‐C infusion in inoperable head and neck cancer.

Methods.

Seventy‐six patients (86% men, 14% women), mean age 57 years, with primary inoperable head and neck cancer were treated with 70 Gy plus simultaneous intravenous chemotherapy with 5‐FU (600 mg/m^2^/d, days 1 to 5) and mitomycin‐C (10 mg/m^2^, day 5 plus 36).

Results.

After a mean follow‐up of 13 months, 31 patients were alive. Complete response (CR) was seen in 63%. The 1‐ and 2‐year overall survival rates were 67.7% and 39.5%, and locoregional control rates were 51.7% and 35.6%. Pretreatment hemoglobin <13.9 g/dL was associated with lower locoregional control rates (p = .03). Therapy was well tolerated (grade 3 mucositis in 21%, grade 4 in 1%, grade 3 leukopenia in 11%).

Conclusions.

Our radiochemotherapy regimen offers a curative option for this group of patients with a poor prognosis. Hemoglobin levels before therapy have an influence on prognosis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 845–853, 2004