Integration of chemotherapy in an MFD-radiotherapy plan for advanced inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

✍ Scribed by Renzo Corvo; Drs. Marco Merlano; Dr. William B. Looney; Marco Benasso; Almalina Bacigalupo; Dr. Giovanni Margarino

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 510 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2880120108

✦ Synopsis

patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received combined treatment, based on an alternating schedule of chemotherapy and multiple fractions per day (MFD)-radiotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of cisplatin, 20 mg/m2, followed by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 200 mg/m2 i.v. push, from days 1 to 5 during weeks 1, 5, and 9. Radiotherapy was administered in two courses of 32 Gy each (total dose, 64 Gy) during weeks 2 and 3 and 6 and 7. Each course was given in two fractions per day, 5 days per week. The 16 patients were evaluated for toxicity and response. We observed 7 complete responders, 6 partial responders, and 3 nonresponders. The overall response rate was 81%. Toxicity was heavy: 44% of the patients developed grade Ill-IV mucositis. Our results suggest that cisplatin and 5fluorouracil alternating with MFD-radiotherapy is effective; however, a new less toxic scheduling must be determinated.