Acute toxicity and preliminary clinical outcomes of concurrent radiation therapy and weekly docetaxel and daily cisplatin for head and neck cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent weekly docetaxel and radiation therapy as a definitive treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC).

METHODS:

Thirty-two patients with primary HNC, who were treated with concurrent weekly docetaxel and radiation therapy, were analysed. The distribution of the disease stage was as follows: Stage II, 18 patients; Stage III, 3 patients; Stage IVA, 7 patients; Stage IVB, 3 patients; the patient of cervical lymph node metastasis with unknown primary tumor was not assessable. The average total dose of radiotherapy was 67.5 Gy. Docetaxel (10 mg/m(2), intravenously, once a week) was given to all patients up to four cycles, and cisplatin (6 mg/m(2), intravenously, five times a week) was also administered to all patients for up to 3 weeks from the beginning of the radiation therapy.

RESULTS:

Only in two patients did the radiotherapy need to be temporarily interrupted due to the development of acute mucositis. Grade 3 toxicity was observed in six patients. Grade 4 acute mucositis was seen in one patient. The response rate was 100%, and complete response (CR) was observed in 30 patients (94%). At the time of the analysis, the 2 year local control and relapse-free rates in the 30 patients showing CR were 90 and 76%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Concurrent weekly docetaxel and radiation therapy did not affect the compliance of the patients for the radiation therapy, indicating that the acute toxicities were within acceptable limits.

• Authors: Yoshizumi Kitamoto, Tetsuo Akimoto, Hitoshi Ishikawa, Tetsuo Nonaka, Hiroyuki Katoh, Takashi Nakano, Hiroshi Ninomiya, Kazuaki Chikamatsu, Nobuhiko Furuya
• Journal: Japanese journal of clinical oncology (Jpn J Clin Oncol) Vol. 35 Issue 11 Pg. 639-44 (Nov 2005) ISSN: 0368-2811 [Print] England
• PMID: 16275679 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Taxoids
• Docetaxel
• Cisplatin

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Docetaxel
• Dose Fractionation, Radiation
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mucositis (chemically induced)
• Radiotherapy, Conformal
• Taxoids (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome