[Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Chemotherapy has been shown to be most effective when delivered concurrently with radiation for the patients with advanced stage tumors. We conducted a concurrent chemoradiation using systemic infusion of cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Thirty-nine patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer received one or two cycles of intravenous administration of CDDP (80-100 mg/m2) followed by 120-hour continuous infusion of 5-FU (800-1000 mg/m2), and concomitant radiotherapy (200 cGy/day x 20-35 fractions) during the period from December, 1993 through December, 2001. Three of them were in stage III, 31 in stage IVA, and 5 in stage IVB. Until 1999 definitive surgery was planed in almost all the patients, however, primary tumors had pathologically disappeared in eleven out of the 20 (55%) of the surgical specimens. Based on the result, definitive surgery was reserved for residual or recurrent tumors afterwards.

RESULTS:

The complete response (CR) rates according to the T factor were 100% (1/1) for T1, 86% (6/7) for T2, 67% (2/3) for T3, and 50% (14/28) for T4, respectively. Two cycles of chemotherapy yielded a significantly higher CR rate than that of one cycle (P = 0.0371). One patient died of aspiration pneumonia. The rate of grade 3-4 leukocytopenia was 38%. The projected 5-year disease specific and overall survival rates were 57 and 51%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is promising as far as improving survival as well as organ preservation.

• Authors: Sohei Endo, Shin Suzuki, Kenzo Tsuji, Yasuyuki Nomura, Yugo Noguchi, Akinori Kida, Tsutomu Saito, Yoshiaki Tanaka
• Journal: Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai kaiho (Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho) Vol. 108 Issue 10 Pg. 980-5 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0030-6622 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 16285613 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms (therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Survival Rate
• Treatment Outcome