Abstract
Background: To determine the potential activity and tolerability of sequential treatment in head and neck cancer, we conducted a phase II trial based on induction chemotherapy of two cycles of taxotere, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy plus weekly cetuximab. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx were treated and evaluated for response and acute toxicity. Results: Eighty-one percent of patients had stage IV disease and 42% had hypopharyngeal and oral cavity primaries. The overall response rate was 81.8%, with 60.6% complete response and 33.3% partial response. Severe toxicities were febrile neutropenia (6%) during induction chemotherapy and dermatitis (48%), mucositis (33%) and dysphagia (12%) during the concurrent phase. Conclusion: Our protocol proved to be feasible, effective and well tolerated. This sequential strategy should be further investigated.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 195-199 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Anticancer Research |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2012 |
Keywords
- Cetuximab
- Head and neck cancer
- Induction chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology