1. Efficacy and feasibility of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy plus cetuximab in head and neck cancer.
- Author
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Rampino M, Bacigalupo A, Russi E, Schena M, Lastrucci L, Iotti C, Reali A, Musu A, Balcet V, Piva C, Bustreo S, Munoz F, Ragona R, Corvò R, and Ricardi U
- Subjects
- Aged, Antibodies, Monoclonal administration & dosage, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Bridged-Ring Compounds administration & dosage, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell mortality, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology, Cetuximab, Cisplatin administration & dosage, Feasibility Studies, Female, Fluorouracil administration & dosage, Follow-Up Studies, Head and Neck Neoplasms mortality, Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology, Humans, Male, Maximum Tolerated Dose, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Staging, Remission Induction, Survival Rate, Taxoids administration & dosage, Treatment Outcome, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols therapeutic use, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell therapy, Chemoradiotherapy, Head and Neck Neoplasms therapy, Induction Chemotherapy
- 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.
- Published
- 2012