Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 29, Issue 10 462-466, Copyright © 1999 by Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
N Kohno, S Kitahara, M Kawaida and T Ohmuma
BACKGROUND: For locally unresectable recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of
the head and neck, we investigated two salvage chemotherapy regimens as
second-line chemotherapy. In our preliminary study, we observed that both
regimens were active. In the present study we analyzed the prognosis of
these patients. METHODS:Twenty-six patients with recurrent advanced head
and neck cancer, were treated with one of two new regimens as second-line
chemotherapy. The PEM regimen consisted of cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1,
etoposide 40 mg/m2 on days 1, 2 and 3 and mitomycin-C 7 mg/m2 on day 1. The
long CF regimen consisted of cisplatin 8 mg/m2 on days 1-5, 8-12, 15-19 and
22-26 and 5-fluorouracil 300 mg/m2 as a 24 h infusion or oral
administration of tegaful-uracil (UFT-E) 400 mg/m2 on days 1-28. Survival
curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the
log rank test. RESULTS: Of 24 patients evaluable for response, three
complete responses (CR) and seven partial responses (PR) were achieved,
with an overall response rate of 42%. Myelosuppression was the major side
effect. One year survival was 100% for CR, 0% for PR and 20% for minor
response (MR). All patients who failed to achieve a CR died within 12
months, except one patient with MR. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that with
these salvage regimens survival benefit was demonstrated only in CR
patients.
CASE REPORTS
Prognosis after salvage chemotherapy for locally unresectable recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
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