Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access originally published online on October 23, 2006
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006 36(12):822-826; doi:10.1093/jjco/hyl111
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© 2006 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
A Novel Approach to Advanced Carcinoma of the Tongue: Cases Successfully Treated with Combination of Superselective Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy and External/High-Dose-Rate Interstitial Radiotherapy
1 Laboratory of Radiation Therapy, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine
2 Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
3 Department of Radiology, School of Medicine
4 Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
For reprints and all correspondence: Takeshi Nishioka, Laboratory of Radiation Therapy, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, N12 W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. 060-0812. E-mail: trout{at}radi.med.hokudai.ac.jp
Received May 20, 2006; accepted August 5, 2006
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel treatment regimen, intra-arterial cisplatin infusion plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy.
METHODS: Superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin (100120 mg) was performed concomitantly with external radiotherapy in four patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the tongue. A high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost was performed after combination therapy in all patients. Brachytherapy was performed after external radiotherapy, and the treatment schedule was twice daily, with a fraction of 600 cGy up to a total of 3048 Gy.
RESULTS: All patients completed the therapy as scheduled. There were no vascular or neurological complications. Grade III acute radiation mucositis developed in all patients but this did not necessitate a treatment break. With a mean follow-up period of 35 months, loco-regional control was obtained for all patients.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of weekly administration of intra-arterial cisplatin plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy seems effective for advanced carcinoma of the tongue.
Key Words: intra-arterial chemotherapy high-dose-rate brachytherapy carcinoma of the tongue