Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access published online on February 10, 2009
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, doi:10.1093/jjco/hyp002
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© The Author (2009). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved
Systemic Chemotherapy with Cisplatin Plus 5-FU (PF) for Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (R/M SCCHN): Efficacy and Safety of a Lower Dose of PF (80/800) at a Single Institution in Japan
1 Division of Digestive Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East
2 Division of Oncology/Hematology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
For reprints and all correspondence: Makoto Tahara, Division of Digestive Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan. E-mail: matahara{at}east.ncc.go.jp
Received November 12, 2008; accepted December 26, 2008
Objective: Prognosis in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is poor, and systemic chemotherapy has an only modest impact on the outcome. Chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-FU (PF) is widely used, but the standard dosage, PF (100/1000; cisplatin 100 mg/m2 day 1 and 5-FU 1000 mg/m2/24 h by continuous intravenous infusion on days 1 through 4), is relatively toxic for palliative use, and PF (80/800; cisplatin 80 mg/m2 day 1 and 5-FU 800 mg/m2/24 h by continuous intravenous infusion on days 1 through 5) is more commonly used in Japan, albeit without clear comparative data. We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of this regimen in our institution.
Methods: Thirty of 43 patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer treated with PF in our institution between 2001 and 2006 were analyzed. Entry criteria included histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma and recurrent or metastatic disease.
Results: The most common chemotherapy-related Grade 3 or 4 toxicities were nausea (16.6%), anorexia (40%), stomatitis (6.6%) and leukopenia (10%), all of which were manageable. Complete response was achieved in one patient and partial response in eight, giving an overall response rate of 30%. Median progression-free survival was 3.0 months. Estimated 2-year survival rate was 16.7% and median overall survival was 9.8 months. Of the 30 patients, 5 (16.7%) survived more than 2 years, all of whom had primary oropharyngeal cancer.
Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, chemotherapy with PF (80/800) for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer appeared to have equal efficacy and better safety than PF (100/1000).
Key Words: head and neck cancer • systemic chemotherapy • cisplatin plus 5-FU