The Journal of Laryngology & Otology

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 122, Issue 07  

Main Article

Neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by local irradiation is highly active on locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

H-J Shina1, J S Chunga1, Y J Choia1, B J Leea2, S G Wanga2, D W Kima3 and G J Choa1 c1

a1 Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea

a2 Department of Otolaryngology, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea

a3 Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment outcome of neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy for chemotherapy-naïve patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Thirty-seven patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who received docetaxel and cisplatin regimen for a maximum of three cycles followed by radiation therapy were enrolled in this study. The overall response rate to the regimen was 91.9 per cent (34 of 37) (the complete remission rate was 48.6 per cent). The median time to treatment failure was 38 months (95 per cent confidence interval, 15–61 months). The four year estimated overall survival rates were 85.1 per cent. The most frequent moderate-to-severe toxicity was grade 3–4 neutropenia. The most common acute non-haematologic toxicities included anorexia, nausea and asthenia. Neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy is a feasible treatment strategy for patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

(Accepted January 23 2007)

(Online publication October 10 2007)

Key words

Correspondence:

c1 Address for correspondence: Goon Jae Cho, Hematology-oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, 1-10 Ami-Dong, Seo-Gu, Busan 602-739, Korea. Fax: 82 51 240 7690 E-mail: hojinja@pusan.ac.kr

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