Chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin in continuous infusion in the locoregional control of advanced head and neck cancer

Rays. 1998 Jul-Sep;23(3):549-54.
[Article in English, Italian]

Abstract

Because of the difficulty to achieve and maintain locoregional control in head and neck cancer, many clinical trials were focused on the addition of chemotherapy to locoregional treatments in advanced head and neck cancer patients. In particular, concomitant chemoradiotherapy resulted in high response rate and improved local control, sometimes with increased toxicity. In the effort to improve local control a phase II study on chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin in prolonged continuous infusion for 14 days (420 mg/m2 total dose) during standard radiotherapy, was performed. 45 patients were evaluable for response: CR 62.5% (global response 96%). After a mean follow-up of 48 months 9/28 patients with CR were still alive with no evidence of disease; two additional patients were alive but with locoregional disease. As for deceased patients, one died from non-tumor related causes, 13 from locoregional disease and 2 for metastatic disease. If the entire population of Crs is analyzed, it is observed that 13 patients (46.5% of CRs and 29% of the entire series) maintained a durable locoregional control. In most patients recurrence was detectable both in the primary tumor and in the neck.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Humans
  • Radiotherapy Dosage

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carboplatin