Induction paclitaxel and carboplatin for patients with head and neck carcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND After standard therapy for advanced head and neck carcinoma, 5‐year survival rate is less than 50%. Our purpose was to develop a new treatment for advanced head and neck carcinoma by using preoperative chemotherapy. Long term efficacy and toxicity of induction paclitaxel and carboplatin is reported here. METHODS Between 1994 and 1999, 62 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed head and neck carcinoma were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin induction chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was administered every 21 days with 3 courses of paclitaxel (150–265 mg/m2) and carboplatin at a dose calculated using the Calvert formula area under the curve of 7.5. Patients who achieved complete or partial response at the primary received definitive radiation to the primary tumor and those with lymph node disease received neck dissection followed by radiation to the regional lymph nodes. Nonresponders received standard resection of primary tumor and draining lymph node basin followed by radiation. RESULTS Sixty‐two consecutive patients were treated. Seventy‐four percent had Stage IV (according to the 5th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging manual) disease. The median duration of follow‐up from initiation of chemotherapy was 64 weeks (range, 1–272 weeks). Overall complete plus partial response rate was 41 of 62 (66%). Responses were observed at all anatomic sites: oropharynx 20 of 33 (61%); hypopharynx 8 of 12 (67%); and larynx 13 of 17 (76%). Kaplan–Meier estimates of overall survival (OS), at 230 weeks, were significantly better in Stage IV oropharynx/hypopharynx responders than nonresponders (55% vs. 27%; P = 0.04). Of the variables evaluated in multivariate models, response at the primary tumor and lymph nodes were associated with improved disease free survival and OS. Organ preservation was achieved in 28 of 62 (45%) of patients at all anatomic sites: oropharynx 39%, hypopharynx 42%, larynx 59%. Seventeen of 28 (61%) patients had their primary organ site preserved for a mean duration of 78 weeks (range, 13–238 weeks). CONCLUSIONS Induction paclitaxel and carboplatin was well tolerated. The response rate was encouraging considering most patients were Stage IV. Chemotherapy response identified a group with improved prognosis. Organ preservation was possible at all anatomic sites. Cancer 2001;91:940–8. © 2001 American Cancer Society.

Low-dose fractionated radiation with induction chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer: 5 year results of a prospective phase II trial

“…LDFRT, carboplatin, and paclitaxel had similar toxicities to induction carboplatin and paclitaxel in SCCHN patients as reported by others [27, 28]. LDFRT did not increase the rate of radiation-induced grade 3 or 4 toxicities.…”

Update on the Role of Topotecan in the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

“…Further, patients treated with topotecan rarely experience nonhematologic toxicities that are dose limiting. Other agents may be associated with resistance and with cumulative toxicities, such as peripheral neuropathy [33,34]. Therefore, topotecan should continue to play a prominent role in the armamentarium for relapsed ovarian cancer due to its favorable therapeutic index [31].…”

The Role of Chemotherapy in the Management of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

“…Paclitaxel-containing induction regimens have also been evaluated and have demonstrated improved outcomes. 23,24 Finally, induction chemotherapy has been used as a tool to guide subsequent modality selection. In this setting, a cycle of induction chemotherapy is administered followed by administration of definitive concurrent CRT to responders, whereas nonresponders undergo surgery.…”