Induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil followed by surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves outcome of recurrent advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Locally recurrent rate of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) still remains high and the treatment is controversial.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed ninety-three patients with recurrent advanced oral cancer from 2009 to 2013. Sixty-four patients are in the docetaxel with cisplatin and 5'-fluorouracil (TPF) group and the remaining twenty-nine patients are in the cisplatin and 5'-fluorouracil (PF) group.

Results: The overall response rate was better in the TPF group (p=0.005) than the PF group. Patients who received induction chemotherapy, TPF, followed by surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) had better overall survival (OS) (p=0.012) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.038), while patients with prior intra-arterial-infusion-chemotherapy had an adverse impact on OS (p=0.039).

Conclusion: We showed that induction chemotherapy with TPF, followed by surgery and consolidation CRT, is the ideal choice for recurrent advanced HNSCC with improving response rates and survival. However, prior intra-arterial-infusion-chemotherapy showed an adverse impact.

Keywords: IAIC; TPF; head and neck cancer.