Comparison of standard-dose 3-weekly cisplatin and low-dose weekly cisplatin for concurrent chemoradiation of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer: A multicenter retrospective analysis

Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 May;97(21):e10778. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000010778.

Abstract

Standard treatment for locally advanced (stage III-IV) head and neck squamous cell cancer (LA-HNSCC) is concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with cisplatin 100 mg/m every 3 weeks. For medically unfit patients susceptible to treatment-related adverse events, low-dose weekly cisplatin (30-40 mg/m) can be used as an alternative. In this study, we retrospectively compared the therapeutic outcomes of low-dose weekly cisplatin regimen and standard regimen in CCRT for LA-HNSCC.The medical records of histologically confirmed LA-HNSCC patients were retrospectively reviewed from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2012. Patients who were treated with CCRT as initial treatment were included.Among 220 patients eligible, 65 (29.5%) were treated with cisplatin dosing schedule of 100 mg/m every 3 weeks and 155 (70.5%) with 30 to 40 mg/m weekly. The overall response rate in 3-weekly group was 92.3% and did not differ from that in weekly group (91.0%). The median progression-free survival of the weekly group was not attained but was not significantly different from that of 3-weekly group (50.7 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.2-59.1 months) (P = .81). Also, the median overcall survival did not differ significantly between 2 groups (P = .34).In the present study, low-dose weekly cisplatin showed therapeutic outcomes comparable to standard-dose cisplatin in CCRT for LA-HNSCC. Prospective comparison of standard-dose three-weekly and low-dose weekly cisplatin is warranted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cisplatin