Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Initial combination drug regimen containing cisplatin in patients with stage III and IV head and neck cancer produced a high percentage of clinical response. This trial was initiated to assess the role of multimodality treatment (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy) versus chemotherapy alone. Ninety-six patients entered into this study; 80 patients were evaluable at time of analysis (Table I). Patients were randomized between chemotherapy and radiotherapy (group I) and chemotherapy alone (group II). The chemotherapy administered consisted of cisplatin, bleomycin and methotrexate and was given in 2 cycles over 35 days. Local radiotherapy followed. In group II 3 cycles of chemotherapy were given without radiotherapy. The overall tumour response after chemotherapy rose up to 75 per cent. After radiotherapy in group II the response rate sank to 59 per cent. In both regimes the remission duration was very short. Patients receiving only two cycles of chemotherapy do not have a statistically shorter survival than patients, who were treated by chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, or by a 3rd cycle of chemotherapy.     

Results of an organ preservation protocol with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma

An alternative to the classical treatment for locally advanced (T3-T4 stage) pyriform sinus carcinoma with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy is to begin treatment with induction chemotherapy in an organ preservation approach. In patients with complete clinical response, this treatment is followed by radiotherapy; in non-complete responders, it is followed by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate such treatment in a cohort of 78 patients with locally advanced pyriform sinus carcinoma treated at a single institution between 1985 and 1997. In all patients, induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil was carried out. Two patients died as a consequence of complications associated with chemotherapy treatment. Of the 76 patients who completed treatment, 23 (30%) achieved a complete response at the primary site, 38 (50%) attained a partial response, and 15 patients (20%) had a stabilization-progression. The 5-year adjusted survival of patients treated with radiotherapy alone was 57% and, in patients treated with surgery, 51%. There were no significant differences in survival related to the subsequent treatment used (P > 0.05). The larynx was preserved in 14 of the 23 patients (61%) who completed treatment with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The frequency of organ preservation for the group of 78 patients who began treatment with induction chemotherapy was 18%. Received: 20 October 2000 / Accepted: 28 June 2001     

护理辅助性综合干预在喉癌术后放化疗患者中的应用方法及效果

目的分析喉癌术后放化疗患者接受护理辅助性综合干预的方法及效果。方法将2019年1月~2020年4月作为研究时间段,选取期间我院接诊的50例喉癌术后放化疗患者,另将随机数字表法作为分组依据,将全部病例分为对照组(提供常规护理,纳入25例)、研究组(提供护理辅助性综合干预,纳入25例),对组间生活质量评分(EORTC QLQ-C30)展开分析。结果研究组各项EORTC QLQ-C30评分在干预后均高于对照组,P<0.05。结论护理辅助性综合干预对改善喉癌术后放化疗患者生活质量效果显著,值得推广。     

Comparative Evaluation of Chemoimmunoradiotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy in the Management of Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

50 patients of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were randomised cither to receive chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy or chemoimmunotherapy followed by radiotherapy. In the chemoimmunotherapy arm, the patients received recombinant interferon alpha 2b 3 M.U. subcutaneously, thrice a week on alterante days for 5 weeks from Day 1, Cisplatinum 70 mg/ m² on Day 1 and 21, and 5 — flurouracil 1000mg/m² on Day 1, 2, 3 and Day 21, 22, 23, followed by from Dav 36, radiotherapy'by Co bait 60 to a tumour dose of 65 Gy in 30 # over 6 weeks. In the control arm, patiens received Cisplatitnum 70 mg/ m² on Day 1 and Day 21, 5 flurouracil 1000 mg/ m² on Dav 1, 2, 3 and Day 21, 22, 23 followed by radiotherapy by Cobalt 60 to a tumour dose of 65 Gy in 30 # over 6 weeks from Day 36. Only Grade II and III toxicity was observed in the two arms which were manageable Patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy followed by radiotherapy showed 60% complete response, 20% partial response and 12% no change/ progressive disease; while the patients on the control arm treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed 12% complete response 44% Partial response and 32% no change“ progressive disease. This trial concludes that chemoimmunotherapy followed by radiotherapy is an excellent alternative therapeutic strategy for the management of advanced head and neck cancers with manageable toxicity.     

Results of an organ preservation protocol with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma

An alternative treatment in patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma who are candidates for total laryngectomy is induction chemotherapy and radical radiotherapy in an organ preservation approach. We conducted a study to evaluate results of this treatment in patients with locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma, candidates for total laryngectomy, who were treated at a single institution between 1985 and 1997. During the study period, 224 began treatment with induction chemotherapy. Induction chemotherapy consisted of three cycles of cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil in the majority of cases. Four patients died as a consequence of complications associated with chemotherapy treatment. Subsequent treatment consisted of total laryngectomy in 79 patients and radical radiotherapy in 141. After radical radiotherapy, local control for patients who achieved a complete response after induction chemotherapy was 74%, significantly better than 57% in patients with a non-complete response (P=0.04). Considering the initial group of 224 patients, the frequency of organ preservation was 39%. Considering only the patients treated with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the organ preservation frequency was 62%. In a multivariate study, only the response after induction chemotherapy was significantly related to organ preservation.This paper was presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, Florida, 18–21 May 2002.     

介入动脉化疗栓塞治疗鼻咽癌的临床研究

目的:探讨介入动脉化疗栓塞治疗鼻咽癌的效果。方法:将87例鼻咽癌随机分成3组。A组:行介入化疗加放疗,26例。B组:放疗加化疗,29例。C组:单纯放疗,32例。结果:随访38～72个月,近期疗效CR分别为A组92.3％,B组72.4％,C组68.8％,A组与B、C组分别比较均有统计学意义(P<0.05);3年生存率分别为A组88.5％,B组69.0％,C组62.5％,A组与B、C组分别比较均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:采用放疗结合介入化疗栓塞对鼻咽癌治疗有协同作用。     

A comparison of combined modalities and single modality in the management of advanced head and neck tumors

Advanced head and neck cancer patients can be managed by single modality or combined modalities, Between 1976 and 1979, three treatment groups were retrospectively identified. One group received induction chemotherapy, surgery, and postoperative radiation therapy. The second group received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. The third group was treated during the same time period with radiation alone. These groups were matched with respect to age, site of primary tumor, nodal status, absence of metastatic disease, and no prior cancer treatment. The combined modality groups were initially treated with two doses of cis-platinum and a bleomycin infusion. Evaluation of tumor response was done 2 weeks following chemotherapy; 24 patients had surgery and postoperative radiation, 23 had radiotherapy without surgery and 24 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone. Median survival was 22 and 13 months respectively for the 2 combined modality groups and 4.7 months for the radiotherapy group. Disease-free survival was a projected value of 40 and 35 months for the combined modality groups and an actual 3 months for the radiotherapy group. Combined modality treatment with chemotherapy and surgery and/or radiotherapy offers a higher response rate and prolonged survival than radiotherapy alone.     

Induction chemotherapy and laryngeal preservation in pharyngolaryngeal carcinomas. Study of a 124 serie's patients and patient's follow up with laryngeal preservation

OBJECTIVE: To try and determine the value of chemotherapy and its subsequent effect on laryngeal preservation in patients presenting with laryngeal and pharyngeal carcinomas. One group was initially treated with surgery and radiotherapy. The second group was treated with chemotherapy and subsequent salvage surgery and/or radiotherapy. Their survival rates and laryngeal preservation rates were compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 251 patients the authors have retrospectively studied 124 patients with induction chemotherapy. The survival rate has been compared with a control group of 127 patients who was treated by initial surgery and radiotherapy. RESULTS: The survival rate at 5 years for the patients initially treated by surgery and radiotherapy was 64.1%. The survival for patients with a total clinical response following chemotherapy was 49.8% at 5 years. Survival with no total clinical response following chemotherapy treated by secondary radiotherapy was 25.7% at 3 years. The initial rate of laryngeal preservation is 32.2% but this rate fell to 22% after local recurrencies. CONCLUSION: The group with total clinical response after induction chemotherapy with laryngeal preservation have a non significantly difference in their survival compared with the group initially treated by surgery and radiotherapy. In contrary patients with non complete clinical response have a survival of 25.7% at 3 years. The rate of local recurrency of patients with laryngeal preservation is 32.5% and gives a finally rate of laryngeal preservation of 21%. These recurrencies decrease the survival rate.     

Resultados de un protocolo de preservación de órgano en pacientes con tumores localmente avanzados de la laringe

Introduction and objectivesAdvanced laryngeal carcinoma patients, candidates for total laryngectomy, nowadays have different treatment options. One of them is induction chemotherapy, which allows modulation of the second manoeuvre according to the degree of response achieved. This study presents the results of a large series of patients treated according to this protocol.MethodsRetrospective study of 370 patients with T3-T4 carcinomas of the larynx considered as candidates for total laryngectomy. All patients were treated with the protocol mentioned above.ResultsSeven patients died as a consequence of the treatment with chemotherapy. Among 363 patients finishing chemotherapy, 154 (43 %) achieved complete response and proceeded with radiotherapy. Total laryngectomy was performed in 135 (37 %) non-responders and 74 (20 %) patients were treated with radiotherapy in spite of an incomplete response to chemotherapy. Overall actuarial survival was 73 % at five years. Survival for patients with complete response and treated with radiotherapy was 77 % and for non-responders subjected to total laryngectomy it was 76 %. Non-responders treated with radiotherapy had a 5-year survival rate of 64 %, significantly different to both other groups (p = 0.01). Larynx preservation was achieved in 42 % of the patients, rising to 72 % for complete responders to chemotherapy and to 62 % in non-responders receiving radiotherapy.ConclusionsOur larynx preservation protocol including induction chemotherapy for patients with advanced carcinomas who are candidates for total laryngectomy achieved a total survival rate of 73 % with a 42 % larynx preservation rate. The response to the induction chemotherapy was the factor contributing most to larynx preservation.     

Lymphatic metastasis in the neck from unknown primary. Analysis of treatment results and prognostic factors

The aim of this study is to analyze the results of treatment results and prognostic factors related to clinical and treatment characteristics in patients with neck lymph nodes metastases from the unknown primary site. 90 patients with pathology proven cancer metastases in the neck lymph nodes from the unknown primary site were treated between 1984-1998. Most of them (58 patients--63%) had advanced disease in lymph nodes N3. The rest had stage N2abc before initial treatment. 40 patients underwent combined treatment--surgery and definitive radiotherapy. 3 patients had induction chemotherapy followed by resection and radiotherapy. 30 patients received radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In 7 cases chemotherapy after surgical resection were used. Curves of overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Analysis of the prognostic factors was performed using Cox's multivariate proportional risk model. 5 years overall survival probability was 24%. In the group of patients who underwent surgery and radiotherapy probability of 5 years overall survival was 43%. In patients who received radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy and chemotherapy probability of 5 year overall survival was 2%. Multivariate analysis showed significant influence of the performance status (PS--WHO scale), sex and stage N3 on overall survival. The patients with PS 0-1 had better prognosis comparing with PS 2-3 (p < 0.001). Male had worse prognosis then female (p = 0.05). N3 stage reduced overall survival in comparison to N2abc (p = 0.06). In the analysis of disease free survival N3-stage was the only independent factor concerning with poor outcome (p = 0.03). Patients who had surgery followed by radiotherapy had better prognosis. Poor performance status, sex-male and N3 stage were identified as the important factors influencing overall survival. N3-stage was an independent factor influencing disease free survival.     

A randomized trial of neoadjuvant vs concomitant chemotherapy vs radiotherapy alone in the treatment of stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Summary Treatment results of irradiation as a single treatment for advanced stage IV unresectable head and neck cancer remains uniformly poor and apparently has not changed with the most recent improvements in oncological care. Despite several negative results of randomized studies, neoadjuvant or concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy seems to improve the number of complete responses and also the duration of disease-free survival. The present study was designed to determine the feasibility, potential risks and benefits of the two methods of combined treatment and radiotherapy alone on the management of advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the upper respiratory and digestive system. From 1983 to 1986, 90 patients entered the trial. Thirty patients were randomized to each study group: radiotherapy alone (70 Gy); neoadjuvant chemotherapy (vinblastine, mitomycin, cisplatin, and bleomycin) and radiotherapy; concomitant chemotherapy (cisplatin and bleomycin) and radiotherapy. An increased frequency of complete responses (33%) was seen in patients treated with the two different combinations of chemotherapy and irradiation compared to irradiation alone (10%). However, toxicity was more common in patients treated with the two modalities of combined treatment and there were no differences in overall survival rates (P = 0.706).     

Neck dissection in the management of regional metastases in patients with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Residual regional disease after the primary treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is still considered to be a therapeutic problem. The limitations of prophylactic radical radiation, further doses of irradiation as a useful salvage procedure, and the effects on vital structures were the reasons that we employed a therapeutic protocol consisting of radical neck dissection after 40 Gy of radiotherapy and a full tumor dose after surgery. The initial treatment consisted of chemotherapy. Between 1977 and 1991 surgical removal of residual neck metastases was performed in 44 patients with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas who had regional metastases at the time of diagnosis. Fourteen patients (group A) had radical neck dissections after initial chemotherapy (using doxorubicin, etoposide, bleomycin and/or 5-fluouracil) and between two courses of locoregional radiotherapy. The remaining 30 patients (group B) were operated on after finishing chemotherapy and locoregional radiotherapy (group B 1) or receiving only full-dose locoregional radiotherapy (group B 2). All patients had histopathologically proven complete remission of primary tumors before neck surgery. The five-year survival rates for group A were 78%, 40% for group B 1 and 27% for group B 2. There were statistically significant differences between groups A and B (P < 0.01), but not between groups B 1 and B 2. In group A one patient died from subsequent distant metastases and two from local tumor recurrences. Twenty patients died in group B, regional relapses occurred in 40% of the patients in group B 1 and 33% in group B 2, while distant metastases developed in 40% of group B 2. These findings again showed that radical neck dissection was an effective approach for controlling neck disease. When performed after initial chemotherapy and between two courses of radiotherapy, surgery significantly improves the prognosis of patients with positive regional lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis. Received: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 21 October 1998     

Simultaneous radio‐ and chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in daily clinical practice: 5 years experience in a University Hospital

Several randomized studies and meta‐analyses have shown that simultaneous radio‐ and chemotherapy prolongs survival in patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck as compared with conventional radiotherapy. We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of simultaneous radiotherapy (35 × 2 Gy) and chemotherapy [cisplatinum 100 mg/m² or carboplatin (AUC 6) on days 1, 22 and 43] in daily clinical practice in a cohort of 87 patients treated at our institute between 1998 and 2002. Eighty patients completed radiotherapy according to schedule. Eighty patients received two courses of chemotherapy and 50 patients three courses. Nephrotoxity, bone marrow suppression and ototoxicity were the most frequent side‐effects. Median weight loss was 8.5%. Median survival was 15 months and 44% of the patients were alive at 2 years. Patients receiving three courses of chemotherapy had a better survival than patients receiving two or less courses. Treatment with simultaneous radio‐ and chemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer is a demanding, but feasible treatment in daily clinical practice. Survival seems to be comparable with the results achieved in patients selected for clinical trials.     

鼻咽癌放化疗后近期听力学改变

目的 研究鼻咽癌患者放化疗后近期的听力学改变.方法 根据鼻咽癌的治疗方式,将64例(128耳)鼻咽癌患者分为单纯放疗组(45例,90耳)和放化疗联合治疗组(简称联合治疗组,19例,38耳),同时选取25例(50耳)无明显耳鼻疾病患者为对照组.在鼻咽癌患者放化疗前及结束后2～3个月进行耳镜检查、纯音测听、鼓室导抗图及咽鼓管功能测试,分析鼻咽癌放化疗后近期的听力学改变.结果 鼻咽癌患者放疗后近期多有鼓膜性状的改变,联合治疗组和单纯放疗组患者均呈现听力下降,其中单纯放疗组以传导性听力下降多见(24%,22/90),而联合治疗组以感音神经性(29%,11/38)及混合性听力下降为主(24%,9/38).两组患者中多存在咽鼓管功能障碍.结论 鼻咽癌放化疗后近期听力损害中,放射治疗主要影响中耳及咽鼓管功能,化学治疗以内耳毒性为主,放化疗联合治疗加重听力损害.     

Chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer — Analysis of a prospective, randomized trial

Objective: To study the efficacy of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer.Study design: Randomised, prospective study.Setting: Tertiary academic referral center.Patients: One hundred and eighty patients of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Intervention: Patients were randomized into two arms. The study arm (CT-RT arm) received 3 cycles of anterior chemotherapy with Inj. Cisplatin 100 mg/m² on D₁ and Inj 5F.U. 700 mg/m² on D₁-D₄ at an interval of 21 days, followed by external radiation. The control arm (RT arm) received external radiotherapy only. The dose of Radiotherapy was 64 to 68 Gy in conventional fractionation.Results: Patients of CT-RT showed better tumour control locally than patients who received only RT. Toxicities were commoner in CT-RT arm but they were manageable. 5 year survival is higher in the CT-RT arm (21% vs 16%; p value> 0.05).Conclusion: Anterior chemotherapy with Cisplatin and 5F.U. is associated with good clinical response which is translated into increased survival along with acceptable toxicities.     

Effect of microwave and ionizing radiation in patients with recurrent laryngeal carcinoma

This study describes the treatment and survival of 54 patients with gross recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Twenty-six patients were treated with local ultra-high frequency hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (HRCH). Twenty-eight control patients were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (RCh). Eight patients (33 per cent) in HRCh showed a three year survival but no patient in the RCh group. At two years 18 patients (75 per cent) in HRCh and two (7 per cent) in RCh survived.     

Advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck. A preliminary report of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, bleomycin, and methotrexate

Between Oct 1, 1979 and Aug 1, 1982, 93 patients with advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck were given neoadjuvant treatment with cisplatin, bleomycin sulfate, and methotrexate before standard local treatment. Ninety-three patients were evaluable for response. The response rates were as follows: complete response, 24%; partial response, 64%; and no response, 12%. Differences in primary tumor site, performance status at presentation, histologic grade, and tumor size did not correlate with response to this chemotherapy. For patients achieving notable tumor reduction to 2 cm or less, standard local treatment with either surgery plus radiotherapy or high-dose radiotherapy alone was effective in controlling local disease. For patients with larger tumor masses following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resectability appeared to improve local control rates. In our series, patients not receiving maximal standard local treatment often had relapse of local disease despite favorable responses to chemotherapy.     

Efficacy of primary and combined radiotherapy in locally advanced cancer of oropharynx and nasopharynx in III and IV stage

Aim of the study is evaluation of radiotherapy treatment in cancer of oropharynx and nasopharynx. Retrospective analysis was based on 283 patients in III and IV clinical stage of disease without distant metastases who were treated between 1989-2001. 201 patients were treated radiotherapy alone and 82 by combined modality: radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy was used in 34 cases, concomitant chemoradiotherapy--25 and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 23 cases. Following methods of radiotherapy fractionation were used: accelerated in 35 cases, conventional--26, hyperfractionation--21. Accelerated treatment mainly was used in concomitant combined modality. Log-rank statistical analysis revealed better results of treatment for combined modality: radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Most effectiveness method of combined modality was concomitant radiochemotherapy. Locoregional control in 3 years observation interval was better for concomitant mode about 18% comparing to induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy and 30% to adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Based on this data, the optimal mode of treatment in III and IV stage of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancer, especially with extensive nodal disease and extranodal involvement is concomitant treatment with accelerated fractionation dose of radiotherapy.     

Preoperative chemotherapy in advanced resectable head and neck cancer: final report of the Southwest Oncology Group

In 1980, the Southwest Oncology Group instituted a multi-institutional, prospective, randomized phase III trial to evaluate whether inductive chemotherapy improved survival in patients with advanced stage resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. From a group of 158 eligible patients, 76 were randomized to conventional treatment (surgery and postoperative radiotherapy), and 82 were assigned to experimental treatment (induction chemotherapy, surgery, postoperative radiotherapy). Median follow-up for living patients was approximately 5 years. These analyses include chemotherapy responses and toxicities, surgical complications, radiotherapy toxicities, patient compliance, survival time, and patterns of treatment failure. Overall chemotherapy response was 0.70 (0.19 CR, 0.51 PR). The median survival time for conventional treatment was longer than the time for patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy, although the survival time differences were not statistically significant. This final analysis demonstrates no benefit in survival using preoperative chemotherapy for advanced stage, resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.