Induction chemotherapy followed by simultaneous hyperfractionated radiochemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer. A pilot study

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with new platinum compound nedaplatin in oral cancer

Eleven patients with oral cancer were treated with the new platinum agent, nedaplatin, and 5-fluorouracil and simultaneous radiation therapy. The regimen was of 5 days' duration: 5-fluorouracil 400-500 mg/m(2) (days 1-5), nedaplatin 80-90 mg/m(2) (day 4), and a total radiation dose of 8-10 Gy (days 1-5). Of the 11 patients, 4 (36.4%) showed complete response and 5 (45.4%) showed partial response; the total response rate was 81.8%. Major side effects were hypochromia (27%), leukopenia (64%), granulocytopenia (55%), thrombocytopenia (36%), nausea and vomiting (82%), and mucositis (45%). Toxicity was grade 2 or less in most of the 11 patients. The results indicate that the regimen composed of combination chemotherapy with nedaplatin and radiation therapy is effective in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral region.