Efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with nedaplatin and S-1 for head and neck cancer

• Published in: Japanese journal of clinical oncology 2011-03, Vol.41 (3), p.348-352
• Main Authors: Ohashi, Toshimitsu, Ohnishi, Masami, Tanahashi, Shigeaki, Murai, Michinori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Combinations; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Organoplatinum Compounds - administration & dosage; Oxonic Acid - administration & dosage; Radiotherapy; Survival Rate; Tegafur - administration & dosage; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0368-2811; 1465-3621
• DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyq196

We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with nedaplatin and S-1 for head and neck cancer, as an alternative to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. A total of 31 patients were enrolled in this study. S-1 was administered orally twice a day for 14 days followed by a 2-week rest. Nedaplatin was intravenously administered on day 4. If possible, two courses of chemotherapy were performed. The radiotherapy was started concurrently with the administration of S-1. The overall complete response rate was 81%. The 2-year overall survival rate was 96%. The 2-year relapse-free survival rate was 94%. The main adverse events were hematological toxicity, mucositis and dermatitis. Our findings suggest that this therapeutic regimen has either an equal or lower toxicity than the conventional cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, and that it has equal efficacy with regard to the clinical response and short-term outcome. Moreover, it is possible to successfully perform this treatment in an outpatient setting.