Concurrent weekly docetaxel and hyperfractionated radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

This study was designed to evaluate the concomitant use of weekly docetaxel and hyperfractionated radiotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC).

Twenty-five patients with advanced squamous cell HNC were treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (72 Gy at 1.2 Gy twice per day) and weekly chemotherapy with docetaxel (10 mg/m2).

Toxicity was significant, with grade 2 to 4 mucositis observed in 100% and lymphopenia in 84%. Seventeen patients (68%) received the full chemotherapy regimen as planned. The initial overall response rate was 88.0%, while the complete response rate was 68.0%. At a median follow-up period of 10 months, the 2-year Kaplan-Meier projected overall survival was 47.3%, and the cause-specific survival was 81.8%.

This study demonstrated that hyperfractionated radiotherapy with weekly docetaxel achieved better initial response than conventional radiotherapy. In addition, the acute toxicity of this regimen was within the acceptable limits of severity.