A study using ifosfamide and etoposide in patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent or metastatic head and neck...

To investigate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with ifosfamide and etoposide in cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Thirty patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with ifosfamide (1000 mg/m(2)/day) as a continuous 24 h infusion for 3 days and etoposide (100 mg/m(2)/day) as a bolus 1 h infusion on the same 3 days. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks until disease progression.

The overall rate of response was 27% (8/30), and 20% (6/30) of the patients achieved stable disease status. Median overall survival was 7.7 months. Subgroup analysis demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival in the group that achieved control of disease. Thirteen (43.3%) patients developed grade 3-4 neutropenia, and five (16.6%) developed grade 3-4 non-hematologic mucositis.

This combination chemotherapy had an effective and safe profile and improved survival in patients with cisplatin-refractory recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who achieved disease control.