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Published on: April 22, 2019
Concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Elsayed M Ali1, Ahmad G Abdelraheem
1Clinical Oncology department, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt. sayedmostafa09@gmail.com
Background:
Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard treatment for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).The present study was carried out to assess the feasibility and efficacy of low-dose gemcitabine as a radiosensitizer when used during radical therapeutic management of patients with locally advanced HNSCC.
Patients And Methods:
Fifty-two patients with locally advanced HNSCC (stage III, 50%; stage IVa, 50%) were enrolled during the period from July 2008 to December 2010. All received a course of radiotherapy (70 Gy over 7 weeks) concurrent with weekly infusions of gemcitabine at 50 mg/m(2).
Results:
All patients were available for toxicity and response. Severe mucositis (grade 3-4) was observed in 76% of patients. Severe hematological toxicity was uncommon. Xerostomia was the most common late toxicity in 34 patients (65.4%). The rate of complete and partial response rate was 67.3% and 21.1%, respectively, with an overall response rate of 88.45%. Two years progression-free survival and disease-free survival were 46% and 38.46%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Using low-dose gemcitabine concurrent with radiotherapy maintains high response rate with low systemic toxicity, in spite of severe mucositis in a high percentage of patients.
