ABSTRACT
Background: Head-and-neck cancer is the most common cancer in developing countries of Southeast Asia. Most of the patients present to the hospital in advanced stage and have a poor prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity profile of oral metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) in the form of methotrexate and celecoxib in locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic head-and-neck cancers. Materials and Methods: This was a single-arm retrospective observational study that included posttreatment patients with locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic disease in the year 2016 (January 1, to December 31, 2016). A total of 84 patients warranting palliative chemotherapy but not willing to take intravenous chemotherapy were included in the study. The oral MCT schedule consisted of oral celecoxib (200 mg twice daily) and oral methotrexate (15 mg/m2/week). Response evaluation was done using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria version 1.1, and toxicity profile was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan–Meier analysis were performed. Results: Eighty-four patients, 68 males and 16 females, with a median age of 62 years (range: 35–80 years), were enrolled in the study to receive oral MCT. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0–1 in 62 patients and 2–3 in 22 patients. The primary sites of disease were buccal mucosa (18), tongue (22), tonsil (24), lower alveolus (7), hypopharynx (10), and soft palate (3). The best clinical response rate in post oral MCT was seen in the first 4 months (120 days). Objective response was observed in 67% of patients in the form of stable disease (56%) and partial response (11%). Disease progression was observed in 27% of patients. The median follow-up was 192 (6.4 months) days. The median estimated overall survival was 195 (6.5 months) days. The median estimated progression-free survival was 110 (3.6 months) days. Symptomatic relief with respect to pain was reported in about 75% of patients. Eighteen (21%) patients had Grade I–II mucosal reactions. Grade III–IV mucosal reactions were observed in five (6%) patients. Seventy-eight (93%) patients died at the end of the study at 1 year. Dose reduction was required in 15 (18%) patients. Conclusion: Oral MCT using celecoxib and methotrexate is an effective, economical, and well-tolerated regimen with good pain control and low toxicity profile in patients with locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic head-and-neck cancer.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The benefit of definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in elderly patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer is not well established. We perform a single institutional retrospective study of CRT in terms of toxicity in elderly patients (age more than 60 years) as compared with young cohort (age <60 years) in locally advanced nonmetastatic esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: A total 145 of patients, 79 in young age (Group A) and 66 patients of elder age (Group B) with Stage II and III squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with ECOG PS of 0–1, who had undergone definitive CRT at our institute from January 2015 to November 2018 were selected for this analysis. Chemotherapy was cisplatin (40 mg/m2) given concurrently on weekly basis with radiotherapy (RT). Total prescribed dose of RT was 50.4 Gy at the rate of 1.8 Gy per fraction. Median age was 40 years (25–60 years) and 65 years (60–75 years) in young and elderly group, respectively. Follow-up is done at median of 28 months (1–48 months) after treatment. Results: Acute Grade 2–3 esophagitis was seen in 48.10% in young cohort, while it was 60.6% in older group. Grade 2–3 nausea and vomiting was seen in 32.91% in young age patients, while it was 45.5% in elder patients. No statistically significant difference is seen in acute treatment-related toxicity in young and elderly group. Conclusion: Our conclusion is that patients with adequate functional status should not be excluded from curative CRT based on age alone