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Introduction: Metronomic chemotherapy (MC) is an emerging therapeutic option in clinical oncology and it may prove usefulat least in metastatic HNSCC patients. To develop rational therapeutic strategies, it is important to identify molecular targetsthat are linked to the pathogenesis of HNSCC.Aim: This study aims to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral MC with methotrexate and celecoxib in the treatment of advanced/recurrent HNSCC.Methods: Patients who received MC for advanced/recurrent HNSCC were analyzed. The combination of weekly oral methotrexate5 mg twice daily for 2 days/week and oral celecoxib 200 mg twice daily was offered as MC. The efficacy was noted in terms ofclinical benefit rate (CBR), pain control, changes in quality of life (QOL), and median time to progression (TTP).Results: A total of 50 patients were included in this study. At the end of 6 months, 4 patients (8%) had partial response (PR), 28patients (56%) had stable disease (SD), and 18 patients (36%) had progressive disease. The CBR (complete response+PR+SD)was 64% at 6 months. The median TTP was 8 weeks. At the end of 6 months, 60% of patients were pain free. The most common(>20% of patients) treatment-related adverse events were nausea (22%), vomiting (22%), and mucositis (20%). 6 patients (12%)developed anorexia and 3 patients (6%) developed fatigue. Mean QOL scores were improved with this MC.Conclusion: Oral MC with methotrexate and celecoxib for patients with advanced/recurrent HNSCC was effective, well tolerated,provides good pain control, and improves QOL with least toxicity profile.
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Chemotherapy is one of the main ways for comprehensive treatment of tumors,and has played an important role in tumor treatment for many years. However,in recent years,low-dose chemotherapy( Low-dose chemotherapy) has gradually become a clinical treatment strategy commonly used to taken a reasonable mode of administration and planning,relative to the maximum tolerated dose of chemotherapy with small side effects,pa-tient tolerance significantly improved,better efficacy and other. In this paper,the mechanism of low-dose chemo-therapy on the progress is reviewed systematicly.
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Background: It is expected that about 65,000 new patients will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017 in the United States. Patients with recurrent or advanced or metastatic head and neck do not have good survival due to aggressive and recurrent nature of this cancer. Moreover, cumulative and residual toxicities from previous and ongoing treatments significantly impede quality of remaining part of their life. Currently available chemotherapeutic regimens for this group are derived from the treatments used for the potentially curable disease. These regimens and associated toxicity are obviously not the best matches for the treatment with palliative intent. We here present a retrospective study where we used dose-adjusted chemotherapy specifically for palliative treatment this sub-group of head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Study population was identified from the University of Florida, and IRB approval was obtained. We used currently available and approved chemotherapeutic agents (including Taxols, Platins, 5-Fluorouracil and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibitors) for treatment of head and neck cancer but dose-adjusted at approximate 50% dose of currently recommended doses. We then gave personalized doses for a prolonged period by titrating doses based on response and tolerability of each patient. Data was collected for treatment, response, side effects, and outcomes. KM analysis was performed for survival data. Results: Total of 32 patients were included in this study with a median age of 65.2 years and a median follow-up of 10.1 months. 62.5% (n = 20) had locally advanced disease and rest had metastatic disease. 37.5% (n = 12) had new disease while rest had recurrent cancer. Of 32 patients, 14 patients received TPF based while 18 patients received PFE based chemotherapy. Total of 270 chemotherapy cycles were delivered among these 32 patients. They received a median of 9 cycles (range 314) over a median of 6.2 months (range 1.821.1). With this treatment approach, we noted median progression-free survival of 14.0 months and median overall survival of 15.7 months. Notable grade 3 toxicities were generalized fatigue in 12.5% (n = 4), nausea/vomiting in 6.3% (n = 2), diarrhea in in 6.3% (n = 2), mouth soreness in 6.3% (n = 2), rash in 3.1% (n = 1), neutropenia in 18% (n = 6) and anemia in 15.6% (n = 5) while notable grade 4 toxicities were neutropenia and anaphylaxis in 3.1% (n = 1) patient each (AU)
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Humans , Male , Female , Palliative Care , Recurrence , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Drug Therapy , Administration, Metronomic , Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy , Antineoplastic AgentsABSTRACT
Low-dose chemotherapy is concerned in treating malignant tumor in recent years.The lowdose,metronomic chemotherapy is not only effective in antiangiogenic,but also avoid chemotherapy side effects,such as suppression of bone marrow,dysfunction of liver and kidney,gastrointestinal reaction and drug resistance.Thereby it can increase patient compliance,improve life quality and prolong survival time.Currently chemotherapy in neuroblastoma still plays a key role,especially low-dose chemotherapy,which can protect self-immune function and reduce the physical injury in children.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effect of valproic acid (VPA) in combination with low dose chemotherapy on intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods A total of 41 patients with intermediate (34) and high-risk (7) myelodysplastic syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 19 patients received low dose chemotherapy regimen and 22 received low dose chemotherapy plus VPA.Low dose chemotherapy regimen included: homoharringtonine,1-2 mg·m-2·d-1 intravenously,14-28 d; clarubicin,5-7 mg·m-2·-1 intravenously,1-8 d,15-23 d;cytarabine 15 mg/m2 subcutaneously once every 12 h, 14-21 d; and subcutaneously use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 200 μg·m-2·d -1 when neutrophil deficiency.The outcome and adverse effect were recorded after the treatment. Results The overall response rate in the low dose chemotherapy regimen group was 47.4% (9/19), 6 patients (31.6%) achieved complete response (CR). The overall response rate in the VPA group was 77.2% (17/22), 9 patients (40.9%) achieved CR. The overall response rate of the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA group was significantly higher than that in the low dose chemotherapy group (P＜0.05) while no difference was found in CR rate. The adverse effect of the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA regimen was tolerated. Conclusion With acceptable adverse effect, the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA regimen is effective for the treatment of intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Long-term outcome needs further investigation.
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In order to probe into the mechanism of low-dose chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of leukemia, we studied the effects of low concentrations (l-40ng/ml) of daunorubicin (DNR) on proliferation and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60). 1 ng/ml DNR could inhibit the proliferation of the cells, but no induction of differentiation was found. DNR at more than 5 ng/ml had both cytotoxicity and induction of differentiation. Through the count of survival cells, [3H]TdR and [3H]UR incorporation, cloning efficiency, cell morphology and NBT reduction test, it is concluded that low-dose DNR could have inhibitory and cytotoxic effects on the cells, and its inducing differentiation was not important.