Neoadjuvant carboplatin & 5 fluorouracil combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer: primary report.

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of neoadjuvant carboplatin/5-FU combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of 53 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in Siriraj Hospital. Carboplatin 350-450 mg/m2 I.V. on day 1, and 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, were administered either on an in- or out-patient basis. We obtained a response rate of 85 per cent, with 13 per cent complete response after 2-3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After the completion of subsequent radiotherapy, the response rate increased to 94 per cent, with 40 per cent CR. After the additional 2-3 cycles of postradiation chemotherapy, the final overall response rate was 96 per cent, with 77 per cent CR. Only 4 per cent of patients had grade 3 GI toxicity and 25 per cent of patients had grade 2, 3 myelosuppression. All patients tolerated the treatment very well. Long-term study for the duration time of response and survival are being collected.