@article{3093021,
    title = "Paclitaxel, cisplatin, leucovorin, and continuous infusion fluorouracil
followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced squamous
cell carcinoma of the head and neck - A Hellenic cooperative oncology
group phase II study",
    author = "Fountzilas, G and Tolis, C and Kalogera-Fountzila, A and Misailidou, D and and Tsekeris, P and Karina, M and Nikolaou, A and Samantas, E and and Makatsoris, T and Athanassiou, E and Skarlos, D and Bamias, A and and Zamboglou, N and Economopoulos, T and Karanastassi, S and Pavlidis, N and and Daniilidis, J",
    journal = "Medical Oncology",
    year = "2005",
    volume = "22",
    number = "3",
    pages = "269-279",
    publisher = "Humana Press Inc.",
    issn = "1357-0560, 1559-131X",
    doi = "10.1385/MO:22:3:269",
    keywords = "paclitaxel; chemotherapy; head and neck cancer",
    abstract = "The primary objective of this phase II study was to access the complete
response (CR) rate to a new innovative induction regimen in patients
with locally advanced head and neck cancer (LA-HNC). From October 2000
until October 2003 a total of 38 eligible patients (33 men and 5 women)
entered the study. The large majority of them presented with a
performance status of 0-1 and with clinical stage IV disease. Treatment
consisted of three cycles of induction chemotherapy (IC) with paclitaxel
175 mg/m(2) in a 3-h infusion on d 1, leucovorin (LV) 200 mg/m(2) over
20 min immediately followed by FU 400 mg/m(2) bolus and then 600 mg/m(2)
as a 24-h continuous infusion on d 1 and 2 and a cisplatin 75 mg/m(2)
over 1-h infusion on d 2 every 3 wk. This was then followed by radiation
(70 Gy) and weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2). After the completion of IC,
6/38 (16%) patients had CR. The CR rate was increased to 66%
post-concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Neutropenia (37.5%), pain
(62%), nausea/vomiting (21%), and alopecia (79%) were the most
frequent side effects during IC. The most pronounced toxicities during
chemoradiotherapy were stomatitis (62.5%) and xerostomia (53%). Median
time to progression was 11.0 mo and median survival 16.7 mo. One- and
2-yr survival rates were 73% and 38%, respectively. In conclusion,
this novel induction regimen is active, is well tolerated, and can be
successfully followed by CCRT with weekly cisplatin. CCRT should remain
standard treatment for patients with LA-HNC. Novel induction
combinations, such as that reported in the present study, should be
evaluated in combination with CCRT only in the context of clinical
trials."
}