We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Continuous infusion high-dose leucovorin with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for untreated stage IV carcinoma of the head and neck.
- Authors
Dreyfuss, Arnon J.; Clark, John R.; Wright, Joel E.; Norris Jr., Charles M.; Busse, Paul M.; Lucarini, James W.; Fallon, Barbara G.; Casey, Donna; Andersen, Janet W.; Klein, Richard; Rosowsky, Andre; Miller, Daniel; Frei, Emil; Dreyfuss, A I; Clark, J R; Wright, J E; Norris, C M Jr; Busse, P M; Lucarini, J W; Fallon, B G
- Abstract
<bold>Study Objective: </bold>To study the activity of continuous infusion cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin (PFL) as induction chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.<bold>Design: </bold>Nonrandomized, prospective trial.<bold>Setting: </bold>A comprehensive cancer center.<bold>Patients: </bold>Thirty-five patients (4 patients [11%], stage III; 31 patients [89%], stage IV [MO]), all evaluable for response and toxicity.<bold>Interventions: </bold>Two to three cycles of PFL before definitive, local-regional therapy (surgery and radiation therapy or radiation therapy alone). Chemotherapy included continuous intravenous infusion of cisplatin (25 mg/m2 body surface area daily, days 1 through 5); 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2 body surface area daily, days 2 through 6); and leucovorin (500 mg/m2 body surface area daily, days 1 through 6) administered once every 28 days. Pathologic response was evaluated by surgical resection or biopsy. Serum-reduced folates were measured before and 18 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy.<bold>Results: </bold>A clinical response to PFL was achieved in 28 of 35 (80%) patients: 23 (66%) patients had a complete response (90% CI, 50% to 79%) and 5 (14%) patients, a partial response. A complete response was confirmed pathologically in 14 of 19 (74%) patients. The most common toxicity was mucositis (grade 2 to 3; 94% of patients). Dose reduction for toxicity was necessary in 11 (31%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths. Serum levels of leucovorin and (6S)5-methyltetrahydrofolate were measured in 7 patients. After 18 hours, the mean leucovorin level (+/- SD) was 34.3 +/- 1.5 mumol/L, of which only 8.0 +/- 0.5% was the active 6S isomer. The mean serum (6S)5-methyltetrahydrofolate was 9.2 +/- 0.6 mumol/L.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Continuous infusion cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin is a new and highly active chemotherapy regimen that can achieve clinical and pathologically confirmed complete responses in a substantial proportion of patients with advanced, local-regional squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Further studies are needed to confirm the activity of PFL and to determine its potential impact on local tumor control and disease-free and overall survival.
- Subjects
SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma; DRUG therapy; FOLINIC acid; FLUOROURACIL; CISPLATIN; ANTINEOPLASTIC agents; CLINICAL trials; COMPARATIVE studies; DRUG administration; CLINICAL drug trials; HEAD tumors; INTRAVENOUS therapy; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; NECK tumors; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; TUMOR classification; EVALUATION research
- Publication
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1990, Vol 112, Issue 3, p167
- ISSN
0003-4819
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-112-3-167