PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M. RAMPINO
AU  - A. BACIGALUPO
AU  - E. RUSSI
AU  - M. SCHENA
AU  - L. LASTRUCCI
AU  - C. IOTTI
AU  - A. REALI
AU  - A. MUSU
AU  - V. BALCET
AU  - C. PIVA
AU  - S. BUSTREO
AU  - F. MUNOZ
AU  - R. RAGONA
AU  - R CORVÒ
AU  - U. RICARDI
TI  - Efficacy and Feasibility of Induction Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy plus Cetuximab in Head and Neck Cancer
DP  - 2012 Jan 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 195--199
VI  - 32
IP  - 1
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/195.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/195.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2012 Jan 01; 32
AB  - Background: To determine the potential activity and tolerability of sequential treatment in head and neck cancer, we conducted a phase II trial based on induction chemotherapy of two cycles of taxotere, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy plus weekly cetuximab. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx were treated and evaluated for response and acute toxicity. Results: Eighty-one percent of patients had stage IV disease and 42% had hypopharyngeal and oral cavity primaries. The overall response rate was 81.8%, with 60.6% complete response and 33.3% partial response. Severe toxicities were febrile neutropenia (6%) during induction chemotherapy and dermatitis (48%), mucositis (33%) and dysphagia (12%) during the concurrent phase. Conclusion: Our protocol proved to be feasible, effective and well tolerated. This sequential strategy should be further investigated.