Chantal M. L. Driessen

Induction chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil followed by randomization to two cisplatin-based concomitant chemoradiotherapy schedules in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (CONDOR study) (Dutch Head and Neck Society 08-01): A randomized phase II study

PURPOSE To study the feasibility of induction chemotherapy added to concomitant cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC). PATIENTS AND METHODS LAHNC patients were treated with 4 courses of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (TPF) followed by randomization to either cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) with conventional radiotherapy (cis100 + RT) or cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) weekly with accelerated radiotherapy (cis40 + ART). Primary endpoint was feasibility, defined as receiving ≥ 90% of the scheduled total radiation dose. Based on power analysis 70 patients were needed. RESULTS 65 patients were enrolled. The data safety monitoring board advised to prematurely terminate the study, because only 22% and 41% (32% in total) of the patients treated with cis100 + RT (n = 27) and cis40 + ART (n = 29) could receive the planned dose cisplatin during CRT, respectively, even though the primary endpoint was reached. Most common grade 3-4 toxicity was febrile neutropenia (18%) during TPF and dehydration (26% vs 14%), dysphagia (26% vs 24%) and mucositis (22% vs 57%) during cis100 + RT and cis40 + ART, respectively. For the patients treated with cis100 + RT and cis40 + ART, two years progression free survival and overall survival were 70% and 78% versus 72% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSION After TPF induction chemotherapy, cisplatin-containing CRT is not feasible in LAHNC patients, because the total planned cisplatin dose could only be administered in 32% of the patients due to toxicity. However, all but 2 patients received more than 90% of the planned radiotherapy. Clinical Trials Information: NCT00774319.

Toxicity and efficacy of accelerated radiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin for locally advanced head and neck carcinoma

The purpose of this report was to present the results of accelerated radiotherapy (RT) with concomitant weekly cisplatin in head and neck cancer.

Aggressive fibromatosis in the head and neck region: Benign tumor with often mutilating effects

Aggressive fibromatosis (AF) or desmoid tumor of the head and neck region is a rare, usually unresectable, benign soft tissue tumor with locally aggressive behavior.

Degree of nephrotoxicity after intermediate‐ or high‐dose cisplatin‐based chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer

The purpose of this study was to compare the occurrence of cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity between concomitant chemoradiotherapy with high versus intermediate‐dose cisplatin.

Using a semi‐conductor sequencing‐based panel for genotyping of HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative oropharyngeal cancer: A retrospective pilot study

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of testing actionable mutations in small amounts of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded material in multiple genes of the receptor tyrosine kinase pathway and to determine the frequency of these mutations in human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive and HPV‐negative oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).