Optimal cumulative cisplatin dose for radio-sensitization in locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Abstract

e18553 Background: Evidence to choose the optimum chemotherapy between weekly and 3 weekly cisplatin for prolonging the duration of progression free survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is equivocal. This urged us to look into the cumulative dose of chemotherapy rather than the frequency of administration i.e. weekly or 3 weekly. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal cumulative dose of cisplatin to improve the progression-free survival (PFS). Methods: Between January 2011 and January 2018, a total of 836 consecutive patients with histologically proven primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx were included. The effect of the cumulative dose on progression-free survival was studied to obtain the optimal cumulative dose of cisplatin. Results: A total of 11 cohorts were generated to represent the cumulative doses. The cumulative doses were measured at 30, 60, 90,120,150,180,200,210,240 and 300 mg/m2 respectively. The maximum duration of progression-free survival (PFS) was considered to define the best effective cumulative dose. Conclusions: This study confirms that a cumulative cisplatin dose of ~ 210 mg/m2 is optimum for increasing PFS in patients with head and neck cancer. Therefore, doses with weekly 30 mg/m2 for seven cycles or 3-weekly 70 mg/m2 for 3 cycles could be equally effective to prolong the PFS. Clinical trial information: CTRI/2012/10/003062, CTRI/2014/09/004980.