Study of metronomic chemotherapy in cancer patients at a tertiary care centre in South India

Abstract

The past century has witnessed a vast progress in the field of cancer chemotherapy. Angiogenesis is the foundation of cancer existence. Metronomic chemotherapy by definition is the administration of low dose chemotherapy at regular intervals with no long-standing drug free intervals with the aim to achieve continual blood levels of the chemotherapeutic drug, without the severe toxicity profile or the long-standing drug free breaks as seen in maximum tolerated dose (MTD). We conducted a study with the aim to see the role of metronomic chemotherapy in head and cancers at a teritiary care of south India. Materials and Method: We did a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck who received metronomic chemotherapy in a tertiary cancer care centre for one year. A total of 46 patients were included in the study. Patients who were at least 18 years old and who had received metronomic chemotherapy for cancer were included in the study. The subjective response was assessed based upon the patients symptoms and clinical examination, and objective response was assessed using radiological modality wherever available. The study was conducted after having been approved by the institution review board. Data and Statistical Analysis: The Chi Square test was performed to identify the statistical significance between metronomic chemotherapy and the variables analyzed and confidence interval was calculated. Results and Observations: In our study we had 46 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck cancer on metronomic chemotherapy and met the criteria and gave informed consent for participation in the study. The mean age of patients was 57.16 years with 33males and 13females. Majority (54%) were in stage 4 .In this study 74% were symptomatically better, 18% got worse, 4% were stable and 4% had no change in their symptomatic profile. Interpretation and Conclusion: In palliative cancer care patients Metronomic chemotherapy is a good option in countr