A phase II study of intra-arterial cisplatin with concurrent radiation and erlotinib for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: Based on the convenient oral dosing of erlotinib and the promising results of biologic therapy, we undertook a phase II study with 21 patients with locally advanced (T3-4) lesions combining radiation with intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin and oral daily erlotinib for a 7-week therapy.

Methods: Treatment for the primary tumor and upper neck was given to a total dose of 70 Gy. Chemotherapy with IA cisplatin (150 mg/m(2)) was given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 concurrently with radiotherapy.

Feasibility of submandibular gland preservation in neck dissection: A prospective anatomic-pathologic study.

Background: The submandibular gland is commonly removed during neck dissection involving sublevel IB. However, removal reduces basal salivary secretion and therapeutic options for minimizing xerostomia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether all lymph nodes in sublevel IB can be extirpated without removing the submandibular gland.

Early prediction of response to chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer: reliability of restaging with combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography.

Objective: To assess the role of combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) in predicting early treatment response at the primary site and in the neck after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Design: Retrospective analysis with a median follow-up of 24 months.

Setting: Academic, tertiary referral center.