Results of phase I-II trial of concomitant hyperfractionated radiation and oral etoposide (VP-16) in patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of concomitant oral etoposide and hyperfractionated radiation for patients with unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: A prospective nonrandomized phase I-II study was conducted using concomitant oral etoposide (50 mg/d for 13-27 days) and hyperfractionated radiotherapy (1.2 Gy twice daily to a total of 7440 rads) for patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.