Skin Reaction to Cetuximab as a Criterion for Treatment Selection in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background/aim: It can be hypothesized that in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer and prominent cetuximab (CMb)-induced skin rash, immunoradiotherapy would result in a survival advantage over chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin (CP).

Patients And Methods: After a loading dose of CMb, one weekly cycle of CMb and CP concurrently with RT, patients who developed a grade ≥2 rash proceeded with immunoradiotherapy, and those with a grade 0-1 rash had chemoradiotherapy.

Results: A grade 3-4 allergic reaction to CMb developed in 11/39 (28.

Comparing two lower-dose cisplatin programs for radio-chemotherapy of locally advanced head-and-neck cancers.

Radio-chemotherapy is a common treatment for locally advanced squamous cell head-and-neck cancers (LA-SCCHN). Cisplatin (100 mg/m) every 3 weeks is very common but associated with considerable toxicity. Therefore, cisplatin programs with lower daily doses were introduced.

Chemoradiation of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head-and-neck (LASCCHN): Is 20mg/m(2) cisplatin on five days every four weeks an alternative to 100mg/m(2) cisplatin every three weeks?

Objectives: To compare chemoradiation with 100mg/m(2) cisplatin every three weeks to 20mg/m(2) on five days every four weeks for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head-and-neck (LASCCHN).

Materials And Methods: In 230 patients receiving chemoradiation for LASCCHN, 100mg/m(2) cisplatin every three weeks (N=126) and 20mg/m(2) cisplatin on five days every four weeks (N=104) were retrospectively compared. Chemoradiation plus eleven characteristics (T-/N-classification, performance score, gender, age, tumor site, grading, surgery, radiation technique, pre-chemoradiation hemoglobin, cumulative cisplatin dose) were analyzed for locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS).

Comparison of weekly administration of cisplatin versus three courses of cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) for definitive radiochemotherapy of locally advanced head-and-neck cancers.

Background: To compare definitive radiochemotherapy with weekly administration of 30-40 mg/m(2) of cisplatin to 100 mg/m(2) of cisplatin on days 1, 22 and 43 for outcomes and toxicity in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head-and-neck.

Methods: Seventy-five patients receiving radiochemotherapy with weekly cisplatin (30-40 mg/m(2)) were compared to 58 patients receiving radiochemotherapy with 100 mg/m(2) cisplatin on days 1, 22 and 43. Radiochemotherapy regimen plus seven characteristics (age, gender, performance score, tumor site, T-/N-category, histologic grading) were evaluated for locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS).

TPF induction chemotherapy and concomitant irradiation with cisplatin and cetuximab in unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel, cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy and concomitant immunochemoradiotherapy with cetuximab and cisplatin in unresectable head and neck carcinoma.

Methods: Treatment consisted of TPF induction chemotherapy (docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) day 2; cisplatin, 75 mg/m(2) day 2; and 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m(2) days 1-4; 4 cycles), followed by radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant weekly cetuximab, (250 mg/m(2), after a loading dose of 400 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)).

Results: Twenty-five of 30 patients completed 4 cycles of induction chemotherapy.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for palpable melanoma metastases to the groin: when to irradiate?

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of and criteria for postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with palpable melanoma metastases to the groin.

Methods And Materials: Patients with palpable metastases to the groin who were treated with therapeutic nodal dissection during 2000 to 2006 were identified in a prospective institutional database.

Results: In 101 patients, 103 therapeutic nodal dissections were performed; 37 of these were treated with PORT to a median equivalent dose (eqTD(2)) of 50.

concomitant chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin C and cisplatin in advanced unresectable carcinoma of the head and neck: phase I-II clinical study.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of concomitant chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin C and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Patients And Methods: Treatment consisted of conventional radiotherapy (70 Gy in 35 fractions), mitomycin C 15 mg/m(2) IV, applied after the delivery of 10 Gy, and cisplatin at an initial dose of 10 mg/m(2)/d IV, applied during the last 10 fractions of irradiation ("chemoboost"). The cisplatin dose was escalated with respect to the toxic side effects by 2 mg/m(2)/d up to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or at the most 14 mg/m(2)/d (Phase I study), which was tested in the subsequent Phase II study.

Antitumour effectiveness of hyperthermia is potentiated by local application of electric pulses to LPB tumours in mice.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine whether local application of electric pulses to tumours, which induce transient reduction of tumour perfusion, could potentiate the antitumour effectiveness of hyperthermia.

Materials And Methods: The antitumour effectiveness of local application of electric pulses (1300 V/cm, 100 micros, 1 Hz) and 910 MHz local hyperthermia at 43.5 degrees C, alone or in combination, was determined on LPB tumours in C57Bl/6 mice by measurement of tumour growth delay, changes in tumour perfusion using the Patent blue technique and extent of tumour necrosis.