Open Access Research article

Concurrent intra-arterial carboplatin administration and radiation therapy for the treatment of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: short term results

Giulia Bertino1*, Antonio Occhini1†, Carlo E Falco1†, Camillo Porta2†, Franco Corbella3†, Sara Colombo3†, Vittoria Balcet3†, Patrizia Morbini4†, Federico Zappoli5†, Andrea Azzaretti5†, Giuseppe Rodolico5†, Carmine Tinelli6† and Marco Benazzo1†

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

2 Institute of Clinical Oncology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

3 Institute of Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

4 Institute of Pathology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

5 Radiodiagnostic Unit, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

6 Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy

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BMC Cancer 2009, 9:313 doi:10.1186/1471-2407-9-313

Published: 4 September 2009

Abstract

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival, efficacy and safety of a modified RADPLAT-like protocol using carboplatin instead of cisplatin.

Methods

Fifty-six patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received 4 cycles of intra-arterial carboplatin (350 mg/m2 per cycle every 2 weeks), with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.

Results

Two major and 4 minor complications were observed. Forty-five of the 56 patients (80%) completed the protocol, while 11 (20%) patients had to discontinue the intra-arterial infusions due to the occurrence of severe haematological toxicity, but were able to complete radiotherapy.

Forty-four (98%) of the 45 patients who completed the protocol and 10 (91%) of the 11 who did not, were free of disease at the end of the treatment, for a comprehensive 96% of CR overall.

After a median 23.55 months (range: 2 to 58 months) of follow-up, 40 patients (71%) are alive and disease-free, 1 (2%) is alive but affected by disease and 15 (27%) have died of the disease or other causes.

Conclusion

Intra-arterial carboplatin administration with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy seems to be a promising alternative to RADPLAT in the treatment of advanced head and neck tumours. Haematological and non-haematological toxicities are virtually similar, but carboplatin has the advantage in that it is not nephrotoxic and can be used at very high doses without any significant increase in the extent of side effects.