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Continuous Infusion High-Dose Leucovorin with 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin for Untreated Stage IV Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
- Arnon I. Dreyfuss, MD;
- John R. Clark, MD;
- Joel E. Wright, PhD;
- Charles M. Norris, Jr., MD;
- Paul M. Busse, MD, PhD;
- James W. Lucarini, MD;
- Barbara G. Fallon, MD;
- Donna Casey;
- Janet W. Andersen, MS;
- Richard Klein, BS;
- Andre Rosowsky, PhD;
- Daniel Miller, MD; and
- Emil Frei III, MD
Abstract
Study Objective: To study the activity of continuous infusion cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin (PFL) as induction chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Design: Nonrandomized, prospective trial.
Setting: A comprehensive cancer center.
Patients: Thirty-five patients (4 patients [11%], stage III; 31 patients [89%], stage IV [MO]), all evaluable for response and toxicity.
Interventions: Two to three cycles of PFL before definitive, local-regional therapy (surgery and radiation therapy or radiation therapy alone). Chemotherapy included continuous intravenous infusion of cisplatin (25 mg/m2 body surface area daily, days 1 through 5); 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/ m2 body surface area daily, days 2 through 6); and leucovorin (500 mg/m2 body surface area daily, days 1 through 6) administered once every 28 days. Pathologic response was evaluated by surgical resection or biopsy. Serum-reduced folates were measured before and 18 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy.
Results: A clinical response to PFL was achieved in 28 of 35 (80%) patients: 23 (66%) patients had a complete response (90% CI, 50% to 79%) and 5 (14%) patients, a partial response. A complete response was confirmed pathologically in 14 of 19 (74%) patients. The most common toxicity was mucositis (grade 2 to 3; 94% of patients). Dose reduction for toxicity was necessary in 11 (31%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths. Serum levels of leucovorin and (6S)5-methyltetrahydrofolate were measured in 7 patients. After 18 hours, the mean leucovorin level (± SD) was 34.3 ± 1.5 μmol/L, of which only 8.0 ± 0.5% was the active 6S isomer. The mean serum (6S)5-methyltetrahydrofolate was 9.2 ± 0.6 ¼mol/L.
Conclusions: Continuous infusion cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin is a new and highly active chemotherapy regimen that can achieve clinical and pathologically confirmed complete responses in a substantial proportion of patients with advanced, local-regional squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Further studies are needed to confirm the activity of PFL and to determine its potential impact on local tumor control and disease-free and overall survival.
Article and Author Information
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From the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the New England Deaconess Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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Grant Support: Supported in part by grant P01-CA19589 from the National Institute for Health.
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Request for Reprints: Arnon I. Dreyfuss, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115.
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Current Author Addresses: Drs. Dreyfuss, Clark, Wright, Rosowsky and Frei and Ms. Casey and Andersen: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115.
Drs. Norris, Lucarini and Miller: 110 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02215. Dr. Busse: New England Deaconess Hospital, 185 Pilgrim Road, Boston, MA 02115.
Dr. Fallon: St. Francis Hospital Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105.
Mr. Klein: New York Medical College, P.O. Box 111, Valhallah, NY 10595.
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