• 10/24/2006
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Takeshi Nishioka et al.
  • Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, doi:10.1093/jjco/hyl111

Objective:
This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel treatment regimen, intra-arterial cisplatin infusion plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy.

Methods:
Superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin (100-120 mg) was performed concomitantly with external radiotherapy in four patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the tongue. A high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost was performed after combination therapy in all patients. Brachytherapy was performed after external radiotherapy, and the treatment schedule was twice daily, with a fraction of 600 cGy up to a total of 30-48 Gy.

Results:
All patients completed the therapy as scheduled. There were no vascular or neurological complications. Grade III acute radiation mucositis developed in all patients but this did not necessitate a treatment break. With a mean follow-up period of 35 months, loco-regional control was obtained for all patients.

Conclusions:
The combination of weekly administration of intra-arterial cisplatin plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy seems effective for advanced carcinoma of the tongue.

Authors:
Takeshi Nishioka 1, Akihiro Homma 2, Yasushi Furuta 2, Hidefumi Aoyama 3, Fumiyuki Suzuki 2, Keiichi Ohmori 4, Takeshi Asano 3, Daisuke Yoshida 3, Hiroki Shirato 3, and Satoshi Fukuda 2

Authors’ affiliations:
1 Laboratory of Radiation Therapy, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, N12 W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. 060-0812
2 Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
3 Department of Radiology, School of Medicine
4 Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan