S-1 plus cisplatin: another option in the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer?

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by transoral robotic surgery versus upfront surgery for locoregionally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma: A propensity score matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a promising treatment for advanced-stage oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPSCC) able to reduce the adjuvant therapy administration rate.

METHODS

A retrospective bi-centric study was conducted to analyze NAC + TORS versus upfront TORS patients. A 1:1 propensity score matching was used to compare the two groups.

RESULTS

Among the 300 patients with stage III-IV OPSCC, 204 patients were matched for comparing NAC + TORS versus upfront TORS. Between the two groups, no significant difference was observed in recurrences and in survival for RFS, OS, and DSS. In the NAC + TORS p16-positive population, adjuvant therapy could be spared in 51% versus 16% in the upfront surgery cohort (p < 0.001) due to the lower frequency of pathological risk factors after NAC.

CONCLUSIONS

NAC followed by TORS for locoregionally advanced OPSCC demonstrated to achieve non-inferior survival outcomes to upfront surgery, while in the p16-positive population allowed to significantly spare adjuvant therapy.

Cisplatin intra-arterial chemotherapy for recurrent maxillary gingival cancer and metastatic lymph nodes without radiation or surgery: A case report

Most patients with head and neck cancers struggle with their treatment, particularly those with recurrent cancer. However, there is no consensus on effective treatments for recurrent head and neck cancer. Recurrent cases are often challenging to treat because performing both reirradiation and surgical intervention can occasionally be difficult. This report describes the effective cisplatin intra-arterial chemotherapy with oral S-1 for a recurrent case of maxillary gingival cancer (rT4bN1M0, rStage ⅣB). The patient who had undergone chemoradiotherapy 13 years ago and achieved complete response (CR) was referred to us due to recurrence. His recurrent lesions were located on the left maxillary bone, and a metastatic cervical lymph node was detected. We approached the feeder of the locoregional recurrence site using Seldinger's technique and repeated the cisplatin intra-arterial chemotherapy 5 times. As a result, we achieved a complete response, including the regional metastatic lymph node, without radiation or surgery. Notably, although we infused the anticancer drug into the feeder of the locoregional metastatic area, we noticed its effect on the metastatic cervical lymph node. Initially, neck dissection following intra-arterial chemotherapy had been planned; however, owing to the high effectiveness of the treatment, the subsequent surgery was deemed unnecessary. No evidence of recurrence has been observed during the 2.5-year follow-up period. In the future, intra-arterial chemotherapy can be an alternative option for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers, and our result seems to be enough to indicate that possibility.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with transoral robotic surgery for stage III and IV laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the oncological and functional outcomes of patients with stage III-IV laryngo-hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with subsequent transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center retrospective cohort study included a total of 100 patients (median age of 67.0) affected by stage III-IV supraglottic or hypopharyngeal cancer. All patients underwent NAC followed by TORS and risk-adjusted adjuvant therapy. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 24.0 months. Estimated 2-year (95% CI) OS, DSS, and RFS were 75% (66% - 85%), 84% (76% - 92%), and 65% (56% - 76%), respectively. Among the 11 patients who relapsed on the primary site, 3 underwent salvage total laryngectomy, 3 underwent salvage CRT, and the others receive palliation or supportive care. At 6 months from surgery, 17 patients were still tracheostomized or had a stoma retainer, while 15 were gastrostomy dependent. At the Cox multivariable analysis, the clinical stage at presentation, the number of NAC cycles, and the presence of LVI were found to be independently correlated with the RFS.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that NAC followed by TORS can obtain good tumor control, survival, and organ preservation rates in stage III-IV laryngo-hypopharyngeal cancer.

Pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence study between two formulations of S-1 in Korean gastric cancer patients

PURPOSE

S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug consisting of the 5-fluorouracil prodrug tegafur combined with gimeracil and oteracil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK), bioequivalence, and safety of a newly developed generic formulation of S-1 compared with the branded reference formulation, in Korean gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

This was a single-center, randomized, open-label, single-dose, two-treatment, two-way crossover study. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive the test formulation or reference formulation, followed by a one-week washout period and administration of the alternate formulation. Serial blood samples were collected at 0 hrs (predose), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs after dosing in each period. The plasma concentrations of tegafur, 5-FU, gimeracil, and oteracil were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The PK parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental method.

RESULTS

In total, 29 subjects completed the study. All of the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) fell within the predetermined acceptance range. No serious adverse events were reported during the study.

CONCLUSION

The new S-1 formulation met the Korean regulatory requirement for bioequivalence. Both S-1 formulations were well tolerated in all subjects.Clinical trial registry: https://cris.nih.go.kr CRIS KCT0003855.

Phase I/II study of docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 in locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities and preliminary efficacy of chemotherapy with cisplatin, docetaxel and S-1 (TPS) to treat advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer. S-1 was administered orally twice daily on days 1-14 and docetaxel and cisplatin were injected intravenously on day 8, with one course lasting 4 weeks. The recommended dose obtained from a phase I study was set at docetaxel 60 mg/m(2), cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) and S-1 80 mg/m(2)/day. The phase II study revealed that the overall response rate was 81%, comprising 95% in untreated patients with localized advanced cancer and no distant metastases, 50% in untreated patients with distant metastases and 33% in previously treated patients with recurrence. The overall survival rate of untreated patients with localized advanced cancer and no distant metastases was 95% at 1 year and 64.33% at 2 years. In terms of grade 3 or higher hematotoxicity, neutropenia occurred in 100%, thrombocytotopenia in 4% and anemia in 4%. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 46%, with the rate rising to 57% in elderly patients ≥66 years. Grade 3 or higher non-hematotoxicity consisted of loss of appetite in 8%, diarrhea in 8%, hyponatremia in 13% and hypokalemia in 13%. This TPS therapy may be recommended for use as induction chemotherapy. For patients ≤65 years, the appropriate dose was docetaxel 60 mg/m(2), cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) and S-1 80 mg/m(2), whereas for those ≥66 years, it was docetaxel 60 mg/m(2), cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) and S-1 60 mg/m(2).

Short pulse gastric electrical stimulation for cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs

BACKGROUND

In a previous study, we investigated the ameliorating effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) with a single set of parameters on emesis and behaviors suggestive of nausea induced by cisplatin in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GES with different parameters on cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs.

METHODS

Seven dogs implanted with gastric serosal electrodes were studied in six randomized sessions: one control session with cisplatin (2 mg kg(-1)) and five sessions with cisplatin plus GES of different parameters: GES-A: 14 Hz, 5 mA, 0.3 ms, 0.1 s on and 5 s off; GES-B: increased frequency and on-time; GES-C: increased frequency; GES-D: increased frequency and pulse width; and GES-E: increased frequency and amplitude. Gastric slow waves and emetic responses were recorded in each session.

KEY RESULTS

(i) Cisplatin induced emetic responses and gastric dysrhythmia. The peak time of the emetic response was during the fourth hour after cisplatin. (ii) GES with appropriate parameters reduced cisplatin-induced emesis. The number of vomiting times during the 6 h after cisplatin was 7.0 ± 1.4 in the control, 4.7 ± 1.2 with GES-A (P = 0.179), 4.2 ± 1.2 with GES-B (P = 0.109), 7.0 ± 0.8 with GES-C (P = 0.928), 2.1 ± 0.3 with GES-D (P = 0.005) and 4.7 ± 1.5 with GES-E (P = 0.129). However, none of the GES parameters could improve gastric dysrhythmia.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Gastric electrical stimulation with appropriate parameters reduces cisplatin-induced emetic responses and behaviors suggestive of nausea in dogs. Among the tested parameters, GES with increased pulse width seems to produce better relief of cisplatin-induced emesis.