Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin, and cisplatin for patients with locally advanced salivary gland carcinoma

Abstract

Conclusion. This concurrent chemoradiotherapy with CPA, THP, and CDDP showed major antitumor activity with manageable toxicity as treatment of advanced salivary gland carcinoma patients. The high response rate (RR) justifies further evaluation of this chemoradiotherapy combination. Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a concurrent chemoradiotherapy using cyclophosphamide (CPA), pirarubicin (THP), and cisplatin (CDDP) in patients with locally advanced salivary gland carcinoma. Patients and methods. Seventeen patients with previously untreated stage III–IV salivary gland carcinoma were entered in this trial between January 2000 and September 2005. Chemotherapy consisted of CPA 400 mg/m² on day 1, THP 40 mg/m² by 6-h infusion on day 1, and CDDP 60 mg/m² by 2-h infusion on day 1. Radiotherapy (2.0 Gy/fraction/day, mean total dose: 67.2 Gy (64.0–72.0 Gy)) administered 5 days per week, was targeted to begin on day 1. Results. The RR was 76% (13/17) and the pathological complete response (CR) was 24% (4/17). The primary site CR was 29% (5/17) and metastatic lymph node CR was 33% (4/12). The 5-year survival rate was 70%. Neutropenia, leukocytopenia and mucositis were common adverse effects, but all 17 patients were assessable for toxicity.

• Chemoradiotherapy
• cyclophosphamide
• pirarubicin
• cisplatin
• salivary gland carcinoma