Treatment results of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with CDDP or CDGP plus 5-FU for carcinoma of the oropharynx and hypopharynx

Twenty-eight patients with oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma received concurrent chemoradiotherapy with CDDP or CDGP plus 5-FU between January 2001 and April 2006. The numbers of patients according to clinical stage were stage II:2; stage III:5; stage IVa:19 ; and stage IVb:2. Total radiation dose was 60-73.8 Gy (median 66 Gy) and overall treatment time was 41-57 days (median 47 days). Two courses of 5-FU 700 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 and CDDP or CDGP 70 mg/m(2) on day 4 were administered concurrently with radiotherapy. Median follow-up period was 26 months (range, 8-64 months). The incidences of grade 3 or greater acute toxicity were leukopenia 29%, anemia 21%, thrombocytopenia 7%, pharyngeal mucositis 43% and nausea 14%. No severe late toxicity was observed. Treatment responses of primary lesions were CR in 24 patients (86%) and PR in 4 patients (14%). The two-year local control rate was 87% and the 2-year overall survival rate was 72%. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with CDDP or CDGP plus 5-FU seemed to be effective for advanced carcinomas of the oropharynx and hypopharynx.