8538 Background: Our state, Queensland, Australia, has the highest rate of cutaneous squamous cell cancer (SCC) in the world. Spread to regional lymph nodes or more distant sites occurs in 5-10%. A proportion of patients can not undergo surgical resection but complete response rates with radiotherapy alone are low. This led to the hypothesis that combined chemoradiation (CRT) may be of benefit. We decided to document the outcomes of concurrent chemoradiation by means of a prospective trial. Methods: This was a single arm, phase II study with planned sample size 30 patients. The primary endpoint was complete response rate (CRR), estimate 60%. Patients with locally/regionally advanced (non-metastatic) cutaneous SCC deemed unresectable or unsuitable for surgery by consensus of the multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Clinic, with measurable disease, aged over 18, performance status 0-2, received definitive radiotherapy (XRT) (70Gy in 35#) and concurrent weekly platinum based chemotherapy (CT) (cisplatin 40mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 2). Results: 14 patients were enrolled (Feb 2008-June 2011), median age 66 (48-84), 64% ECOG PS 0, 64% stage IV, 57% nodal disease only. Cisplatin/carboplatin was administered in 64%/36% respectively. 42% received all planned CT while 58% had 1 or 2 weeks omitted. 2 patients had dose reductions. XRT was completed as planned in 93%. The CRR was 57% (8/14) at analysis in December 2011 (median follow-up 13.5m). 2 further patients with partial response (PR) achieved CR after undergoing salvage surgery. Six (43%) patients had a PR; 4(29%) did not receive surgery and later progressed. Median overall survival was not reached, with 3 year survival 54%. The most frequent toxicities were dermatitis, mucositis, thrombocytopenia, nausea, anaemia, dysphagia. 28% had grade 3/4 toxicity, mainly cytopenias, infection, dehydration and nausea. Conclusions: This is the only prospective series of CRT for cutaneous squamous cell cancer. A high complete response rate was documented in patients with loco-regionally advanced disease and multiple co-morbidities, with acceptable toxicity, making this a reasonable alternative for patients unable to undergo surgery.
Esophageal squamous cell cancer in patients with head and neck cancer: Prevalence of human papillomavirus DNA sequences
