Daily concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel (DOC) and cisplatin (CDDP) using superselective intra-arterial infusion via superficial temporal artery for T3 and T4 head and neck cancer: Possibility of organ preservation in advanced head and neck cancer

e17020 Background: Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy via a superficial temporal artery (HFT method) has become feasible for daily concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. We used this novel method for head and neck cancer, and evaluated its efficacy. Treatment consisted of superselective intra-arterial infusions (docetaxel total 60 mg/m2, cisplatin total 100 mg/m2) and concurrent radiotherapy (total 40 Gy) for 4 weeks as preoperative therapy. Thirty-five patients with stage III and IV oral cancer underwent surgery after this treatment, of whom pathological complete response (CR) was obtained in 31 (88.6%). In this study, the possibility of organ preservation in cases of advanced head and neck cancer was evaluated based on this result. Methods: Eligibility included T3 or T4 squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Treatment consisted of superselective intra-arterial infusions (docetaxel, total 60 mg/m2, cisplatin, total 150 mg/m2) and concurrent radiotherapy (total 60 Gy) for 6 weeks. Organ preservation was demonstrated in cases when the biopsy specimen of the primary lesion showed grade 3 (non-viable tumor cells present) or grade 4 (no tumor cells present) after the completion of all treatments. Results: Thirty two patients (21 male and 11 female) were eligible for evaluation. A relapse was detected in 11 cases (34.4%): primary sites, 7 cases (21.9%); cervical lymph node and distant metastasis, 2 cases (6.3%); primary site and distant metastasis, 1 case (3.1%); cervical lymph node, 1 case (3.1%). Seven patients (21.9%) died. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the 3-year and 5-year survival rates, which were 81.3% and 78.1%, respectively, and the 3-year and 5-year locoregional control rates, which were 68.8% and 64.5%, respectively. No major complications such as cerebral infarctions or other neurological complications developed in any patient. Conclusions: These results of the present study demonstrate that this is a promising new treatment strategy for advanced head and neck cancer, thus contributing to patients’ QOL. No significant financial relationships to disclose.