Cisplatin etoposide for head and neck cancer – pro
Cisplatin and etoposide has been reported for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer but it is not a well-supported regimen or one that has been popular over teh past two decades. I have not been able to find recent literature to support this combinaiton. There is more evidence for etoposide alone, but it is not a very active drug as a single agent. A 1987 comparative phase III study of cisplatin etoposide versus etoposide alone revealed no difference in toxicity or efficacy between the two treatments with regard to leukopenia, thrombopenia, vomiting and nephrotoxicity. This regimen seems to have been abandoned in the mainstream oncologic practice.
D. Osoba, P. R. Band, J. H. Goldine, J. M. Connors, K. Gelmon, M. A. Knowling Efficacy of weekly cisplatin-based chemotherapy in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer
Ann Oncol (1992) 3 (suppl 3): S57-S62.
W. Rauschning, M. Schröder, R. Bätge, H. G. Luhr, J. -H. Beyer and G. A. Nagel
Cisplatin (DDP) and etoposide (VP-16) as primary chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (SCC-HN) Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft Proceedings 18th National Cancer Congress of the German Cancer Society March 4–8, 1986 Munich, Federal Republic of Germany
Marechal F, Nasca S, Morel M, Jezekova D, Coninx P, Legros M, Nguyen TD, Cattan A.
A phase III of cisplatinum versus cisplatinum-etoposide for previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.Anticancer Res. 1987 May-Jun;7(3 Pt B):455-8.
nccn.org, head and neck cancer