First-line chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Optimal strategy

The study objective is to provide a rationale for the development of an individual treatment plan for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx by selecting different regimens of induction chemotherapy according to biological characteristics of the tumor and functional status of the patient.

Materials and methods. We developed an individual treatment plan for a patient with stage IV moderately differentiated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (cT4N2M0) characterized by extensive local distribution, pronounced clinical symptoms of respiratory failure, and bilateral conglomerates of metastatic lymph nodes. The treatment scheme included paclitaxel (80 mg/m²), carboplatin AUC 2, and ce-tuximab (400 mg/m² loading dose, then 250 mg/m²). The treatment was initially palliative. The patient received 6 injections once a week.

Results. After a six-week course, we observed tumor resorption by more than 50 %, which allowed the second stage of treatment that included radical chemoradiotherapy with cetuximab. After summarizing our own experience, we found that the majority of patients with initially unresectable tumors, but in good overall physical condition responded to docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (TPF) — based chemotherapy. Approximately half of them had complete tumor resorption, whereas 14.2 % of them had stabilization of the tumor process. Research literature shows that up to 30 % of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin fail to complete the planned treatment due to its toxicity; replacement of cisplatin with carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil results in mucositis and thrombocytopenia. By contrast, chemoradiotherapy with cetuximab significantly increases both 3-year and 5-year survival and demonstrates good tolerability. In patients with .severe nutritional deficiency, concomitant cardiac diseases, polyneuropathy, and impaired liver function, the preference should be given to less toxic treatment regimens.

Conclusion. Cetuximab-containing chemotherapy regimens are the most effective treatment option in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma They can be used in patients with different functional status depending on the clinical situation.

oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma of the larynx, carcinoma of the hypopharynx, carcinoma of the oropharynx, chemotherapy, metastases, docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, cetuximab, carboplatin, functional status

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