Sequential therapy for the locally advanced larynx and hypopharynx cancer subgroup in TAX 324: survival, surgery, and organ preservation.

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers (LHC) represent a group of cancers for which surgery, laryngectomy-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) are clinically meaningful end points. PATIENTS AND METHODS: These outcomes were analyzed in the subgroup of assessable LHC patients enrolled in TAX 324, a phase III trial of sequential therapy comparing docetaxel plus cisplatin and fluorouracil (TPF) against cisplatin and fluorouracil (PF), followed by chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: Among 501 patients enrolled in TAX 324, 166 had LHC (TPF, n = 90; PF, n = 76). Patient characteristics were similar between subgroups. Median OS for TPF was 59 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 31-not reached] versus 24 months (95% CI: 13-42) for PF [hazard ratio (HR) for death: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41-0.94; P = 0.024]. Median PFS for TPF was 21 months (95% CI: 12-59) versus 11 months (95% CI: 8-14) for PF (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.45-0.97; P = 0.032). Among operable patients (TPF, n = 67; PF, n = 56), LFS was significantly greater with TPF (HR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.37-0.95; P = 0.030). Three-year LFS with TPF was 52% versus 32% for PF. Fewer TPF patients had surgery (22% versus 42%; P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: In locally advanced LHC, sequential therapy with induction TPF significantly improved survival and PFS versus PF. Among operable patients, TPF also significantly improved LFS and PFS. These results support the use of sequential TPF followed by carboplatin chemoradiotherapy as a treatment option for organ preservation or to improve survival in locally advanced LHC.

Phase I trial of dacarbazine with cyclophosphamide, carmustine, etoposide, and autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE: We investigated the feasibility of escalating doses of dacarbazine (DTIC) in combination with high-dose cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide (CBV) given with autologous stem-cell transplantation in 33 patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma or multiple myeloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were treated in this phase I study with cyclophosphamide (7.2 g/m2), carmustine (BCNU) (600 mg/m2), etoposide (2.4 g/m2), and escalating doses of DTIC (3,000 to 6,591 mg/m2) administered either as a 2- (in 23 patients) or a 6- (in 10 patients) hour infusion to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of DTIC and the toxicity profile of this combination. RESULTS: The MTD of DTIC infused over 2 hours and given with the CBV regimen was 3,900 mg/m2, with the dose-limiting toxicity being hypotension. Seven patients experienced transient acute hypocalcemia in association with the DTIC infusion. Prolonging the DTIC infusion to 6 hours or administration of supplemental calcium did not allow further dose escalation of DTIC to occur. Other non-hematologic toxicities observed with this regimen have been reported with CBV alone. Of 25 patients assessable for tumor response at first evaluation posttransplant, 13 (52%) were in complete remission (CR), four (16%) were in partial remission (PR), five (20%) had stable disease (SD), and three (12%) had progressive disease (PROG). Of 31 patients assessable for relapse-free survival, 22 are alive with 13 in CR, one in PR, two with SD, and six with PROG at a median follow-up duration of 313 days (range, 35 to 749+). Treatment-related mortality occurred in six patients (18%). CONCLUSION: The feasibility of combining DTIC in high doses with the CBV regimen has been demonstrated. Dose-limiting hypotension is transient and reversible when DTIC is administered at 3,900 mg/m2 with CBV. Future trials to evaluate the effect of the addition of DTIC to the CBV regimen on response rate and relapse-free survival are encouraged.