Efficacy of intra-arterial infusion therapy using a combination of cisplatin and docetaxel for recurrent head and neck cancers compared with cisplatin alone.

AIMS: To compare the initial effect and toxicity, response duration and survival time of intra-arterial infusion therapy using a combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and docetaxel (DXT) with those using CDDP alone for treatment of recurrent head and neck cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with recurrent head and neck cancers were treated using intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy. The chemotherapeutic regimens consisted of CDDP alone (n=12) or a combination of CDDP and DTX (n=17). In the CDDP-DTX group, both CDDP 70 mg/m2 and DTX 60 mg/m2 were administrated via the external carotid artery (ECA) or via branches of the ECA or subclavian artery. In the CDDP-alone group, CDDP 70 mg/m2 was infused. The tumour response (response rate = complete response + partial response) and toxicities (World Health Organization [WHO] classification grades 3 and 4) were evaluated in both groups and compared by Fisher's exact probability test. RESULTS: The response rates in the CDDP-DTX group and the CDDP-alone group were 71% (12/17) and 50% (6/12), respectively (P=0.44). Leucocytopenia and neutropenia (grades 3 and 4) were significantly more prevalent in the former than in the latter group (11/17 vs 1/12; 10/17 vs 1/12) (P<0.01). However, there were no infectious diseases in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: Combined cisplatin-docetaxel intra-arterial infusion therapy was shown to be effective and safe for recurrent head and neck cancers.

Peer support via video-telephony among frail elderly people living at home.

We evaluated the effect of a video-phone network on peer support among frail elderly people living at home. We conducted a one-year trial of network formation among 14 people (five men and nine women, age range 78-85 years) through coordinator intervention and the use of ISDN video-phones. The purpose of the intervention was to support and improve the functional independence of frail elderly people at home and to widen their social network. During the study, the subjects made 1400 video-calls, lasting a total of 25,867 min. One subject made no calls. There was greater use of video-phones by those living outside the central city area. Calls between men and women were infrequent. The men generally had shorter call times and made fewer calls. The participants could be categorized into three groups: those using video-phones every day; those using them once per week; and those using them once per month. All subjects in the first group clearly expressed their satisfaction with the video-phone. A video-phone network appears to be helpful for elderly people in their peer support relationships.