[Effects of concurrent chemoradiation therapy in three cases of nasopharyngeal cancer].

Nasopharyngeal cancer has an abundance of lymphatic tissues, and is therefore frequently associated with cervical and distant metastases. Most cases with nasopharyngeal cancer have poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas or undifferentiated carcinomas, for which radiotherapy alone or a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy has been reported to be effective. However, under the present circumstances, even if the primary focus is controlled, distant metastases appear early and worsen the treatment outcomes. In this report, we present the results of concurrent chemoradiation therapy(CCRT) administered to three cases of nasopharyngeal cancer at our department. In terms of treatment outcomes, two of the three patients who had undergone CCRT showed no relapse of the primary focus, but distant metastases appeared in early stages and worsened their survival outcomes. Currently in our department, S-1 and nedaplatin have been used as chemotherapy agents at rather high dosages. It may be difficult to control the distant metastases just by strengthening the impact of our regimen. A new treatment modality with novel drugs would be required in the future. Further studies on novel prophylactics and treatment methods for distant metastases are expected.

[T2 laryngeal cancer study in our department].

Laryngeal cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the head and neck region.Because early detection and treatment are possible, outcomes are relatively good.Many studies have reported on the treatment of laryngeal cancer.Different hospitals have used generally similar treatment regimens.However, factors such as laryngeal preservation and the treatment of choice for patients with T2 laryngeal cancer still differ among hospitals.Survival rates can be increased depending on treatment, sometimes at the cost of losing voice functions that could have been preserved.In our department, we have emphasized curative treatment and the preservation of organs and functions.We have mainly used chemoradiotherapy concurrently with S-1 and nedaplatin for the treatment of T2 laryngeal cancer.We studied 27 patients(23 men and 4 women)with T2 laryngeal cancer, who received first-line therapy in our department from April 2005 through March 2010. Their mean age was 64.1 years(range, 42 to 80).The mean follow-up period was 30.6 months(range, 2 to 60 months).The tumor-nodemetastasis classification was T2N0M0 in 24 patients, T2N1M0 in 1, and T2N2bM0 in 2.In our department, the disease-specific survival rate was 96.3%. The complete response rate was 88.9%, and the laryngeal preservation rate was 92.6%.

[Efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in cases with cervical lymph node metastasis from oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer].

We reported the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)for cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The subjects were 17 patients with oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical lymph node metastasis, who underwent CCRT treatment between January 2005 and December 2009. The proportion of patients showing a complete response(CR)was 64. 7%; however, if patients without any residual viable cancer cells in the specimens obtained by neck dissection were also defined as CR, then, 82. 4% achieved CR. Thus, CCRT showed good efficacy without the need for planned neck dissection(PND). The limited recurrence cases and absence of serious complications associated with neck dissection after CCRT suggested that PND is not necessarily required. However, since assessment of cervical lymph nodes after CCRT is difficult, it would be desirable to develop a reliable examination and to study the most suitable examination for detecting the presence/absence of cervical lymph node metastasis.

[A case of hypopharyngeal cancer successfully treated with concurrent S-1, nedaplatin and radiotherapy].

A 68-year-old man was admitted with hoarseness. Laryngofiberscopy showed a tumor that obstructed the posterior hypopharyngeal wall and the larynx, and biopsy revealed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. CT demonstrated bilateral cervical lymph node metastases. The patient was diagnosed as having hypopharyngeal cancer(T4N2cM0)and was treated with concurrent S-1, nedaplatin and radiotherapy(hereafter referred to as SN therapy). CT and endoscopy after primary treatment showed disappearance of the tumor, and the treatment outcome was assessed as complete response(CR). Currently, the patient is being treated with S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in the outpatient setting, and no recurrence or metastasis has been observed. These results suggest that SN therapy was effective for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer from the viewpoint of both curative treatment and organ and function preservation.

[Laryngeal cancer treatment outcomes in our department].

Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common types of head and neck cancer. Numerous studies have reported treatment outcomes, and therapeutic approaches and results are generally well established. However, the widespread use of concurrent chemoradiation therapy(CCRT)has led to differences among hospitals in laryngeal preservation rates in patients with T2 and T3 tumors. CCRT is the mainstay of treatment for laryngeal cancer in our department, given our goals of achieving organ and functional preservation, as well as radical cure. Our regimen for CCRT is comprised of chemotherapy with S-1 plus nedaplatin, concurrently with radiation therapy(SN therapy). We report outcomes obtained from 60 patients with laryngeal cancer who received first-line treatment in our department from April 2005 through March 2010. Cumulative survival rates according to disease stage were as follows: Stage I, 100%; Stage II, 96. 2%; Stage III, 83. 3%; and Stage IV, 48. 8%. The complete response rate after SN therapy was 84. 3%. After excluding patients with T4 tumors, the laryngeal preservation rate was 85. 7%.