Biomaterial Database

Chemoprevention with interferon alfa and 13-cis retinoic acid in the adjunctive treatment of head and neck cancer. 1998

J Büntzel, and K Küttner

Department of ENT diseases, Plastic Surgery, Klinikum Suhl, Academic Hospital, Germany. dr.buentzel@t-online.de

BACKGROUND Retinoids have been increasingly used since the mid-1960s for the treatment of leukoplakia and dysplasia of the head and neck. Studies of their use in the treatment of carcinomas of the head and neck, usually in combination with interferons, have also been published in recent years. METHODS 30 patients (25 men, five women) with UICC stage IV were given adjunctive treatment with a combination of 3 x 3 million IU of interferon alfa SC weekly and 0.5 mg/kg body weight of 13-cis retinoic acid PO daily for a maximum duration of 6 months. The therapeutic benefits and side effects are reported here. RESULTS Therapy was completed as scheduled in 16 out of 30 patients. Reasons for stopping treatment: progressive disease (ten patients), side effects (four patients). 18 patients were tumor-free following treatment. 16 patients displayed a complete response one year after completion of adjunctive treatment. Retinoic-associated side effects observed included xerostomia (90%), dysphagia (67%), weight loss (50%), flush (50%) and cachexia (7%). Interferon-associated side effects included pyrexia and moderate hematological changes. CONCLUSIONS Adjunctive combination treatment with interferon alfa and 13-cis retinoic acid appears to be beneficial to patients with head and neck cancer. The side effects are moderate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009364	Neoplasm Recurrence, Local	The local recurrence of a neoplasm following treatment. It arises from microscopic cells of the original neoplasm that have escaped therapeutic intervention and later become clinically visible at the original site.	Local Neoplasm Recurrence,Local Neoplasm Recurrences,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrence,Neoplasm Recurrence, Locoregional,Neoplasm Recurrences, Local,Recurrence, Local Neoplasm,Recurrence, Locoregional Neoplasm,Recurrences, Local Neoplasm,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrences,Neoplasm Recurrences, Locoregional,Recurrences, Locoregional Neoplasm
D009367	Neoplasm Staging	Methods which attempt to express in replicable terms the extent of the neoplasm in the patient.	Cancer Staging,Staging, Neoplasm,Tumor Staging,TNM Classification,TNM Staging,TNM Staging System,Classification, TNM,Classifications, TNM,Staging System, TNM,Staging Systems, TNM,Staging, Cancer,Staging, TNM,Staging, Tumor,System, TNM Staging,Systems, TNM Staging,TNM Classifications,TNM Staging Systems
D002294	Carcinoma, Squamous Cell	A carcinoma derived from stratified SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS. It may also occur in sites where glandular or columnar epithelium is normally present. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Carcinoma, Epidermoid,Carcinoma, Planocellular,Carcinoma, Squamous,Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Carcinomas, Epidermoid,Carcinomas, Planocellular,Carcinomas, Squamous,Carcinomas, Squamous Cell,Epidermoid Carcinoma,Epidermoid Carcinomas,Planocellular Carcinoma,Planocellular Carcinomas,Squamous Carcinoma,Squamous Carcinomas,Squamous Cell Carcinomas
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D005260	Female		Females
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006258	Head and Neck Neoplasms	Soft tissue tumors or cancer arising from the mucosal surfaces of the LIP; oral cavity; PHARYNX; LARYNX; and cervical esophagus. Other sites included are the NOSE and PARANASAL SINUSES; SALIVARY GLANDS; THYROID GLAND and PARATHYROID GLANDS; and MELANOMA and non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck. (from Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 4th ed, p1651)	Cancer of Head and Neck,Head Cancer,Head Neoplasm,Head and Neck Cancer,Head and Neck Neoplasm,Neck Cancer,Neck Neoplasm,Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Upper Aerodigestive Tract,UADT Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasms,Cancer of Head,Cancer of Neck,Cancer of the Head,Cancer of the Head and Neck,Cancer of the Neck,Head Neoplasms,Head, Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Head,Neoplasms, Head and Neck,Neoplasms, Neck,UADT Neoplasms,Cancer, Head,Cancer, Neck,Cancers, Head,Cancers, Neck,Head Cancers,Neck Cancers,Neoplasm, Head,Neoplasm, Neck,Neoplasm, UADT,Neoplasms, UADT
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man