Chemoradiation in Advanced Head and Neck Cancers: A Comparison of two Radiosensitizers, Paclitaxel and Cisplatin

To compare the locoregional control rates, survival outcome and toxicity profiles between two groups of patients of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of Head and Neck (Stage III & IV) receiving concomitant chemo-radiotherapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin. A prospective study was done on 94 previously untreated patients of histopathologically proved squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region-AJCC stage III & IV (T3 & T4 with N0 -N3, M0) treated with concomitant chemoradiation. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A (44 patients) received concomitant chemotherapy (C.T.) with Paclitaxel 40 mgm/m2 while Group B (50 patients) received concomitant chemotherapy with Cisplatin 40 mgm/m2. All the patients in both the groups responded. In Group A (Paclitaxel + R.T.), complete response was seen in 72.7% and partial response in 27.3%. In Group B (Cisplatin +R.T.) complete response was seen in 52% and partial in 48%. At one year follow up, the locoregional control rate (LRC) in Group A was significantly higher as compared to that in Group B (65.9 vs. 46%, P<0.05) while there was no difference in the disease free survival (DFS) and the overall survival (OS). A 3 year estimate of the LRC, DFS and OS using Kaplan Meier Estimator revealed no difference in the LRC, DFS and OS between the 2 groups. There was a higher incidence of skin and mucosal toxicity with Paclitaxel while the gastro-intestinal and hematological toxicity was more with Cisplatin. No significant chronic toxicity except xerostomia was observed in either group. Paclitaxel has better complete response and locoregional control rates at 1 year as compared to cisplatin. However, there is no difference in the estimated 3 year rates of locoregional control, disease free survival and overall survival between the 2 groups.