Weekly versus Three-Weekly Cisplatin-based Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy as definitive treatment in Head and Neck Cancer- Where do we stand?

PURPOSE: To compare toxicity, compliance, and early response of weekly and 3-weekly cisplatin administration concurrent with radiotherapy as definitive treatment in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically proven stage III - IV B head and neck carcinoma presenting from June 2013 to March 2014 were randomly assigned to weekly (35 mg/m2, 6 cycles; arm A) and 3 weekly (100 mg/m2, 3 cycles; arm B) cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy. RESULTS: 60 patients were randomly assigned to treatment, 30 in each arm. Median follow-up was 8 months (range 4-13). There was no significant difference in grade 3 mucositis between the two arms (75.9% vs 70%, p = 0.20). Grade 3 neutropenia was more frequent in arm B (55.2% vs 26.7%, p = 0.01). Hypomagnesemia was the commonest electrolyte imbalance and it was significantly higher in arm B (60% vs 20%, p = 0.001). Completion rate of scheduled chemotherapy cycles was higher for patients receiving weekly regimen. Response at 3 months was similar for all the patients {Complete Response (66.7% vs 62.1%), p = 0.200}. Our data suggested that there is a reduced need of hospitalization and supportive care measures for patients receiving weekly cisplatin with RT (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly cisplatin 35 mg/m2 chemotherapy concurrent with radiotherapy is equally effective and less toxic in terms of neutropenia, hypomagnesemia and need for supportive measures than the conventional 3 weekly cisplatin 100 mg/m2 regimen.