Chemoradiation therapy with Paclitaxel shows promise to treat neck, head cancers

September 17 : A new study has shown that chemoradiation therapy for cancers of head and neck leaves patients with fewer side effects if the process involves the use of generic drug Paclitaxel in conjunction with radiotherapy, rather than the use of other anticancer drugs.

Advanced cancer in the head and neck is traditionally treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy.

Surgery usually entails removal of areas like the voice box or part of the throat, leading to speaking and swallowing problems. Many patients refuse to undergo surgery because of these side effects.

According to the researchers, their study may lead to more effective treatments for head and neck cancer for patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgery, and in areas where hospitals do not have the proper facilities to perform traditional chemoradiation treatments.

Presented at the 2007 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, the study comprised 94 previously untreated patients with cancer of the head and neck (stages 3 and 4) who were treated with concomitant chemoradiation over a three-year period (2003-2005) in a medical college hospital.

The patients were divided into two groups, with one group receiving concomitant chemotherapy (CT) with Paclitaxel, while the other group received concomitant chemotherapy with Cisplatin. In each group, six cycles of chemotherapy were given on a weekly basis.

The findings indicate that Paclitaxel is associated with better locoregional control of the cancer at the end of 1 year.

However, long-term follow up did not reveal significant differences in locoregional control and overall survival in the two groups. (ANI)