Adding a taxane to cisplatin and fluorouracil improved overall and progression-free survival.
Prior trials have shown that adding a taxane (Tax; docetaxel or paclitaxel) to neoadjuvant therapy with cisplatin plus fluorouracil (PF) improves overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancers (HNCs). To further compare the efficacy and toxicity between these two regimens, investigators conducted a meta-analysis of five randomized trials involving 1772 HNC patients (90% male, 99% with performance status of 0 or 1), who received Tax-PF or PF. Most tumors were locally advanced (85% T3–T4; 62% N2–N3); 39% were in the oropharynx, and 25% were in the hypopharynx.
At a median follow-up of 4.9 years, patients who received Tax-PF versus PF achieved superior PFS (hazard ratio, …
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardGenentech; AstraZeneca; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Clinical Care Options; Heron; Takeda; Ariad; MedIQ; Targeted Healthcare Communications; Novartis; OncLive; Roche; TRM Oncology
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportMedimmune; NIH/National Cancer Institute; Millennium; Genentech; Polaris Pharmaceuticals; Seattle Genetics; Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals; SWOG–Hope Foundation; American Cancer Society; Department of Defense; GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals; Merck; Eli Lilly; Takeda; Bristol-Myers Squibb
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardGenentech; AstraZeneca; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Clinical Care Options; Heron; Takeda; Ariad; MedIQ; Targeted Healthcare Communications; Novartis; OncLive; Roche; TRM Oncology
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportMedimmune; NIH/National Cancer Institute; Millennium; Genentech; Polaris Pharmaceuticals; Seattle Genetics; Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals; SWOG–Hope Foundation; American Cancer Society; Department of Defense; GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals; Merck; Eli Lilly; Takeda; Bristol-Myers Squibb