A Phase 2 Trial of Chemoradiation Therapy Using Weekly Docetaxel for High-Risk Postoperative Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Rongrong Li; Wen Jiang; Shengjin Dou; Laiping Zhong; Jian Sun; Chenping Zhang; Guopei Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.02.464

A Phase 2 Trial of Chemoradiation Therapy Using Weekly Docetaxel for High-Risk Postoperative Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2020 Jul 1;107(3):462-468. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.02.464. Epub 2020 Feb 29.

Authors

Rongrong Li¹, Wen Jiang¹, Shengjin Dou¹, Laiping Zhong², Jian Sun², Chenping Zhang², Guopei Zhu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head & Neck Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
² National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head & Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head & Neck Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: antica@gmail.com.

PMID: 32126267
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.02.464

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy using weekly docetaxel in patients with high-risk oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods and materials: This is a prospective single-arm study from a single institute in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China. Patients with locally stage III to IV OSCC who underwent radical surgery with at least 1 high-risk feature were enrolled for the study. High-risk features evaluated included (1) pathologically confirmed positive or close margins in the primary site or extracapsular nodal extension; (2) histologic involvement of ≥2 regional lymph nodes; and (3) locoregional recurrent OSCC (after initial surgery alone) treated with salvage surgery with curative intent. Docetaxel was administered at a dose of 20 mg/m² concurrently with postoperative radiation therapy (total dose 60-66 Gy). The primary outcome was 2-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included 2-year locoregional progress-free survival, 2-year overall survival (OS), and toxicities.

Results: From March 2016 to February 2018, 91 patients (59 males, 32 females) were recruited. Median age was 59 years (range, 26-70). All patients were included in final analysis. Fifty-eight patients (63.7%) completed the 6 planned cycles of docetaxel, and all patients completed postoperative radiation therapy. With a median follow-up of 24 months, the 2-year DFS and OS were 75.3% (95% confidence interval, 65.7%-84.2%) and 82.4% (95% confidence interval, 73.0%-89.6%), respectively. Patterns of failure were 13 local recurrences, 2 regional lymph nodes recurrences, and 8 distant failures. Seven patients (7.7%) were recorded as having grade 3 oral cavity mucositis. Two patients had grade 3 hypersensitivity reaction. No other grade 3 or higher adverse events, including hematologic toxicities, were observed.

Conclusions: The addition of low-dose weekly docetaxel with concurrent radiation therapy is a tolerable regimen with favorable DFS and OS in patients with high-risk, resected OSCC.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02776137.

Publication types

Clinical Trial, Phase II
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Chemoradiotherapy*
Docetaxel / adverse effects
Docetaxel / therapeutic use*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms / pathology
Mouth Neoplasms / surgery
Mouth Neoplasms / therapy*
Postoperative Period
Risk
Safety
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / pathology
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / surgery
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / therapy*
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Docetaxel

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02776137