DeCIDE: A phase III randomized trial of docetaxel (D), cisplatin (P), 5-fluorouracil (F) (TPF) induction chemotherapy (IC) in patients with N2/N3 locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Abstract

5500 Background: IC is associated with lower distant failure (DF) rates in SCCHN but an improvement in overall survival (OS) has not been validated. The goal of this trial was to determine whether IC prior to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves survival compared to CRT alone. Methods: In this phase 3, open-label trial, subjects with pathologically confirmed SCCHN; N2/N3 disease without metastases; no prior therapy; KPS ³ 70%; and intact organ function were randomized to CRT alone (CRT arm) [5 days of D (25 mg/m2), F (600 mg/m2), hydroxyurea (500 mg BID), and RT (150 cGy BID) followed by a 9 day break] or to 2 cycles of IC [D (75 mg/m2), P (75 mg/m2), F (750 mg/m2 day 1-5)] followed by the same CRT (IC arm). Primary endpoint was OS. Secondary endpoints included DF free survival, failure pattern, and recurrence-free survival (RFS). 280 subjects provided 80% power to detect a hazard ratio HR=0.5 for OS (a=0.05). Results: 280 subjects were accrued from 2004-09 with minimum follow-up 24 months. Of 142 patients randomized to IC, 91% received 2 cycles and 87% continued to CRT. Treatment adherence during CRT was high for docetaxel and hydroxyurea, but fewer than 75% of the patients received target dose of 5FU in both arms. RT was delivered without major deviations in 94% and 95% of patients on IC and CRT arms, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities during IC were febrile neutropenia (9%) and mucositis (8%), and during CRT (both arms combined) they were mucositis (45%), dermatitis (19%), and leukopenia (17%). Only grade 3-4 leukopenia and neutropenia rates were significantly higher in IC (p=0.002 and p=0.02, respectively). Table shows efficacy. Conclusions: High survival rates were observed in both arms. Further analysis and follow-up may provide insight into why the significant decrease in DF did not translate into improved OS. [Table: see text]