Comparative assessment of the toxicity of different induction chemotherapy regimens for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective. To improve the results of treatment in patients with locally advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyn-geal squamous cell carcinoma, by optimizing the induction chemotherapy (ICT) regimen, using a two-component combination in particular. Subjects and methods. Since 2021, the investigation has enrolled 13 patients with locally advanced HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. At the first stage of combination treatment, all the patients received 3 cycles of ICT according to the DC (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 + cisplatin 75 mg/m2) regimen for 21 days. Further, all the patients were scheduled to use chemoradiother-apy (CRT) of SOD 70 Gy during radio modification with carboplatin AUC 2.0. The primary endpoints following ICT were the assessment of an objective response and toxicity. The secondary endpoints were the estimation of an objective response rate after the second stage of combination treatment, 1-year overall survival, and progression-free one. Results. The objective response rate and toxicity were assessed for all the patients. There was a complete response in 2 (15%) pa-tients, a partial response in 5 (38%), and disease stabilization in 5 (38%). Toxicity was assessed using the scales CTC — NCIC V5.0. No cases of grade 3—4 leukopenia were noted. There was grade 1—2 anemia in 4 (31%) patients and grade 1—2 thrombocyto-penia in 2 (15%). Conclusion. The proposed two-component ICT regimen has demonstrated an acceptable toxicity profile. If comparable survival rates are achieved with the existing standard, this ICT regimen can be considered as a new standard for real clinical practice in the treatment of patients with locally advanced HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. © 2022, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.