Aims & Objectives: To assess the immediate loco regional response rate and acute toxicity in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in Conventional radiotherapy with weekly Cisplatin and Capecitabine.

Materials and Methodology: Single arm prospective study with 30 consecutive patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer presented to our hospital. All patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy 66Gy along with weekly Inj. Cisplatin 40mg/m2 and T. capecitabine 500mg/m2 twice daily along with radiation. The immediate locoregional response rates were assessed clinically and radiologically 6 weeks after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The toxicity profile of the treatment was assessed with RTOG acute morbidity scoring criteria and CTCAE Version 4. The study was statistically analysed using Chi Square test.

Results: Among 30 patients, Ca Oropharynx was 9 patients, followed by Ca Hypopharynx 8 patients, Ca Oral cavity with 7 patients and Ca Supraglottis 6 patients.73% of patients had complete response and 27% had partial response. Toxicities observed in the study were Mucositis grade 3 in 5 patients and grade 4 in 2 patients; Skin reactions grade 2 in 2 patients. Leucopenia grade 2 in 2 patients. Systemic toxicity diarrheagrade1 was only in 2 patients. There was no renal toxicity, hand foot syndrome in this study. There was no treatment related deaths in this study.

Conclusion: Concurrent chemo radiotherapy with Inj. Cisplatin and T.Capecitabine in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck cancer is better regimen with manageable toxicity with higher complete response rate.

Keywords: concurrent chemoradiotherapy, cisplatin, capecitabine, mucositis, hand foot syndrome.

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Dr A.Ramya MDRT

Assistant Professor, Dept of Radiotherapy, Tamilnadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Chennai, India