Abstract
Background
Because metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is rare, standard chemotherapy has not been fully established. In Japan, combination platinum and anthracycline chemotherapy has been used for elderly patients with advanced CSCC because of its low toxicity. However, the clinical benefit of this therapy has not been fully examined.
Methods
We retrospectively examined the response rate of combination platinum and anthracycline chemotherapy for metastatic CSCC.
Results
Eight patients received combination chemotherapy for metastatic lesions; there were lymph node lesions in 6 patients and skin and lung lesions in one patient each. The combination regimens were as follows: cisplatin (CDDP) (60–90 mg/m2/day, day 1) and adriamycin (ADM) (20–40 mg/m2/day, day 1 or 2) was administered in 5 patients; CDDP (10–15 mg/m2/day, days 1–5) and epirubicin (epi-ADM) (10–15 mg/m2/day, days 1–5) was administered in 2 patients; and carboplatin (CBDCA) (200–400 mg/m2/day, day 1) and ADM (20–40 mg/m2/day, day 1 or 2) was administered in one patient. The responses were as follows: complete response in 2 patients (CDDP + ADM for lung metastasis, CDDP + epi-ADM for lymph node metastasis), partial response in 1 (CDDP + ADM for lymph node metastasis), stable disease in 2, and progressive disease in 3. A durable response was observed in 2 patients showing complete responses (58 and 112 months).
Conclusions
The clinical effect of the combination of platinum and anthracycline for metastatic CSCC was limited despite the findings of two patients showing durable complete responses.
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Acknowledgments
This work was partly supported by Management Expenses Grants from the Government of Japan to the National Cancer Center, 21S-7-6.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Nakamura, K., Okuyama, R., Saida, T. et al. Platinum and anthracycline therapy for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Clin Oncol 18, 506–509 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-012-0411-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-012-0411-y