A Clinical Recommendation for Defining Platinum-Unsuitable Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Taiwan Experience

Background: Cisplatin is the drug of choice for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) worldwide; however, the efficacy of this chemotherapeutic agent is counterbalanced with the risk of severe toxicities in certain patient populations. Definitive clinical criteria that identify patients susceptible to cisplatin toxicity across various demographic groups remain unavailable. The genetic and sociodemographic characteristics of HNC patients in Taiwan differ from global patient populations and therefore warrant Taiwan-specific guidelines. Methods: To address this unmet medical need, a panel of 20 senior physicians and experts from the Taiwan Head and Neck Society drafted clinical recommendations for defining patients who are unsuitable for treatment with cisplatin. Results: This clinical review describes the resulting consensus document, including the definition of cisplatin ineligibility criteria in HNC patients and supporting literature, which will support clinicians in defining platinum-unsuitable HNC patients in Taiwan. Conclusions: This recommendation will help to minimize toxicity-related morbidity from platinum-unsuitable HNC patients and improve patients' quality of life.