Treatment of patients with cancer of the head and neck or esophagus with carboplatin, 5-FU, Interferon-α and interleukin-2

We have treated 27 patients with cancer of the head and neck (18) or esophagus (9) according to the following protocol: day 1 carboplatin i.v. {dose in mg = 5 × (glomerular filtration rate + 25)} followed by 120 hrs of 5-FU at 750 mg/m2/24 hrs. During the first week of treatment interferon alpha-2b (Intron A) was given 3 times s.c. at 5 Mio. I.U./m2. In week 2 and 3 of each treatment course 2 Mio. I.U./m2 (in locally advanced head and neck tumours) or 5 Mio. I.U./m2 (in disseminated head and neck and esophagus cancers) of interleukin-2 (Proleukin) was administered s.c. 3 times per week. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. 5 women and 22 men were treated. Median age of the patients was 59 years (range: 41–78). Toxicities observed were mainly hematological with grade 3 & 4 in 12 % of cycles. The only other major toxicities were grade 3 mucosities in 2 cycles and grade 3 pulmonal toxicity, infection and constipation in 1 cycle each. Patients’ quality of life during treatment was assessed weekly by visual analogue scales and showed no change over time. 20 patients received at least 3 cycles of treatment and were thus evaluable for response. 1 CR, 9 PR, 2 NC and 1 PD were found in head and neck and 5 PR and 2 NC in esophagus cancer patients. This is an effective treatment that caused significant toxicity but patients’ quality of life was not compromised.