Cisplatinum vs Methotrexate in Head and Neck Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): P.M. Stell, R.S. Allison, J.B. Campbell, J.E. Dalby, E.B. Dorman, T.R. Helliwell, K. van Laer, R.P. Morton, F. Rugman, M.Z. Siodlak, M. Squadrelli, J.A. Wilson
Primary Institution: Royal Liverpool Hospital
Hypothesis
Does cisplatinum provide a survival advantage over methotrexate in treating end-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck?
Conclusion
Cisplatinum as a single agent significantly improved survival compared to methotrexate, but combination therapies did not show significant benefits.
Supporting Evidence
- Cisplatinum alone significantly prolonged survival compared to methotrexate.
- Combination therapies did not show significant survival benefits over cisplatinum alone.
- Response rates were similar across treatment arms, indicating no significant advantage for combination therapies.
Takeaway
Doctors tested different medicines to help people with a serious throat cancer, and found that one medicine worked better than another.
Methodology
Patients were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: cisplatinum alone, methotrexate alone, cisplatinum + 5-FU, and cisplatinum + methotrexate.
Limitations
The study did not stratify patients for prognostic factors, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
200 patients with end-stage squamous cell carcinoma, 71 untreated and 129 with untreatable recurrence.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.025
Statistical Significance
p<0.025
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