Vinorelbine plus cisplatin in recurrent or previously untreated unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Despite considerable progress achieved in the management of head and neck carcinomas (HNC) in the last decade, the prognosis of patients with advanced squamous cell HNC is still dismal. On the basis of the reported good activity of a new vinca alkaloid derivative, i.e., vinorelbine (VNR), we tested the combination of cisplatin and VNR in a series of patients with recurrent or previously untreated unresectable squamous cell HNC. Thirty-five patients with recurrent or previously untreated unresectable squamous cell HNC were treated with a combination of cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1, plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 i.v. push on days 1 and 8. This cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. Analysis of response…