Platinum rechallenge in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after primary chemoradiation.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate platinum rechallenge efficacy and tolerance in patients presenting recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after platinum-based chemoradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We retrospectively included all patients treated from 2007 to 2016 by platinum-based polychemotherapy for recurrence of HNSCC previously treated by primary or postsurgical platinum-based chemoradiation. The primary end-point was disease control rate (DCR) on platinum rechallenge. RESULTS:Forty-five patients were included. Median disease-free interval (DFI) after chemoradiation was 5.7 months. DCR on platinum rechallenge was 40%. Progression-free survival at recurrence was 3.7 months and overall survival 5.0 months. DCR in patients with recurrence within 6 months of chemoradiotherapy was 47.8%. DFI>4.5 months was associated with better DCR: 28.5% versus 54.8%; P=0.0311. CONCLUSION:Platinum rechallenge provided good DCR in recurrent HNSCC after chemoradiation.