OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of topotecan combined with cisplatin in the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer.

METHODSTotally 126 patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, which were confirmed by tissue pathology or cytopathology, were treated with intravenous infusion of topotecan at the dose of 0.75-1.2 mg/m2 (for 5 consecutive days) combined with intravenous infusion of cisplantin at 25-30 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days. Each treatment course consisted of two 21-day cycles of the treatment.

RESULTSNo complete remission was achieved in these patients, and 61 patients had partial remission, 53 had clinically stabilized disease and 12 had progressive disease. The total response rate was 48.4% among the patients, with the median survival time of 10.1 months and one-year survival rate of 36.7%. The major adverse effects were bone marrow suppression and alopecia.

CONCLUSIONTopotecan combined with cisplatin may achieve a favorable response in patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, and causes tolerable adverse effect without accumulative toxicity.