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Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Regimen Library

HN SQCC NON-Metastatic - cISplatin [Q1W] chemoradiation

Treatment Overview

Commence regimen in relation to radiation therapy as per institutional policy. To be given continuously with concurrent radiation therapy, usually for 6 weeks.

Cycles 1 to 6 - 7 days

Cycle length:
7

Cycle details

Cycles 1 to 6 - 7 days

Medication Dose Route Days Max Duration
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration 1 to 4
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration 1
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration 2, 3
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration 1
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration 2, 3, 4
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 1 60 minutes
cISplatin * 40 mg/m² intravenous 1 60 minutes
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 1 60 minutes
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1
cycliZINE 50 mg Three times daily oral administration 1

Full details

Cycles 1 to 6 - 7 days

Day: 1

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy. This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake. Some centres may choose to omit pre-chemotherapy dose or advise patient to take the night before chemotherapy if patient has to drive to appointment.
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy with food.
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
In 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, prior to cISplatin infusion.
cISplatin * 40 mg/m² intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
In 500 - 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, depending on stability. Ensure patient has passed urine as per institutional policy. Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of cISplatin.
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 60 minutes
Quantity:1000 mL
Instructions:
After cISplatin infusion. If cISplatin is infused in 1000 mL, centres may choose to omit this bag of fluid.
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
EIGHT hours after chemotherapy OR before bed.
cycliZINE 50 mg Three times daily oral administration
Instructions:
When required for nausea and/or vomiting. Warning: may cause drowsiness. Consider starting dose at 25 mg and increasing as tolerated/required. The choice of rescue antiemetic may be substituted to reflect institutional policy or individual patient characteristics. Note that domperidone is not recommended in combination with olanzapine and ondansetron due to potential risk of QT prolongation.

Day: 2

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily. This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Day: 3

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily. This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Day: 4

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily. This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Supportive Care Factors

Factor Value
Emetogenicity: High
Growth factor support: Growth factor prophylaxis not recommended
Hydration: Routine hydration recommended

References

Guan, J., Y. Zhang, Q. Li, et al. 2016. "A meta-analysis of weekly cisplatin versus three weekly cisplatin chemotherapy plus concurrent radiotherapy (CRT) for advanced head and neck cancer (HNC)." Oncotarget 7(43), 70185–70193., PMID: 27602493

Strojan, P., J. B. Vermorken, J. J. Beitler, et al. 2016. "Cumulative cisplatin dose in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A systematic review." Head Neck 38 Suppl 1:E2151-2158., PMID: 25735803

Sharma, A., B. K. Mohanti, A. Thakar, et al. 2010. "Concomitant chemoradiation versus radical radiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx and nasopharynx using weekly cisplatin: a phase II randomized trial." Ann Oncol 21(11):2272-2277., PMID: 20427350

Glaser, M. G., M. D. Leslie, S. M. O'Reilly, et al. 1993. "Weekly cisplatinum concomitant with radical radiotherapy in the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer." Clin Oncol (R.Coll.Radiol.). 5(5):286-289., PMID: 8305336

Rawat, S., H. Srivastava, P. Ahlawat, et al. 2016. "Weekly versus Three-Weekly Cisplatin-based Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy as definitive treatment in Head and Neck Cancer- Where do we stand?" Gulf J Oncolog 1(21):6-11., PMID: 27250881

Newlin, H. E., R. J. Amdur, C. E. Riggs, et al. 2010. "Concomitant weekly cisplatin and altered fractionation radiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer." Cancer 116(19):4533-4540., PMID: 20572028

Quon, H., T. Leong, R. Haselow, et al. 2011. "Phase III study of radiation therapy with or without cis-platinum in patients with unresectable squamous or undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck: an intergroup trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (E2382)." Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 81(3):719-725., PMID: 20888709

Sautois, B., H. Schroeder, M. Martin, et al. 2016. "Weekly cisplatin with radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma." J BUON 21(4):979-988., PMID: 27685923

Lee, S. Y., Yoon Seok C., Ik-Chan S, et al. 2018. "Comparison of standard-dose 3-weekly cisplatin and low-dose weekly cisplatin for concurrent chemoradiation of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer: A multicenter retrospective analysis." Medicine 97(21):e10778., PMID: 29794758

Noronha, V., A. Joshi, V. M. Patil, et al 2018. "Once-a-Week Versus Once-Every-3-Weeks Cisplatin Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Phase III Randomized Noninferiority Trial." J Clin Oncol 36(11):1064-1072., PMID: 29220295

Staar S, Rudat V, et al. Intensified hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy limits the additional benefit of simultaneous chemotherapy--results of a multicentric randomized German trial in advanced head-and-neck cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2001 Aug 1;50(5):1161-71. , PMID: 11483325

Boulanger J, Boursiquot JN, Cournoyer G, et al. Management of hypersensitivity to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy: cepo review and clinical recommendations. Curr Oncol. 2014;21(4):e630-e641., PMID: 25089112

Castells, M.C., Matulonis, U.A., and Horton, TM. Infusion reactions to systemic chemotherapy. Savarese DMF and Feldweg AM, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/infusion-reactions-to-systemic-chemotherapy (Accessed 26 March 2021).

Mitra, D., K. Choudhury, Md. A. Rashid. 2011. " Concurrent chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer carcinoma- A prospective randomized trial." Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol; 17(2): 88-95.

* The medicines, doses, combinations, and schedule in this treatment regimen have been carefully reviewed against international best practice guidelines by specialists in medical oncology around New Zealand and this advice has been accepted for publication by Te Aho o Te Kahu (the Cancer Control Agency). Sometimes medicines that are used in routine clinical practice have not been through a formal review process by the NZ Medicines Regulator Medsafe and are therefore considered unapproved or off-label. These medicines are legally able to be prescribed through sections 25 and 29 of the Medicines Act and by obtaining informed consent from patients. All treatment regimens listed on this website have been through robust peer review and are considered an accepted standard of care, whether prescribed through sections 25 or 29 or carrying formal Medsafe Approval.

s29: This symbol indicates that some formulations of the associated medicine are legally only able to be prescribed under section 29 of the Medicines Act. You can see which formulations are section 29 by hovering over the s29 symbol. You can access full medication details from the New Zealand Formulary by clicking on the medication name. Each clinician retains full responsibility for ensuring they have complied with all relevant obligations and requirements of section 29 including obtaining informed patient consent prior to prescribing the applicable medicine.